The psalms were written across the history of God’s people. But they were composed as God’s people returned from the Exile. And Psalm 107 poses this question: what were the words on their lips?
At the heart of their time under judgement was their coming to know two truths: only the LORD rescues because only the LORD transforms. And this meant that they could return with thanks on their lips and in their hearts – because of the LORD’s work.
Jesus himself knew this truth, lived this truth, sang this psalm. And this means we can, too. And so, what words are on your lips today?
On first reading, it seems fair to ask why Lamentations 4? It’s a fair question to ask because, for the most part, the poet simply rehashes chapters 1-3. But upon further meditation on the poem, one comes to appreciate its value for God’s people in helping them process and respond rightly to his judgement in repentance and faith. In his judgment against Judah, God is not only reversing their fortunes but also restoring their hope in Him alone.
‘I am the man who has seen affliction under the rod of God’s wrath’ (Lam.3:1).
In the third poem of lament, we hear from the poet himself – and his description is striking. He is a man. He is obviously in the middle of this tragedy. He has experienced it personally, and yet he also seems to speak representatively. Who is this man?
I think it is most likely Jeremiah – the prophet who had laboured for 40 years calling God’s people back. And he did experience all this personally (just compare Jeremiah 38 with Lam.3:52-57) – and so, he can also speak representatively.
As he experiences the immense dissonance of, for example, the ‘rod’ of God that guides him safely (remember Ps.23:4) through the ‘valley of the shadow of death’ which now brings affliction, where does he turn? What does he consider?
Jeremiah turns to the bedrock theological truths of the LORD – and so, he waits patiently on Him, and trusts that His ‘faithful love’ will bring deliverance.
