Lamentations II
I am the man who has seen affliction under the rod of his wrath; (Lamentations 3:1 ESV)
Suffering
Living in Judah during the time of Jeremiah would have been terrible. The nation, the regions, the cities, the villages, the neighborhoods, and the families all suffered.
But it was more than people suffering… it was individuals.
Jeremiah shows us this as he describes those dark days of God’s wrath. He writes as the personification of God’s people.
He writes “I” instead of “we.”
Never lose sight of that when considering the suffering in our world. Yes, nations suffer. Yes, regions suffer. Yes, cities suffer. Yes, neighborhoods suffer. Yes families suffer.
But in every case, for those sufferings to have any meaning, we must see that it is individuals who suffer.
When children suffer, it is a child who is suffering. When the aged suffer, it is an elderly person who is suffering. When oppression happens, it happens to individuals. When people hurt, it is a person who hurts.
But God’s compassion, reconciliation, and salvation come to both the large groups, and the individuals, too!
He saves His people, but He saves persons. He is the God of groups, like churches and families, but He is the God of individuals.
In that way, He relieves YOUR sufferings.