Jeremiah 6:29-30, "The bellows are burned, the lead is consumed of the fire; the founder melteth in vain: for the wicked are not plucked away. Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the LORD hath rejected them."

In approximately 721 B.C. Israel had been destroyed and led into captivity by Assyria. They had sinned and refused to listen to the true prophets of God. Judah knew this, they saw it happen, and many of those who escaped the Assyrians ran to Judah, the southern kingdom, for refuge.  A refuge that would not last.

Jeremiah had watched as Babylon encompassed the city of Jerusalem for three years. He had watched as they destroyed all that was left, the city, the temple, the wall, and carried the people away to a land that their fathers did not know, and he wept.

The book of Lamentations, written sometime during Judah's captivity in Babylon, is a series of five laments written as poetry. They were read annually by the Jews as a reminder of the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple. They reminded them of the penalty of sin and of a God who keeps His covenant forever. It is often considered as an appendix to the book of Jeremiah.

Lamentations 3:21-23, "This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness."

The book of Lamentations refers to the city of Jerusalem as the virgin daughter of Zion who has played a harlot. A daughter who God punished for her behavior. A daughter from whom God removed His hand of protection because she refused to listen to His words. A daughter, who despite all His warnings, became desolate, stricken with famine, and eventually destroyed.

Through the words of Lamentations we are reminded of a Father Who will go to many lengths to protect His child, but when that child refuses to listen there are consequences to their behavior. Consequences with a bitter end. However, God is still on His throne. His compassions never fail. He looks upon those Who He chastens and corrects and promises restoration through obedience to His word.

Lamentations reveals a Father Who weeps for His children who He corrects. Weeps for their sorrow and for their restoration. Through these words may we never forget the consequences of sin and a loving God Who hears our prayers and brings us back into righteousness for His name's sake. The Lord is good to the child who waits on Him. Who waits silently for His salvation. Only in God is our salvation.