“Our fathers sinned, and are no more; and we bear their iniquities.”

This verse touches on an important topic of personal responsibility for sin. Some people are confused, thinking, for example, that God will judge me for my father’s sin. The Bible is clear that no man is held responsible for another person’s sin. However, we cannot necessarily escape the results of another’s sin. For example, if I do something really stupid and go to prison, my wife and kids will not be legally responsible for my actions. But they will be left managing the remains of what used to be. In other words, they will bear my iniquity.”

This is a great reminder that my actions can have a tremendous negative impact on others, particularly my wife and kids.

Father, please help me to grow in sanctification that my family may rejoice in your blessing and not weep under your discipline. Amen.

This is what is happening in this verse. Folks are living a hard life (rape, torture, etc – see 5:10-15) because generations of Judeans rejected the Lord.

“Those who once feasted on delicacies perish in the streets; those who were brought up in purple embrace ash heaps.”

The devastation went all the way to the royal and wealthy, presumably because they were not immune to the idolatry of the nations. I conclude that the wealthy and the royal were included in the suffering because of the use of two words in this poem: delicacies and purple.

Those who feast on delicacies are the wealthy, which would include the royals. In Hebrew poetry, the second line often repeats the first line, but in different words. Those who are brought up in purple are the royal and wealthy. Look at the outcome for the rich and royals: they perish in the streets or they embrace the ash heaps. In other words, in this devastation, they became “normal” people.

The ash heaps reminded me of God’s grace mentioned in Psalm 113:4-8

“The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens! Who is like the Lord our God, who is seated on high, who looks far down on the heavens and the earth? He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people.”

In Lamentations, Jeremiah describes how sin lowers everyone, even the rich and royal. The Psalmist describes how the Lord lifts folks from the ash heaps to become his royal people.

Father, help me to long for the day of redemption when all things will be made right. Amen.

Wow! Jeremiah spends 20 verses describing the afflictions he is under, then he writes,

“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope.”

In the midst of hardship, he has to remind himself of God’s goodness. He reminds himself that:
1) The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
2) his mercies never come to an end;
3) his mercies are new every morning;
4) great is God’s faithfulness.

Then he concludes, “The Lord is my portion, therefore I will hope.”

If a prophet of God has to remind himself of God’s goodness, I’m sure I must do the same. In addition to reading the Bible for these reminders, we can sing songs that proclaim God’s goodness to us.

Years ago, Colleen had the idea that each night, as we close the day in prayer, we all say at least one blessing we experienced during the day. We still do this as a way to force ourselves to recognize God’s goodness toward us.

Father, help me to be ever mindful of your goodness and mercy. Amen.