Fugitive Slaves in the Dismal Swamp
Fugitive Slaves in the Dismal Swamp, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=55483 [retrieved September 30, 2022]. Original source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Great_Dismal_Swamp-Fugitive_Slaves.jpg.
Exploring the Text: Embracing mourning
Jeremiah, and other prophets before him, had long prophesied that God’s judgment would come upon Judah because of their sin. Now, at long last, that judgment had indeed come. Jerusalem has been devastated. Even though Jeremiah knew this was coming, even though he had prophesied it, even though it didn’t take him by surprise, he still mourned the devastation of the city. The book of Lamentations is the record of Jeremiah’s sorrow and mourning.
When something negative happens in our lives, we often try to skip past it as soon as possible. We don’t like sorrow and mourning. They are uncomfortable and unpleasant. Yet, Jeremiah spends time in sorrow and mourning. Rather than ignoring it or trying to get past it, he takes the time to sit with the mourning and journal about it. Jeremiah understood that embracing mourning helps us heal. In the same way, we need to take the time to embrace mourning when things happen in our lives. After all, Jesus said that those who are mourn are blessed because they will be comforted (Matthew 5:4). As you read the book of Lamentations, you will experience the depth of Jeremiah’s suffering and pain, but you will also see hope and healing begin to rise in him as well, just like it will us if we take the time to embrace mourning.
David W. Dalton
Jeremiah, and other prophets before him, had long prophesied that God’s judgment would come upon Judah because of their sin. Now, at long last, that judgment had indeed come. Jerusalem has been devastated. Even though Jeremiah knew this was coming, even though he had prophesied it, even though it didn’t take him by surprise, he still mourned the devastation of the city. The book of Lamentations is the record of Jeremiah’s sorrow and mourning.
When something negative happens in our lives, we often try to skip past it as soon as possible. We don’t like sorrow and mourning. They are uncomfortable and unpleasant. Yet, Jeremiah spends time in sorrow and mourning. Rather than ignoring it or trying to get past it, he takes the time to sit with the mourning and journal about it. Jeremiah understood that embracing mourning helps us heal. In the same way, we need to take the time to embrace mourning when things happen in our lives. After all, Jesus said that those who are mourn are blessed because they will be comforted (Matthew 5:4). As you read the book of Lamentations, you will experience the depth of Jeremiah’s suffering and pain, but you will also see hope and healing begin to rise in him as well, just like it will us if we take the time to embrace mourning.
David W. Dalton