Shalom all
I was thinking about this yesterday while on my walk, for the streets were quiet and I only saw a couple of people out walking, and thought about the book of Lamentations. Jeremiah is walking the street of Jerusalem after its destruction and he writes, “ How lonely sits the city that was full of people.”
Our cities are destroyed, but we don’t see as many people out as we used to. Most of us are heeding the request or the advice of our governing officials not to meet in more than groups of ten, so yes, like Jeremiah, it lonely it is out.
Most congregations are not meeting and they do so, like we did, not out of fear of our government, but watching out for the best of the members of our congregations.
Lamentations 1:4 The roads to Zion mourn, for none come to the festival.
I am taking quite a bit of liberty with this, but the roads and driveways to our meeting places mourn, for none come to service.
Again, we have not been destroyed, most of us are alive and well, but we don’t have a worship service to go to this Shabbat. We miss that time together, the singing, the dancing, the reading out loud from the scripture, and even the message the pastor or rabbi gives, and we miss the fellowship.
Jeremiah missed this as well, and while he was mourning and lamenting all that had happened he called something to mind.
Lamentations 3:21-24 But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: 22 The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”
Jeremiah hoped in the Lord, for the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases and his mercies never come to an end.
Jeremiah knew this, I know this, and I hope you know this and experience this as well. This morning as we get up, know that the love, the mercies of God are new this morning.