Give Them their Just Desserts

Scripture:
Make them pay for what they’ve done, God.
Give them their just desserts.
Break their miserable hearts!
Damn their eyes!
Get good and angry. Hunt them down.
Make a total demolition here under your heaven!
Lamentations 3:64-66

Observation: The sadness of this entire book is about the destruction of Judah, Jerusalem, and the last of God's people taken into exile. In this, the enemies didn't just destroy the cities and nation, but destroyed the people and even their reputation. Israel and Judah went from being a nation of priests for the Lord, to a broken people who are badmouthed and gossiped about. And the writer wants these other people-groups to pay for this ... to be held accountable before the Lord himself ... for in so doing this to God's people, they have done it to God himself. By declaring themselves victory over the people faithful to Yahweh, they also - either implicitly or explicitly - declare a level of victory over Yahweh.

Application: I know that there is nothing more painful than when someone tells lies about you that are believed and that then bring you down in reputation or position. I have experienced this first-hand, as has my wife. And this is the preferred weapon of most in society today ... the willingness to attack others through lies and manipulated statements in a manner that unjustly attacks one's moral position.

And I join with the author of Lamentations today: Lord, make them pay for what they've done.

Oh, I know they will pay long-term, and in a manner I can scarcely imagine, a punishment so terrible I cannot even understand it in my earthly mind. I also know that the Lord's love is so great, so pure, and so wonderful, that his goal is not to punish even those who attack him and his people, but rather to correct and guide them into redemption and a new understanding of him, so that they will not be punished but with rather opt into the same great reward that I will receive. God is wonderful that way. As a result, I don't expect to see any terrible wrath and punishment brought down on the heads of those who have deceived millions of people to fall into hopeless, lost lives, let alone any kind of retribution levied upon those who have lied about me.

Yet I still join with the author of Lamentations today: Lord, get good and angry. Hunt them down.

Prayer: Lord, despite all I have written, I know that the greatest thing about your is your loving nature, and your mercy. May you have mercy upon me for my sins, forgiving me for the wrong I do in the name of Jesus Christ, upon whom I place all my hope. And since you can forgive me for my sins, I know you can forgive others. I do forgive wrongs done to me, and while there are times I desire vengeance, it is not something I will seek for myself.  To the degree such people wrong you and your name, may you act accordingly by your wisdom and by your love alone, not for my sake but for your purposes and your kingdom and your goodness and name. Amen.