Lamentations 3:1-26 KJV
1 I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath.
2 He hath led me, and brought me into darkness, but not into light.
3 Surely against me is he turned; he turneth his hand against me all the day.
4 My flesh and my skin hath he made old; he hath broken my bones.
5 He hath builded against me, and compassed me with gall and travail.
6 He hath set me in dark places, as they that be dead of old.
7 He hath hedged me about, that I cannot get out: he hath made my chain heavy.
8 Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer.
9 He hath inclosed my ways with hewn stone, he hath made my paths crooked.
10 He was unto me as a bear lying in wait, and as a lion in secret places.
11 He hath turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces: he hath made me desolate.
12 He hath bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow.
13 He hath caused the arrows of his quiver to enter into my reins.
14 I was a derision to all my people; and their song all the day.
15 He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath made me drunken with wormwood.
16 He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones, he hath covered me with ashes.
17 And thou hast removed my soul far off from peace: I forgat prosperity.
18 And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the LORD:
19 Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.
20 My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.
21 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
22 It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
24 The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
25 The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.
26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.

Israel was watching the fall of temple along with Jeremiah. Jeremiah weeping for Israel as Solomon Temple falls. Israel sin much like the time of Noah had gotten worse and worse to point God allowed enemy to come and put his people in captivity. Instead of total destruction like the flood, God in his mercy was giving his own people that no longer fear him to the point they would not obey him any longer. He sent them to give them a chance to repent to see what living in the land of the unbelievers were like. The misery of those that did believe like Jeremiah found themselves experience the going into captivity but also the watching of things precious to their faith either taken or destroyed. The horror of sin overflowing with need to seek God. They found mercies are new every morning and great is God's faithfulness. The willing to wait of the prophet speaking to believers of hope of salvation which was to come.

There two newness in the spiritual realm one that follow the enemy when God brings his people salvation out of their situation, and newness upon repentance of the unrighteous when they see where there sin as taken them and cry out to God in repentance. There are people that believe a God exist but never followed him.

With following God it not always through a beautiful garden, it maybe walking through the pit of someone else's despair. A drunk driver hits a believer and kills a child in the wreck, the parent of the child his walking through the despair of sin the drunk driver caused. The person living in the grossness of sin that spills into the life of another is placing that person in the consequence of their problem. When God allows the devil to sweep his street he going to take what is not his and find he just added salt to his garbage. The Disney movie Pollyanna was about a child that took another misery and seem to change their gloom into sunshine and beauty. Israel's roots and tradition are so etched in their life that sunshine of their faith would prosper in a land very different then their own. God restoration of his people forced them into life situation that taught them about their own sin and the need to follow in the ways of God.

Until one can recognize their own need of salvation from God above salvation can not come. God took care of his people forced to live in the filth of sin of another. Once we receive salvation through Christ Jesus, we are to follow him into our final salvation.

Dear Heavenly Father we see our sin and sin of others and see the trap we even set for ourselves. Bring us to repentance and hope while waiting for our final salvation called eternity with you. Help us lead others out of the pit of sin we find ourselves walking through. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study: Matthew 5:13-18 KJV
13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.