Unveiling Divine Promises: Navigating Lamentations and Revelation’s Stark Realities

Zechariah 9-10; Revelation 19; Lamentations

Guest Blog Post: Patty Bellingham

Where is my Google Maps app? As I read today’s passages, I sometimes feel lost with all of the symbolism and need some direction. Do you sometimes feel that way when you read prophecy? It is so foreign to us, but our great and marvelous God not only gives us prophecy to encourage and correct, He also gives us a road map for understanding. It is in the Bible. The Bible interprets the Bible, but we do have to study the map. Let’s see if we can find our way through Lamentations 4, Zechariah 11-12, and Revelation 20.

Promises, Promises
Lamentations is a prophecy about promises. God kept His promises, but Israel did not. When Israel was getting ready to enter their promised land, Moses read them God’s laws. You will find these throughout the Old Testament books like Exodus, Deuteronomy, Leviticus, and Joshua.

If you read Deuteronomy 26:16-19, we see a promise from God to keep Israel safe & prosper them if they serve Him only, which is the first commandment in Exodus 20:3-5. But if they were to break their covenant promise with God and go after other gods, then curses would come, which is also a promise. We often only think of good things as being promises, but a promise is a promise.

Lamentations 4 is a prophecy of the siege of Jerusalem by Babylon, fulfillment due to Judah’s broken promise. It starts off in vs. 1-3 talking about gold & jewels scattered on the streets and considered as worthless as earthen pots! (What is that all about?) These are God’s people, the Chosen People. To Almighty God, they were precious and rare. As a symbol of this precious people, Israel’s high priest even wore around their neck a plate with 12 jewels, each jewel representing one of the tribes of Israel. But now, they are “regarded” as of little value and are just laying around in the street.

Their sin had so corrupted them they were without natural affection, abandoning their children during the siege and even cannibalizing them when the siege was prolonged, vs. 3, 4, & 10. What a horrible thought.

In verse 5, the worldly prominence of the wealthy and elite are gone and now they are digging in the garbage to find something – anything to eat.

Sodom’s sin was great, but God says here, vs. 6, that Jerusalem’s sin was greater. Why? The people of Jerusalem had known God. They had His blessings, goodness, and even His presence with them, but they gave that up for idols with no life in them. Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin, but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.” John 9:41 They knew the truth of God, but they wanted their sin more.

The consecrated in vs. 7-8 speaks of God’s priests and leaders. They were once beautiful, pure, but now they are unrecognizable. They are skin and bones. The people despise the sinful lying unjust prophets and priests so much, vs. 13-15, they treat them like lepers, saying “unclean” and “away.”

The Lord, as He promised (Deut. 28:64), has brought all this horror about, vs. 16-20. He used Assyria and Babylon to punish them and scatter them. The Lord did not make Assyria and Babylon evil, but he used them to bring about His purpose and would later also punish them. He is just, and He keeps his promises and is able to bring His promises about. God is ALL. Yes, all love, goodness, and mercy, but He is also sovereign, holy, just, and righteous – True to His Word.

King David understood the Almighty God was All even in discipline. He trusted God even in judgment. David had sinned against God and knew punishment was coming and said in 1 Chron 21:13, “I am in deep distress. Let me fall into the hands of the Lord, for His mercy is great, but do not let me fall into the hands of men.” The Holy God gives out punishment because He is just and righteous.

Zechariah also laments in chapter 11. Using sheep as a teaching tool, God’s flock is Israel and evil shepherds are Israel’s leaders and kings of Israel and foreign nations who have abused and misled God’s people. These shepherds are worthless, corrupt, and lazy, and God will bring their reign to an end.

He pronounces judgment on them and on one particular shepherd, vs. 11:17 (could this be the anti-christ). “May a sword fall on his arm and his right eye!” This evil leader’s power would be cut off and his evil ways destroyed.

The Lord, to this day, is keeping his promises to Israel. The Lord, just as He promised, has brought the Jewish people back to Israel after they were scattered among the nations. But Satan continues in his desire to crush God’s chosen people, and he uses nations of the world to attempt this. Zechariah 12 is a prophecy of end-times. Jerusalem is a heavy burden for all the nations and all the peoples of the earth, and they will unite to destroy Israel. Judah & Jerusalem together trust in the strength of God, as David did when he came against that ancient giant, Goliath.

Zech 12:8-9, “On that day the Lord Himself will defend Jerusalem… and the weakest among them will be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the angel of the Lord, going before them. And on that day I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.”

Almighty God will destroy all the nations that come up against Him and His people. In Revelation 20, Satan leads the evil nations in a final battle to take “the camp of the saints and the beloved city,” but our God is a consuming fire, and fire will come down from heaven and consume them.

Our Lord God is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and is able to bring about His promises. Jeremiah 1:12 “I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled.” Not one promise will be unkept.

This is pretty heavy stuff and deep waters to wade through. But the takeaway is that God keeps His promises. He blesses, He punishes, He redeems. He is a good father, who “will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 Because, He promised.

My prayer is that you have chosen Christ’s promise of eternal life: “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?'” John 11:25-26.

Deepening Faith: Reflective Journal Prompts

1. Reflect on Promises: Reflect on a time when you felt God’s promises were being fulfilled in your life. What situation did it pertain to, and how did it deepen your faith?
2. Personal Idolatry: Consider any areas in your life where you might be placing too much emphasis on human achievements or material success. How can you shift your focus back to Jesus as the central figure in your life?
3. Facing Challenges: Write about a challenge you’re currently facing where you need to rely solely on faith. How can the story of Zerubbabel encourage you in this situation?
4. Character of God: How does understanding God’s character as just, righteous, and loving impact your view of His judgments and discipline? Do you see His discipline as an act of love? Why or why not?
5. Prophecy and Understanding: Reflect on a biblical prophecy that has always intrigued or puzzled you. Spend some time researching and meditating on this prophecy. What new insights can you gain about God’s plan from this exploration?

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