a)
But not one word is mentioned of Babylon or Nebuchadnezzar.
b)
These verses do not describe the permissive will of God, but the direct determined will of God.
c)
The author is working to deal with such knowledge.
e.
Remember the last thing mentioned in the preceding chapter 1
outline how that chapter 1 provided hints at the reasons for the destruction, but the second chapter is descriptive of that destruction by first focusing on what the Lord has done, and second, by focusing on what the author has seen.
f.
There is an old saying, “You ain’t seen nothing yet.” This is a most wonderful and usually overlooked, forgotten or minimized book.
Please do not rob yourselves or rob others. Learn all you can.
C.
Chapter 3 - Grief Becomes Personal.
1.
In this chapter 3, the author succumbs to the events, and the full weight of his grief crashes on top of him.
2.
As you read the first 18 verses of chapter 3, you can see Jeremiah sinking into despair and depression until he says in Lamentations 3:18:
“So I say, ‘My strength has perished, and so has my hope from the Lord.’”
Like chapter 2, the author sees his personal affliction as being from the direct hand of the Lord.
3.
Immediately after crying out that his strength and hope are gone, the author speaks a simple and short prayer, “Remember my affliction and my wandering, the wormwood and bitterness.”
a.
The response in his spirit could not be more profound or dramatic.
b.
The Lord both remembers and visits to bring hope. The words that have been part of great hymns and songs come from the answer to this prayer, “The Lord's loving kindness indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail, they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
4.
In verses 19 through 26 there is a reconnection with the essential character of the Lord that is incredibly significant.