to walk, to make one's way…

Lamentations 5:12-22

¹² Princes are hung up by their hands;  no respect is shown to the elders.
¹³ Young men are compelled to grind at the mill, and boys stagger under loads of wood.
¹⁴ The old men have left the city gate, the young men their music.
¹⁵ The joy of our hearts has ceased;  our dancing has been turned to mourning.
¹⁶ The crown has fallen from our head;  woe to us, for we have sinned!
¹⁷ For this our heart has become sick, for these things our eyes have grown dim,
¹⁸ for Mount Zion which lies desolate;  jackals prowl over it.
¹⁹ But you, O Lord, reign forever;  your throne endures to all generations.
²⁰ Why do you forget us forever, why do you forsake us for so many days?
²¹ Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may be restored!  Renew our days as of old
²² unless you have utterly rejected us, and you remain exceedingly angry with us.

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This is the close of Lamentations.  It reminds me of the USA and where we are today.  Reminds me, but by no means compares to where Israel was at the time.  I do think that we, as Americans, have brought our problems on our ourselves.  The bible shows again and again how it happens every time when a people turn from God.

I had never really noticed the possible link to Christ with Princes are hung up by their hands.  I can’t really back this, so I’ll call it ironic, if nothing else.

But there are parts of this scripture that speak to me when I look at my country.  Verses 14-16 talk about how the people react to their current situation.  The last three verses, give me hope that America can come back to God.  Verse 22 says unless you have utterly rejected us and I know that Christ has taught us that he will never reject us when we repent and believe and that he has been the propitiation for our sins.

So I’ll add one little letter, (and a couple of capitals), to verse 21 and say:

Restore US(A) to yourself, O Lord, that we may be restored!