By Michael C. Mack
1. What “beautiful thing”—an extravagant, lavish act of worship—did you do for Jesus over the last week?
2. What once-valuable object, interest, or affection have you seen lose its luster over time?
Ask two people to read aloud Lamentations 4:1-22 one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions. Then ask a third person to briefly summarize the passage.
3. Look at all the words and phrases that describe Israel (God’s people) compared to who they once were. How would you describe them in your own words?
- How did God respond to their downfall?
- How did the corruption of their leaders—prophets, priests, and the king (“the Lord’s anointed,” King Zedekiah)—help lead to their downfall?
4. What do you learn about people from this passage?
5. What do you learn about God?
6. Despite the punishment of God’s people and the resulting suffering, how do you see God’s sovereignty over all the circumstances described in this chapter?
7. How have you seen disobedience go from bad to worse in your own life or someone else’s (without naming names)?
8. Proverbs 3:11-12 says, “Do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.” How can we improve at paying attention when God disciplines us? (See also Jeremiah 18:3-6 and John 15:1-2.)
9. Based on our study and discussion, complete the sentence: “I will . . .”
10. How would you ask God to help you receive and learn from his discipline?
For Next Week: Read and reflect on Lamentations 5:1-22. You can also read next week’s supplemental texts as well as the Study and Application sections as part of your personal study.
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