An End to Punishment

Lamentations 4:12-22

12 The kings of the earth,
And all inhabitants of the world,
Would not have believed
That the adversary and the enemy
Could enter the gates of Jerusalem—
13 Because of the sins of her prophets
And the iniquities of her priests,
Who shed in her midst
The blood of the just.

14 They wandered blind in the streets;
They have defiled themselves with blood,
So that no one would touch their garments.
15 They cried out to them,
"Go away, unclean!
Go away, go away,
Do not touch us!"
When they fled and wandered,
Those among the nations said,
"They shall no longer dwell here."

16 The face of the LORD scattered them;
He no longer regards them.
The people do not respect the priests
Nor show favor to the elders.

17 Still our eyes failed us,
Watching vainly for our help;
In our watching we watched
For a nation that could not save us.

18 They tracked our steps
So that we could not walk in our streets.
Our end was near;
Our days were over,
For our end had come.
19 Our pursuers were swifter
Than the eagles of the heavens.
They pursued us on the mountains
And lay in wait for us in the wilderness.

20 The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the LORD,
Was caught in their pits,
Of whom we said, "Under his shadow
We shall live among the nations."

21 Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom,
You who dwell in the land of Uz!
The cup shall also pass over to you
And you shall become drunk and make yourself naked.

22 The punishment of your iniquity is accomplished,
O daughter of Zion;
He will no longer send you into captivity.

He will punish your iniquity,
O daughter of Edom;
He will uncover your sins!

After suffering the punishment of judgment on their sins of rejecting the LORD and idolatry with immortality, God’s people finally found relief, though the Edomites who helped Nebuchadnezzar overthrow Jerusalem and who were given land around their old enemy were judged as their sins were uncovered afterwards.  This teaches us that God’s discipline is to correct and restore sinners, not destroy.  It also teaches us that those aligning with the enemies of God’s people will suffer the fate they wished on the chosen ones out of hatred and spite.  The sins of Judah had reached the point where judgment fell and they had been scattered and led into captivity to learn humility, repentance, and holiness once more.  They had blood on their hands, even the prophets and priests who should have been speaking truth in love and interceding for the sins of the flock.  By neglecting these things and actively working against their good and God’s honor, they were disciplined harshly but still far less than they deserved because of His mercy and grace.  That was His character and goodness towards the chosen remnant.  Their sin had resulted in rejection from others within and without as they vainly looked to Egypt and others to deliver them from their enemy and bondage, which is ironic since they were in bondage to sin already.  They were just to exchange masters for a generation until they would be returned to their promised land once more in a corrected character of humility and righteousness in holiness according to His word.  Yes, they saw their end coming near as the Babylonian army overtook them at last and those old enemies of Edom would be given their land for a short while in aid to the enemy of Judah.  But Edom was to be exposed and judged for this and punished for their iniquity as Judah’s punishment was fulfilled and ended.  God’s people are held accountable for sin and are disciplined so that they may be restored and reconciled as we are in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:18-19) forevermore.  Grace is mercy’s hand of discipline for correction according to His word (2 Timothy 3:16) for those He calls to Himself as His own.  There is an end to punishment and a restoration in our Savior, just as there was for Judah in their outward destruction and captivity until their freedom was given by God’s goodness and merciful loving kindness.