Overview:
To lament is to cry out with a pain so deep we cannot express it with words, only with a wail from the depth of our souls. Jeremiah groaned with sadness as he stumbled through the ruins of Jerusalem. He saw corpses in the streets and orphaned children begging for food. This was his nation’s darkest hour . . . the shadow of which stretches across the years to our own day. We sometimes witness ugly scenes in our nation, and we must have Jeremiah’s courage to face the truth of what we see and cry out to God, our hope of restoration.
Message Summary:
In this message based on Lamentations 4, Chuck Swindoll walks through the devastation of Jerusalem as seen through the eyes of the “weeping prophet,” Jeremiah. Swindoll describes the prophet wandering through the ruins of the city he spent decades trying to save, journaling the “ugly scenes” of a nation that has lost its glory. The imagery is stark: the gold has lost its luster, sacred gemstones are scattered in the street, and precious children—once valued as fine gold—are now treated like cheap clay pots, neglected by mothers who have become as heartless as ostriches in the desert [1–2, 16–17].
Swindoll draws a somber parallel between ancient Jerusalem and modern society, noting that “without protection, no city is safe.” He highlights the breakdown of leadership among prophets and priests, whose failure to uphold the truth led to anarchy and lawlessness in the streets. He shares the heartbreaking story of a father grieving his murdered son in a lawless zone to illustrate the pain of a society where authority has collapsed [18–20].
The message pivots from the tragedy of the city to the character of the prophet. Swindoll explores how Jeremiah maintained his integrity despite being mocked, imprisoned, and ignored. He concludes with a stirring challenge from Jeremiah 12:5, asking the congregation a pivotal question: “If you have run with footmen and they have wearied you, how will you contend with horses?” Swindoll urges believers not to retreat into mediocrity or fear but to commit to “run with the horses,” displaying courage and commitment in a broken world [28–31, 33].
Message Key Facts:
- The Prophet’s “Entertainment” Value: Swindoll references Ezekiel 33 to explain that people often flocked to prophets not to obey them, but to be “entertained” by their eloquence and vocabulary. He warns that hearing truth without doing it is a trap; the goal of truth is action [9–10].
- The “Ostrich” Generation: In Lamentations 4:3, Jeremiah compares the mothers of Jerusalem to ostriches. Swindoll notes that ostriches are among the few animals that mistreat or ignore their young. This illustrates a society that has stopped training its children in virtue, leaving them to “run wild” [16–17].
- Gatekeepers of Truth: Recalling a conversation with Chuck Colson, Swindoll explains that enemies do not always scale walls; often, they enter through the gates because of weak gatekeepers. He defines believers as the “Gatekeepers” of their culture who must model and declare the truth [12–13].
- The Senate Chaplain Interview: Swindoll shares a personal story of being interviewed for the position of Senate Chaplain. He was ultimately rejected because he insisted on praying in the exclusive name of Jesus Christ, refusing to water down his faith for a pluralistic setting. He uses this to illustrate the necessity of exclusivity in the Gospel [23–26].
- Jeremiah’s Two Traits: After reviewing the prophet’s life, Swindoll identifies two defining characteristics:
- Regardless of the response, he always told the truth.
- Regardless of the pain, he never retreated.
- Running with the Horses: Swindoll breaks down Jeremiah 12:5, the first verse he ever memorized. He explains it as a Divine reprimand: if Jeremiah was tired by the “foot soldiers” (daily struggles), how would he handle the “cavalry” (the Babylonians/greater crises)? It is a call to toughen up for a “lifetime of tough stuff” rather than quitting when life gets difficult [29–31].
- The Role of Authority: Citing Romans 13, Swindoll affirms that governing authorities and police are “God’s servants” sent for protection. While acknowledging there are “bad apples” in every profession (ministers, doctors, police), he argues against dismantling the systems of protection that keep a city from falling into anarchy [21–23].
Message References:
- Lamentations 4: The primary text detailing the degradation of Jerusalem, the starvation of the people, and the failure of its leadership.
- Jeremiah 12:5: The challenging verse asking, “If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, then how can you contend with horses?”.
- Ezekiel 33:30–32: A warning about people who listen to prophets as if they are singers of love songs but do not put the words into practice [9–10].
- Romans 13:1–4: The instruction to submit to governing authorities, who are established by God to punish wrongdoers and protect the good [21–22].
- Hebrews 11:32–37: A “Hall of Faith” passage describing the torture, imprisonment, and martyrdom faced by the prophets.
- Psalm 127:1: “Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good”.
