Good morning,

Lamentations 5 is the final chapter of the book of Lamentations in the Bible. This chapter presents a plea to God from the people of Israel amidst their suffering after the fall of Jerusalem. The lament captures their desperate circumstances under foreign domination, the hardship they have undergone, and their yearning for God’s mercy and restoration. 

Lamentations 5 

A Prayer for Restoration 

Verses 1–3 – A Plea for Remembrance

Remember, O Lord, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach.² Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens.³ We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers are as widows.

Lamentations 5:1 begins with a plea, Remember, O LORD, what has happened to us. Look and see our disgrace! This verse sets the tone for the chapter, highlighting the importance of bringing our suffering before God.

Jeremiah cries, “Remember, O LORD” as a representative voice for the shattered nation. He lists the losses—honor, land, and inheritance—and underscores that Judah feels like an orphaned, widowed community, exposed and unprotected. 

Verses 4–10 – National Hardships 

⁴ We have drunken our water for money; our wood is sold unto us.⁵ Our necks are under persecution: we labour, and have no rest.⁶ We have given the hand to the Egyptians, and to the Assyrians, to be satisfied with bread.⁷ Our fathers have sinned, and are not; and we have borne their iniquities.⁸ Servants have ruled over us: there is none that doth deliver us out of their hand.⁹ We gat our bread with the peril of our lives because of the sword of the wilderness.¹⁰ Our skin was black like an oven because of the terrible famine.

Daily realities are brutal: water and wood—once freely gathered—now cost hard currency; servitude and starvation hound the people. Foreign powers pursue them, and life has become a desperate race for survival, “their skin hot as an oven” from famine. 

Verses 11–16 – Social Humiliation and Loss of Joy 

¹¹ They ravished the women in Zion, and the maids in the cities of Judah.¹² Princes are hanged up by their hand: the faces of elders were not honoured.¹³ They took the young men to grind, and the children fell under the wood.¹⁴ The elders have ceased from the gate, the young men from their musick.¹⁵ The joy of our heart is ceased; our dance is turned into mourning.¹⁶ The crown is fallen from our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned!

The poet catalogs outrages against every social layer—women violated, princes hanged, elders disrespected, youths forced into labor. The song of celebration has fallen silent, the crown of glory lies in the dust, and sin is recognized as the cause. 

Verses 17–18 – Land in Ruins 

¹⁷ For this our heart is faint; for these things our eyes are dim.¹⁸ Because of the mountain of Zion, which is desolate, the foxes walk upon it.

Grief overwhelms because Mount Zion—once bustling with pilgrims—now hosts jackals. The land’s desolation mirrors the inner devastation of the people. 

Verses 19–22 – Appeal to God’s Reign and Mercy 

¹⁹ Thou, O Lord, remainest for ever; thy throne from generation to generation.²⁰ Wherefore dost thou forget us for ever, and forsake us so long time?²¹ Turn thou us unto thee, O Lord, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.²² But thou hast utterly rejected us; thou art very wroth against us.

The prayer ends by confessing God’s eternal kingship yet begs, “Restore us to Yourself.” The community fears being utterly rejected but still clings to hope in a God who reigns “from generation to generation.” 

Teaching Points

Consequences of Sin

The chapter vividly describes the dire consequences of Israel’s disobedience, such as in verse 7, Our fathers sinned and are no more, but we bear their punishment. It underscores the generational impact of sin.

Loss and Deprivation

Verses 2-18 detail the various losses experienced by the people, from land and homes to joy and dignity. This comprehensive list serves as a reminder of the cost of turning away from God.

Hope for Restoration

Despite the bleak circumstances, the chapter ends with a glimmer of hope. Verse 21 pleads, Restore us to Yourself, O LORD, that we may return; renew our days as of old. This reflects a deep yearning for reconciliation with God.

God’s Sovereignty Verse 19 affirms, You, O LORD, reign forever; Your throne endures from generation to generation. This acknowledgment of God’s eternal sovereignty provides a foundation for hope and trust.

Practical Applications

Bring Your Burdens to God

Just as the Israelites brought their lament to God, we too should not hesitate to bring our struggles and pain before Him in prayer.

Reflect on the Consequences of Sin

Use this chapter as a mirror to examine areas in your life where sin may be causing harm, and seek God’s forgiveness and guidance.

Seek Restoration

Actively pursue reconciliation with God and others, asking Him to renew and restore your life.

Trust in God’s Sovereignty

In times of trouble, remind yourself of God’s eternal reign and His ability to bring about change and restoration.

Lessons from Lamentations 5

1. Acknowledge Our Need for God
In Lamentations 5, we see a heartfelt cry for help, reminding us of our dependence on God. The chapter begins with a plea: “Remember, O LORD, what has happened to us. Look and see our disgrace!” (Lamentations 5:1). This teaches us that acknowledging our need for God is the first step toward healing and restoration. In our daily lives, we should never hesitate to bring our struggles to Him, trusting that He is attentive and compassionate.

2. The Power of Community Prayer
The collective voice in Lamentations 5 highlights the importance of community prayer. The people of Israel come together to seek God’s intervention, demonstrating that there is strength in unity. When we gather with others to pray, we not only uplift each other but also invite God’s presence into our midst. “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:20).

3. Remembering Past Blessings
Reflecting on past blessings can provide hope and perspective during difficult times. The Israelites recall their former glory and the blessings they once enjoyed, which fuels their desire for restoration. By remembering how God has worked in our lives before, we can find encouragement and assurance that He will act again. “I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your works” (Psalm 143:5).

4. The Consequences of Sin
Lamentations 5 vividly illustrates the consequences of turning away from God. The chapter recounts the suffering and loss experienced due to the nation’s disobedience. This serves as a sobering reminder that sin has real and painful consequences. However, it also points us to the hope of redemption through repentance and faith in Christ. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

5. The Importance of Repentance
Repentance is a central theme in Lamentations 5, as the people cry out for God’s mercy. True repentance involves a sincere turning away from sin and a heartfelt return to God. This chapter encourages us to examine our own lives and seek forgiveness, knowing that God is always ready to welcome us back with open arms. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins” (1 John 1:9).

6. God’s Unchanging Nature
Despite the chaos and suffering described in Lamentations 5, the chapter ends with a powerful affirmation of God’s eternal reign: “You, O LORD, reign forever; Your throne endures from generation to generation” (Lamentations 5:19). This reminds us that no matter how dire our circumstances may seem, God’s nature and His promises remain constant. He is our steadfast anchor in the storm.

7. Hope in Restoration
The plea for restoration in Lamentations 5 is a testament to the hope that God can and will restore what is broken. This hope is not just for the Israelites but for all who trust in Him. In our own lives, we can hold onto the promise that God is in the business of making all things new. “He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!'” (Revelation 21:5).

8. The Role of Lament in Faith
Lamentations 5 teaches us that lament is a valid and important part of our faith journey. Expressing our grief and struggles to God is not a sign of weakness but an act of trust. It shows that we believe He cares about our pain and is capable of bringing comfort and healing. “Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

9. The Call to Persevere
Even in the face of adversity, Lamentations 5 encourages perseverance. The chapter’s closing verses express a longing for God’s intervention, yet they also reflect a determination to wait on Him. In our own lives, we are called to persevere in faith, trusting that God’s timing is perfect. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).

10. The Assurance of God’s Faithfulness
Ultimately, Lamentations 5 reassures us of God’s faithfulness. Despite the people’s unfaithfulness, God remains committed to His covenant. This is a powerful reminder that our hope is not in our own ability to remain faithful, but in God’s unwavering faithfulness to us. “The LORD is faithful to all His promises and loving toward all He has made” (Psalm 145:13). Let this assurance inspire us to live boldly and confidently in His love.

Lamentations 5 closes without a neat resolution, inviting readers to carry the prayer forward. The tension presses believers to trust God’s unchanging reign while waiting for the full restoration He alone can give. 

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Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

Strangers and pilgrims on the earth! (part 2)

Charles Spurgeon

(Be sure to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)

Hebrews 11:13, “They acknowledged that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”

Beloved, you are only lodgers in this poor world for a very little while. Soon this earthly tent will be taken down, the pilgrim’s staff will be laid aside for the last time, and you will cross the Jordan into the better country: the heavenly homeland prepared for the people of God. Therefore travel light; do not load yourself with the cares and treasures that perish with the using. Your inheritance is incorruptible, undefiled, and unfading, reserved in Heaven for you who are kept by the power of God.

The true Christian cannot rest in this poor world. Its fashions, its applause, its riches are all empty to him. He is a pilgrim who has left the City of Destruction, and is bound for the Celestial City. We tarry but a little while in this valley of tears; eternity with Jesus is our eternal portion.

The Christian is a holy pilgrim, journeying through the wilderness of this world to the Celestial City. The manna of yesterday, will not feed you today. Fresh grace is needed for fresh journeys, and the Lord delights to supply it to His faithful pilgrims.

This poor world cannot fill an immortal soul. You may heap together its gold and silver, its honors and pleasures, and still the heart cries, ‘Vanity of vanities! All is vanity!’ The pilgrim has learned to say, ‘Whom have I in Heaven but You? There is none upon earth that I desire beside You.’ Jesus is his everlasting portion, and in Him he possesses all things.

Our life here is but a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. The Christian numbers his days and applies his heart unto wisdom. He knows that the longest life is short, when measured by eternity. Therefore he redeems the time, runs with patience the race set before him, and keeps his eyes fixed on Jesus!

The Christian’s path is the pilgrim’s path–narrow, uphill, and often lonely, yet it leads home. We are strangers here, and the world’s fashions, maxims, and joys are not ours. Pilgrims must expect rough roads, but the end of the journey will make amends for all!

“Get up, go away! For this is not your resting place, because it is defiled, it is ruined beyond all remedy!” Micah 2:10

“Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul!” 1 Peter 2:11

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Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

Strangers and pilgrims on the earth!

Charles Spurgeon

(Be sure to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)

Hebrews 11:13, “They acknowledged that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”

This poor world is a boarding-house in which we lodge for a night or two, but it is not our home. The furniture is not ours, the title-deeds are not in our name, and the lease will soon expire. Why then, do we fret over its broken chairs, or quarrel about the best rooms? The Christian’s true estate lies yonder, where Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us. Let us hold all earthly things with a loose hand, lest when the Master calls, we be found glued to the toys of the nursery, instead of ready for the palace of the King.

The path of the Christian pilgrim is not strewn with flowers, but with thorns. He must expect to be misunderstood by the men of this world, for he speaks a different language and seeks a different country.

Beloved friends, you and I are passing through Vanity Fair, but we are not free to set up shop there. The true pilgrim buys none of the merchandise of the place–neither its honors, its pleasures, nor its empty praise. He has his treasure in Heaven, where moth and rust do not corrupt.

A pilgrim must travel light. The more luggage he carries, the more weary he becomes. So the Christian is called to lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily besets him. Houses, lands, gold, and reputation are heavy burdens for a man who is bound for eternity.

This world is a wilderness, and though the desert winds howl and the fiery serpents hiss, the pilgrim need not fear. His God has sworn to bring him safely to the land that flows with milk and honey–the better country of everlasting rest.

Our Lord Jesus was the great Pilgrim who had nowhere to lay His head. If we are in Him, we must share His pilgrim spirit. The cross marks the pilgrim’s pathway, but the crown lies at the end of it!

We are pilgrims and strangers upon the earth, and we do well to remember it every day we live. This poor world is not our rest, for it is polluted! Our home is beyond the river of death, in the land where the flowers never fade and the sun never sets. Let us not build our nests too firmly in these trees that will soon be cut down, but keep our hearts loose from earthly things, that when the trumpet sounds we may rise and enter into the joy of our Lord.

What is this poor dying world, that we should fall in love with it? Its smiles are deceitful, its riches take wings and fly away, and its pleasures bite like adders! The believer has been taught by the Spirit to call it what it is–a broken cistern, a fading flower, a temporary tent. His heart is fixed on things above, not on earthly toys.

To the true believer, this world is a wilderness, dry and barren, full of serpents and thorns. He finds no lasting satisfaction in its broken cisterns. He is a pilgrim passing through, and though the road may be rough and the sky dark, he knows that every step brings him nearer to the city that has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

“Get up, go away! For this is not your resting place, because it is defiled, it is ruined beyond all remedy!” Micah 2:10

“Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul!” 1 Peter 2:11

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Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

This week we will enjoy chapters 9-12 of Pilgrim’s Progress.

Chapter 12. The Palace Beautiful (SermonAudio.com, 26 minute video)

Chapter 12. The Palace Beautiful (YouTube, 26 minute video)

 Christian continues his journey after refusing to turn back with Timorous and Mistrust.

 As evening approaches, he arrives at a place called the Palace Beautiful. The palace stands beside the King’s highway and serves as a place of rest and encouragement for pilgrims. At first, Christian hesitates because he is uncertain whether he will be welcomed there. As he approaches, he sees two lions positioned near the path. The sight of the lions causes him to stop and consider whether he should proceed. 

A porter named Watchful calls out to him and explains that the lions are chained. Christian learns that the danger is more apparent than real, if he remains on the proper path. Encouraged by this instruction, he carefully passes between the lions and reaches the palace safely. At the entrance, he is welcomed by godly women named Discretion, Prudence, Piety, and Charity. They question Christian concerning his journey, his conversion, and his destination. Christian recounts his experiences from the City of Destruction, to the Cross and beyond. The women rejoice in God’s grace toward him and gladly receive him as a fellow pilgrim.

 Christian spends time enjoying fellowship, instruction, and spiritual encouragement within the palace. He is shown many valuable truths concerning the King and His kingdom. The residents strengthen his understanding of the pilgrimage and prepare him for future trials.

Christian is also taken to the armory, where he is shown the weapons available for spiritual warfare. There he is equipped with armor that will help him face the dangers ahead. 

Before departing, Christian is shown a distant view of the Celestial City from the palace roof. Refreshed, instructed, encouraged, and equipped, Christian leaves the Palace Beautiful ready to continue his journey with renewed confidence. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx                                                                     Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

This week we will enjoy chapters 9-12 of Pilgrim’s Progress.

Chapter 11. Timorous and Mistrust (SermonAudio.com, 7 minute video)

Chapter 11. Timorous and Mistrust (YouTube, 7 minute video)

Christian resumes his journey after recovering the scroll he had lost in the arbor on the Hill Difficulty. The lessons learned from his carelessness have made him more watchful and determined. 

As he proceeds, he encounters two men named Timorous and Mistrust. These travelers are moving in the opposite direction, away from the Celestial City. Their fearful appearance immediately attracts Christian’s attention. Christian asks them why they are retreating from the pilgrimage. They explain that they had been traveling toward the Celestial City but became terrified by dangers ahead. In particular, they report seeing lions positioned near the path before them. Convinced that the danger is too great, they have decided to abandon the journey altogether. Their fears have overcome their desire to continue toward their destination.

 Christian listens carefully to their warning and considers the seriousness of what they have said. He recognizes that the threat may indeed be real. At the same time, he understands that turning back would lead only toward destruction. Christian reasons that although dangers may lie ahead, safety cannot be found by abandoning the King’s highway.

 He remembers the blessings he has already received and the goal that still lies before him. Rather than following Timorous and Mistrust back toward the old life, he chooses to continue forward. His decision demonstrates growing faith and spiritual maturity. 

The contrast between Christian and the two fearful travelers becomes increasingly clear. Timorous and Mistrust allow fear to control their actions, while Christian allows truth to govern his decisions. The chapter highlights the importance of persevering in Scriptural path even when frightening circumstances threaten to discourage the pilgrim. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

Lamentations Chapter 4 is a painful and vivid portrayal of the fall of Jerusalem, shedding light on the severe consequences of Israel’s sin. The chapter paints a grim picture of how the prosperous city and its people suffer under the wrath of God. The poet laments the loss of their former glory, marking a turning point from prosperity to despair. 

Lamentations 4

Verses 1–2 – Tarnished Gold and Scattered Stones

How is the gold become dim! how is the most fine gold changed! the stones of the sanctuary are poured out in the top of every street.² The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!

Lamentations 4:1-2 describes the tarnishing of Jerusalem’s splendor, comparing the city’s precious sons to gold that has lost its luster. This imagery highlights the drastic change from honor to disgrace.

Jerusalem’s glory looks like dimmed gold. Priestly jewels—its people—are tossed into the streets like broken pottery. 

Verses 3–6 – Reversal of Natural Care

³ Even the sea monsters draw out the breast, they give suck to their young ones: the daughter of my people is become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness.⁴ The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the young children ask bread, and no man breaketh it unto them.⁵ They that did feed delicately are desolate in the streets: they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills.⁶ For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on her.  

Verse 3 compares Zion’s mothers unfavorably to jackals, a shocking reversal of natural compassion. Moses warned of this exact horror if Israel broke covenant (Deuteronomy 28:53–57). The curse arrives in Jeremiah’s lifetime as famine forces unspeakable acts (v. 10). 

Babylonian ration tablets found in modern Iraq list captive Judean king Jehoiachin and prove the enemy’s bureaucracy. Siege warfare cut food lines; clay ovens found in Jerusalem contain burned grain—silent witnesses to verses 4–5: “The nursing infant’s tongue clings to the roof of his mouth for thirst”. 

Verses 7–10 – From Splendor to Suffering

⁷ Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was of sapphire:⁸ Their visage is blacker than a coal; they are not known in the streets: their skin cleaveth to their bones; it is withered, it is become like a stick.⁹ They that be slain with the sword are better than they that be slain with hunger: for these pine away, stricken through for want of the fruits of the field.        ¹⁰ The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children: they were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people.

Verses 4-10 depict the dire conditions during the siege, emphasizing the physical and emotional suffering of the people. The once compassionate mothers are driven to unimaginable acts due to starvation.

Princes once ruddy and polished are now gaunt and soot-stained. Famine grows so severe that compassionate women cook their own children. 

Verses 11–12 – Wrath Breaking Down the Walls

¹¹ The Lord hath accomplished his fury; he hath poured out his fierce anger, and hath kindled a fire in Zion, and it hath devoured the foundations thereof.¹² The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world, would not have believed that the adversary and the enemy should have entered into the gates of Jerusalem.

The LORD’s fury burns like a consuming fire. No king ever imagined that enemies could march through Jerusalem’s gates—yet they have. 

Verses 13–16 – Cause: Prophets and Priests’ Sin

For the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her,¹⁴ They have wandered as blind men in the streets, they have polluted themselves with blood, so that men could not touch their garments.¹⁵ They cried unto them, Depart ye; it is unclean; depart, depart, touch not: when they fled away and wandered, they said among the heathen, They shall no more sojourn there.¹⁶ The anger of the Lord hath divided them; he will no more regard them: they respected not the persons of the priests, they favoured not the elders.

Verses 13–16 place blame on spiritual leaders who “shed in her midst the blood of the righteous” (v. 13). Earlier, Jeremiah condemned prophets who peddled false comfort (Jeremiah 6:14) and priests who abused trust (Jeremiah 26:7–11). Their sin dulls the city’s moral compass until no one can tell clean from unclean. 

Prophets and priests shed innocent blood, blind to guilt, shunned like lepers. The people finally see that spiritual leaders led them into ruin.

Verses 17–20 – Hopeless Watch and Betrayal

As for us, our eyes as yet failed for our vain help: in our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save us. ¹⁸ They hunt our steps, that we cannot go in our streets: our end is near, our days are fulfilled; for our end is come.¹⁹ Our persecutors are swifter than the eagles of the heaven: they pursued us upon the mountains, they laid wait for us in the wilderness. ²⁰ The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the Lord, was taken in their pits, of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the heathen.

Judah’s eyes ache from watching for help that never comes. Enemies hunt them down, even trapping the king—“the breath of our nostrils.

Verses 21–22 – Edom’s Turn, Zion’s Future

²¹ Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, that dwellest in the land of Uz; the cup also shall pass through unto thee: thou shalt be drunken, and shalt make thyself naked.²² The punishment of thine iniquity is accomplished, O daughter of Zion; he will no more carry thee away into captivity: he will visit thine iniquity, O daughter of Edom; he will discover thy sins.

Edom may rejoice now, but her cup of judgment is coming. Zion’s exile will end, and her guilt will be removed. 

Verse 21 addresses Edom’s glee. Psalm 137:7 recalls how Edom cheered Babylon: “’Lay it bare!’ they cried.” Obadiah expands on Edom’s coming downfall. God’s justice is even-handed: the same cup passed to Jerusalem now tilts toward Edom. 

Despite the bleakness, verse 22 offers a glimmer of hope, promising that the punishment will end, and the Lord will not prolong the exile indefinitely.

(https://biblehub.com/chaptersummaries/lamentations/4.htm)

Practical Applications

Reflect on Personal Sin

Just as Jerusalem faced consequences for its sins, we should examine our lives for areas where we may be straying from God’s will and seek His forgiveness.

Value Spiritual Leadership

Recognize the importance of godly leadership and pray for our spiritual leaders to remain faithful and true to God’s Word.

Avoid Complacency

Guard against a false sense of security in our spiritual lives, remembering that our strength and protection come from God alone.

Trust in God’s Restoration

Even in times of judgment or discipline, hold onto the hope that God offers restoration and renewal to those who repent.  (https://biblehub.com/chaptersummaries/lamentations/4.htm)

Lessons from Lamentations 4

1. The Consequences of Sin Are Real
Lamentations 4 paints a vivid picture of the devastation that sin can bring. The chapter opens with a lament over the tarnished gold and the stones of the sanctuary scattered at every street corner. This imagery reminds us that sin has tangible consequences, affecting not just individuals but entire communities. As it is written, “How the gold has grown dim, the pure gold has changed!” (Lamentations 4:1). It’s a call to recognize the seriousness of sin and its impact on our lives and those around us.

2. The Value of Spiritual Wealth
The chapter contrasts the former glory of Jerusalem with its current desolation, highlighting the fleeting nature of material wealth. “The precious sons of Zion, worth their weight in pure gold, how they are regarded as clay jars, the work of a potter’s hands!” (Lamentations 4:2). This serves as a reminder that true wealth is found in spiritual richness and a relationship with God, which cannot be tarnished or lost.

3. The Importance of Compassion
Lamentations 4:3-4 describes the heart-wrenching scene of children begging for food, emphasizing the need for compassion and care for the vulnerable. “Even jackals offer the breast to nurse their young, but the daughter of my people has become cruel, like ostriches in the wilderness” (Lamentations 4:3). This calls us to reflect on our own actions and ensure we are extending love and kindness to those in need.

4. The Dangers of Pride
The chapter warns against the dangers of pride and self-reliance. The people of Jerusalem once lived in luxury, but their pride led to their downfall. “Those who once feasted on delicacies are destitute in the streets; those brought up in crimson huddle in ash heaps” (Lamentations 4:5). It’s a powerful reminder that humility and dependence on God are essential for a life of true fulfillment.

5. The Role of Leadership
Lamentations 4 highlights the failure of leaders who did not guide their people according to God’s ways. “The LORD has vented His fury, pouring out His fierce anger. He has kindled a fire in Zion that consumed her foundations” (Lamentations 4:11). This underscores the responsibility of leaders to shepherd their people with integrity and righteousness, aligning their actions with God’s will.

6. The Reality of God’s Judgment
The chapter vividly illustrates the reality of God’s judgment, serving as a sobering reminder of His holiness and justice. “The kings of the earth did not believe, nor did any of the people of the world, that an enemy or foe could enter the gates of Jerusalem” (Lamentations 4:12). This calls us to live in reverence and obedience, knowing that God is both loving and just.

7. The Hope of Restoration
Despite the bleakness, Lamentations 4 hints at the hope of restoration. The chapter ends with a promise that the punishment will not last forever. “The punishment of your iniquity, O daughter of Zion, is accomplished; He will no longer send you into exile” (Lamentations 4:22). This reassures us that God’s mercy and grace are always available, offering hope for renewal and redemption.

8. The Call to Repentance
The devastation described in Lamentations 4 serves as a call to repentance. The suffering experienced by the people of Jerusalem is a direct result of their turning away from God. “The LORD has done what He purposed; He has fulfilled His word, which He decreed long ago” (Lamentations 4:17). This encourages us to examine our own lives, turn from sin, and seek God’s forgiveness.

9. The Power of Prayer
Throughout Lamentations, the power of prayer is evident as the author pours out his heart to God. In times of distress, prayer becomes a lifeline, connecting us to the One who hears and responds. “Our eyes failed, ever watching in vain for our help; we watched from our towers for a nation that could not save us” (Lamentations 4:17). This reminds us to continually seek God in prayer, trusting in His faithfulness.

10. The Assurance of God’s Sovereignty
Finally, Lamentations 4 reassures us of God’s sovereignty, even amidst chaos and destruction. The chapter acknowledges that everything unfolds according to God’s plan and purpose. “Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, you who dwell in the land of Uz. But to you also the cup will be passed; you will become drunk and strip yourself naked” (Lamentations 4:21). This assurance gives us confidence to trust in God’s ultimate control over all circumstances, knowing that He works all things for good. 

 (https://biblehub.com/chaptersummaries/lamentations/4.htm)

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

This week we will enjoy chapters 9-12 of Pilgrim’s Progress.

Chapter 10. The Hill Difficulty (SermonAudio.com, 4 minute video)

Chapter 10. The Hill Difficulty (YouTube, 4 minute video)

 Christian continues his pilgrimage after encountering Formalist and Hypocrisy on the King’s highway. As he travels, he comes to a place where the road divides into three separate paths. The central path leads directly up a steep hill called Difficulty.

 On either side of the hill are easier paths known as Danger and Destruction. Christian observes that the easier routes appear far more attractive than the steep ascent. Nevertheless, he remembers that the King’s highway leads over the hill itself. Determined to obey, he chooses the difficult path rather than the easier alternatives.

 The climb proves exhausting and requires considerable effort. Halfway up the hill, Christian discovers a pleasant arbor provided for the refreshment of weary pilgrims. He sits down to rest and soon falls asleep. While sleeping, he loses valuable time that should have been spent progressing toward his destination. During his sleep, the scroll that had been given to him near the Cross slips from his possession. 

Eventually Christian awakens and realizes that the day is far spent. He quickly resumes his journey and reaches the summit of the hill. There he meets two frightened pilgrims who are fleeing in the opposite direction. They report terrifying dangers ahead and urge Christian to turn back. Despite their warnings, Christian remains committed to continuing toward the Celestial City.

 Shortly afterward, he discovers that his scroll is missing. Realizing the seriousness of the loss, he retraces his steps to search for it. After much sorrow and effort, he finds the scroll in the arbor, thanks God for His mercy, and resumes his journey with renewed vigilance.

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Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

This week we will enjoy chapters 9-12 of Pilgrim’s Progress.

Chapter 9. Formalist and Hypocrisy (SermonAudio.com, 6 minute video)

Chapter 9. Formalist and Hypocrisy (YouTube, 6 minute video)

Christian continues his journey after leaving behind Simple, Sloth, and Presumption. Having been relieved of his burden at the Cross, he now travels with greater confidence and joy. As he proceeds along the King’s highway, he notices two men climbing over a wall rather than entering by the Narrow Gate. Their names are Formalist and Hypocrisy. The wall they climb represents an attempt to enter the Christian life by some means other than God’s appointed way.

 Christian is surprised to see them upon the path and questions how they arrived there. The two men explain that they have come from the land of Vainglory. Rather than entering through the Narrow Gate, they consider it easier to climb over the wall. Christian reminds them that the King has commanded pilgrims to enter only through the proper entrance. He warns them that their method of entry is contrary to the King’s will.

 Formalist and Hypocrisy dismiss Christian’s concerns and insist that their long-standing customs justify their actions. They believe that sincerity and tradition are sufficient regardless of whether they obey the King’s instructions. Christian explains that obedience to the King’s command is essential and cannot be replaced by human preferences.

 The two men continue walking with Christian for a time but remain unconvinced by his arguments. Because they entered improperly, they possess none of the credentials given to Christian at the Narrow Gate. They have no mark upon their foreheads and no sealed scroll to present later in their journey. Their outward appearance resembles that of true pilgrims, but they lack the inward reality represented by these gifts. Christian recognizes that they have adopted the appearance of religion without submitting to God’s appointed way of salvation. Their presence illustrates that not everyone traveling near the path is a genuine pilgrim. The chapter warns readers that external religion, tradition, and appearances can never substitute for entering God’s way through the Narrow Gate.

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Good morning, 

The flowers in the Lord’s garden

J.C. Ryle, “The Gospel of John“

(Be sure to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)

“Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb to see. The other disciple outran Peter and got there first. He stooped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there, but he didn’t go in. Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside.” John 20:3-6

We are taught in these verses, that there are widely different temperaments in different believers.

This is a point which is curiously brought out in the conduct of Peter and John, when Mary told them that the Lord’s body was gone. We are told that they both ran to the sepulcher; but John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, outran Peter, and reached the empty grave first. Then the difference between the two men comes out.

John, of the two more gentle, quiet, tender, reserved, retiring, deep feeling, stooped down and looked in, but went no further. Peter, more hot, and zealous, and impulsive, and fervent, and forward, cannot be content without going down into the sepulcher, and actually seeing with his own eyes.

Both, we may be sure, were deeply attached to our Lord. The hearts of both, at this critical juncture, were full of hopes, and fears, and anxieties, and expectations–all tangled together. Yet each behaves in his own characteristic fashion.

We need not doubt that these things were intentionally written for our learning. Let us learn, from the case before us, to make allowances for wide varieties in the inward character of believers. To do so will save us much trouble in the journey of life, and prevent many an uncharitable thought.

Let us not judge brethren harshly, and set them down in a low place, because they do not see or feel things exactly as we see and feel, and because things do not affect or strike them just as they affect and strike us.

The flowers in the Lord’s garden are not all of one color and one scent, though they are all planted by one Spirit.

The subjects of His kingdom are not all exactly of one tone and temperament, though they all love the same Savior, and are written in the same Book of Life.

The Church of Christ has some in its ranks who are like Peter, and some who are like John; and a place for all, and a work for all to do. Let us love all who love Christ in sincerity, and to thank God that they love Him at all. The great thing is to love Jesus! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

The golden pipe through whom the Father’s eternal love flows to His people!

Charles Spurgeon, “The Exceeding Riches of Grace“

(Be sure to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)

Ephesians 2:7,  ” . . . the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.“

I could well read these words as, “the superabounding, immeasurable, overflowing riches of the grace of God!” If I were to heap up acclamations, I could never express all that Paul means. There never was, and never shall be, a human understanding that can fully grasp the incomprehensible riches of the grace and mercy of God in Jesus!

What are some of the incomparable riches of His grace?
He chose us before He lit the stars, those torches of the sky.
He wrote our names upon the heart of Jesus, before He laid the foundations of the world.
In the fullness of time, He gave Jesus for us–even that blessed Savior of whom we say, “He loved me, and gave Himself for me.”
He made with us in Jesus, a covenant ordered in all things and sure, which shall stand fast when all created things dissolve.
Having done this, He watched over and guarded us when we were slaves of the tyrant Satan.
He called us; and when we would not come, He drew us yet more forcibly by His effectual grace, until at last we yielded to the omnipotent love of His adorable Son.

Oh, I cannot tell all that He did to save us, but this I know:
He washed us, and we were whiter than snow!
He brought forth the best robe and put it on us, and made us lovely in His sight!
He gave us the kiss of sweet acceptance, and He adopted us into His family!
He guided us, and led us, and instructed us, and upheld us, and sanctified us–in our dangerous journey through this polluted wilderness world!
The almighty Savior is still performing daily miracles of mercy for us.

What has He done? I answer, what has He not done? What more could He do?
Can you suggest a mercy? He has already given it.
Can you desire a grace? It is yours already.
Oh the goodness, the manifold goodness, the overflowing, surpassing, inconceivable goodness of God in His kindness toward us in Jesus.

I must dwell a moment on that last phrase: “His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” Jesus is the channel through which all of the Father’s blessings have come to us. God gives common mercies to men as His creatures; but these riches of His grace, these covenant blessings–all come to us as His chosen ones, through Jesus the Mediator. You can see the mark of the cross on every spiritual grace which the Father has bestowed! Some drops of bloody sweat have fallen upon every treasured gem in the jewel box of Redemption.

And does not this endear the mercy of God to you–that it all comes through the Lord Jesus? It seems to me to enhance its value, and to make every spiritual blessing more and more dear, because it is brought to us by the hand of the Well-beloved Savior. By His atonement, all is procured to us; and by His matchless intercession, all is actually bestowed upon us.

I have a theme which is too deep and too high for me! I might detain you many a day upon this one phrase, “in Christ Jesus”–in and through the incarnate God, through His life and death and resurrection, and His intercession at the right hand of the throne of the majesty on high. All grace and mercy come to us through the Lord Jesus! He is the golden pipe through whom the Father’s eternal love flows to His people! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com