Lamentations 5:1-22
In a final complaint the "remnant" of the people paint a sad and humiliating description of their condition, hiding nothing. Not only their fathers (v. 7) but they themselves have sinned and are paying the penalty (v. 16). It is to this point that both the unconverted and the believer who has let some fault get the better of him need to come. We all know from experience this painful work of God in our conscience, to which our pride is so often an obstacle! However, in contrast to the people in this chapter (v. 22), from the moment when we confess our sins we know that God has already forgiven us through the work of Christ.
Nevertheless, these verses, as others throughout the book, present specially before us the idea of collective sin. We can think of the evil which has also invaded the Church like leaven, worldliness and the ruin that has resulted from it and whose moral effects are as deplorable as the picture in this chapter. Indeed, if we are concerned about the glory of the Lord we cannot remain unconcerned at such a sad state of affairs. May we be given truly humbled hearts but also hearts which have faith in God who, Himself, never changes (v. 19).