Between – Lamentations 3:19-33
The following are thoughts provoked by Lamentations 3:19-33. If you will take the time to read the beautiful yet mysterious chapter 3, you will have a better appreciation for this post. Jeremiah’s words brought Psalm 139 to mind which, after meeting Christ, contained the first bursts of light for me, revealing what God was like and who I was to Him. A few of the major themes of this Psalm are; His vast knowledge verses my very limited knowledge, and; His intimate awareness of me throughout all my days. Verses 5 and 6 capture the spirit of the psalmist’s revelation.
Thou hast enclosed me behind and before, and laid Thy hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high, I cannot attain to it.
This passage in Lamentations highlights just how thin the air is at the altitude where God resides. I recall my attempt to climb a 14,000 ft mountain. The elevation change from Oklahoma to this Colorado summit was approximately two miles! As I approached the peak I was so dizzy I could not maintain my balance. It was too much for me. I had to abandon my ascent. To regain my equilibrium I had to descend to lower altitude. It was both humbling and sad.
This experience caused me to ask: How many of us retreat to lower elevations when we encounter the knowledge and the ways of God? In order to maintain our rational equilibrium when we face off with scriptural mysteries or trials in life, do we retreat to lower elevations where we can nurse our illusion that God is a reasonable being, like us – but more so?
Lamentations 3 does highlight an aspect of God that can make us dizzy which is: He causes grief and is simultaneously compassionate. Our minds spin as we wrestle with this apparent contradiction. To restore our equilibrium we simply set aside half of the paradox and form our low-altitude convictions, embracing what is to us, the more intellectually agreeable aspects of His nature. Probably none of us are exempt in this error, particularly in western culture where knowledge is king and logic and reason are our servants.
I mentioned recently the value of having a Father-filtered heart. This has helped me so much in dealing with the mysteries of God. For example, as I read this passage, I acknowledge the apparent inconsistency that God is to my human intellect. That He causes both grief and offers compassion can be troubling at the lower elevations of my human thinking. I could easily back down the mountain which this idea poses. But today, as I run the complexities and contradictions of this through my Father-filter, I do not hear an emphasis on causing grief. I hear….
I do not afflict or grieve willingly but even if I do, I will offer abundant lovingkindness. Out of My faithfulness, I will have a fresh supply for you each day when you awake.
As the Father has renewed my heart and my mind, I have had to open a new file which I have labeled “Mysteries”. This is where I store my questions and entrust matters to Him where my revelation is incomplete. This file makes perfect sense since it is not at all rational that I, being in Adam’s linage, should have systematic and exhaustive knowledge of an eternal and holy Being. My Mystery-file helps me let God be God. Since in Christ, we have….
the depths of the riches both of His wisdom and His knowledge we must acknowledge that His judgements and His ways are unfathomable.
So now when I encounter a miracle (or see the possibility of one) which defies the odds or offends my reasoning, I can gratefully return to my Psalm 139 foundation and say, “OK, Father, I don’t get it. I’m not sure I even like it. But, I am enclosed (even in my ignorance) in your loving, capable, Fatherly hands.”
Father, I don’t have all the answers but I am inclined to dream and to pray we will abandon our insistence on fitting You into our many rational boxes. And rather than remaining at these lower altitudes where we are so divided in our understanding, I pray we might ascend together to that place where we are unified, not in our knowledge, but simply in Christ, by faith. Let us not descend when it first appears Your Word and Your ways are impossible. Help us to be steady of heart, remembering, “You are good to those who wait for You and seek You. Amen.