Well this is a tough one... not really the most encouraging passage of scripture to meditate on, but there is so much wealth in these verses. We are encouraged to remember that wealth and status and pleasure can pass in an instant and each of us could wake up broke, sick, hurt, humbled and changed by circumstance. In this passage Jeremiah laments over the misery he sees. Chad leads us through this passage and points us to the sure hope of Christ, our Savior, who holds onto us and will never abandon us. Our friend Chris Lizotte sings "Fear Not".

Show Notes:

• Support 1517 Podcast Network

• 1517 Podcasts

• 1517 on Youtube

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• 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education

What’s New from 1517:

• Untamed Prayers: 365 Daily Devotions on Christ in the Book of Psalms by Chad Bird

• Remembering Your Baptism: A 40-Day Devotional by Kathryn Morales

• Sinner Saint by Luke Kjolhaug

• The Impossible Prize: A Theology of Addiction by Donavan Riley

More from the hosts:

• Chad Bird

Lyrics to "Fear Not"

Lamentations 4:1-11

We are desolate in the streets

And our hearts are black as coal

Once, like gold, we were shining

Now we are muted and we are cold

How the gold has grown dim,
how the world, our world, has changed!
Now the holy stones lie scattered
what we held sacred, is now profaned

Chorus

“Fear not, fear not, do not fear

Peace be with you”

In this world of tribulation

Christ has overcome the world

“Fear not, fear not, do not fear

Peace be with you”

In this world of tribulation

Christ has overcome the world

Fear not

Now Your wrath

Has kindled a fire

That consumed our foundations, they’re gone

There's no drink, to quench for our thirst now

Just the tune, of an old drunkards song

And the jackals

Still feed their young

But You’ve taken

All we’ve become

We fall in the street, tripping on our feet

We are all overrun

Like many of the laments of Jeremiah, this is a mixture of questions, frustration, anger, trust and hope. Chad gives a beautiful and encouraging meditation on this gripping passage. Rachel Hall sings "You Came Down".

Show Notes:

• Support 1517 Podcast Network

• 1517 Podcasts

• 1517 on Youtube

• 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts

• 1517 Events Schedule

• 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education

What’s New from 1517:

• Untamed Prayers: 365 Daily Devotions on Christ in the Book of Psalms by Chad Bird

• Remembering Your Baptism: A 40-Day Devotional by Kathryn Morales

• Sinner Saint by Luke Kjolhaug

• The Impossible Prize: A Theology of Addiction by Donavan Riley

More from the hosts:

• Chad Bird

Lyrics for "You Came Down"

Rivers of tears
Run down my cheeks

Rivers of tears
Flow without ceasing,
Waters rising

Over my head

My legs are dead

And I am sinking

Do I cry in vain

“I called on your name”

Do I cry in vain

from the depths of despair

Can You hear me, can you hear my prayer

Will You crush me in my pain?

Do I hope in vain?

Chorus:

You came (Down!)down to me

you heard my cry,

‘Do not close your ear”

You came (Down!) down to me

Saying, ‘Do not fear!’

You came down to me

And You drew near

“You’ve taken up my cause,

O Lord; You saved my life

Even on this day

You are making it right

You repay the evil one

Who does not care for truth

You destroy the wicked

Who slays the righteous in their youth

Verse 22 says "there is no sorrow like all of my sorrow". Wow... Only God can redeem the times when we are trapped and unable to free ourselves. Chad compassionately meditates on this passage and gives us hope, hope based upon the liberating work of Christ on our behalf. Mikaela Adams sings "Not Alone".

Show Notes:

• Support 1517 Podcast Network

• 1517 Podcasts

• 1517 on Youtube

• 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts

• 1517 Events Schedule

• 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education

What’s New from 1517:

• Untamed Prayers: 365 Daily Devotions on Christ in the Book of Psalms by Chad Bird

• Remembering Your Baptism: A 40-Day Devotional by Kathryn Morales

• Sinner Saint by Luke Kjolhaug

• The Impossible Prize: A Theology of Addiction by Donavan Riley

More from the hosts:

• Chad Bird

Lyrics to "Not Alone"

There is no sorrow

Like all my sorrow

My heart is broken

There’s no tomorrow

My sinful pathway

Has made the day fade

There is no comfort

And no one to help, no one to help

Chorus:

Not Alone

You hear me

Not alone

You are with me

In this world

Of resurrection life

Take my pain

For Your glory

Hold me forever

Hold me forever

In resurrection life

My bones are on fire

My feet are entangled

No way to go forward

No way to retreat

All that I hope for

Is that you draw near me

My heart is fainting

And no one to help, no one to help