THURSDAY 8TH MARCH 2018
Lamentations 5:1-22 New International Version (NIV)
1 Remember, Lord, what has happened to us;
look, and see our disgrace.
2 Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers,
our homes to foreigners.
3 We have become fatherless,
our mothers are widows.
4 We must buy the water we drink;
our wood can be had only at a price.
5 Those who pursue us are at our heels;
we are weary and find no rest.
6 We submitted to Egypt and Assyria
to get enough bread.
7 Our ancestors sinned and are no more,
and we bear their punishment.
8 Slaves rule over us,
and there is no one to free us from their hands.
9 We get our bread at the risk of our lives
because of the sword in the desert.
10 Our skin is hot as an oven,
feverish from hunger.
11 Women have been violated in Zion,
and virgins in the towns of Judah.
12 Princes have been hung up by their hands;
elders are shown no respect.
13 Young men toil at the millstones;
boys stagger under loads of wood.
14 The elders are gone from the city gate;
the young men have stopped their music.
15 Joy is gone from our hearts;
our dancing has turned to mourning.
16 The crown has fallen from our head.
Woe to us, for we have sinned!
17 Because of this our hearts are faint,
because of these things our eyes grow dim
18 for Mount Zion, which lies desolate,
with jackals prowling over it.
19 You, Lord, reign forever;
your throne endures from generation to generation.
20 Why do you always forget us?
Why do you forsake us so long?
21 Restore us to yourself, Lord, that we may return;
renew our days as of old
22 unless you have utterly rejected us
and are angry with us beyond measure.
In these words of the Prophet Jeremiah he expresses the lament of the People of Israel. They are grieving because of hardship in their lives. There is a brief acknowledgement that this is because of their sins. They call out to God to be merciful and to rescue them. They feel that God has forgotten them.
Do you sometimes feel like this? Turn to God in prayer. Confess your sins. Ask Him to help you.
God will hear and answer your prayer. He will comfort and guide you.
ALHAMISI TAREHE 8 MACHI 2018 ASUBUHI
MAOMBOLEZO 5:1-22
1 Ee Bwana, kumbuka yaliyotupata; Utazame na kuiona aibu yetu.
2 Urithi wetu umegeuka kuwa mali ya wageni; Na nyumba zetu kuwa mali ya makafiri.
3 Tumekuwa yatima waliofiwa na baba; Mama zetu wamekuwa kama wajane.
4 Tumekunywa maji yetu kwa fedha; Kuni zetu twauziwa.
5 Watufuatiao wa juu ya shingo zetu; Tumechoka tusipate raha yo yote.
6 Tumewapa hao Wamisri mkono; Na Waashuri nao, ili tushibe chakula.
7 Baba zetu walitenda dhambi hata hawako; Na sisi tumeyachukua maovu yao.
8 Watumwa wanatutawala; Hakuna mtu wa kutuokoa na mikono yao.
9 Twapata chakula kwa kujihatarisha nafsi zetu; Kwa sababu ya upanga wa nyikani.
10 Ngozi yetu ni nyeusi kama tanuu; Kwa sababu ya hari ya njaa ituteketezayo.
11 Huwatia jeuri wanawake katika Sayuni; Na mabikira katika miji ya Yuda.
12 Wakuu hutungikwa kwa mikono yao; Nyuso za wazee hazipewi heshima.
13 Vijana huyachukua mawe ya kusagia; Na watoto hujikwaa chini ya kuni.
14 Wazee wameacha kwenda langoni; Na vijana kwenda ngomani.
15 Furaha ya mioyo yetu imekoma; Machezo yetu yamegeuka maombolezo.
16 Taji ya kichwa chetu imeanguka; Ole wetu! Kwa kuwa tumetenda dhambi.
17 Kwa sababu hiyo mioyo yetu imezimia; Kwa ajili ya hayo macho yetu hayaoni vema.
18 Kwa ajili ya mlima Sayuni ulio ukiwa, Mbweha hutembea juu yake.
19 Wewe, Bwana, unadumu milele; Kiti chako cha enzi ni tangu kizazi hata kizazi.
20 Mbona watusahau sikuzote; Na kutuacha muda huu mwingi?
21 Ee Bwana, utugeuze kwako, nasi tutageuka; Zifanye mpya siku zetu kama siku za kale.
22 Isipokuwa wewe umetukataa kabisa; Nawe una hasira nyingi sana juu yetu.
Kupitia mdomo wa Nabii Yeremia Waisraeli wanamlilia Mungu. Wanalalamika kuhusu ugumu wa maisha yao. Kwa kifupi wanakiri kwamba wametenda dhambi. Wanaomba Mungu awakumbuke na kuwahurumia.
Kuna kipindi unajisikia hivi? Maisha ni magumu na unafikiri kwamba Mungu amekusahau?
Mtafute Mungu. Tubu dhambi zako. Mwomee Mungu akusamehe na akusaidie. Mungu atakujibu na atakusamehe na kukupa faraja na kukuongoza.
