The LORD Is Right

“The LORD is right,” Jerusalem says, “for I rebelled against him. Listen, people everywhere; look upon my anguish and despair, for my sons and daughters have been taken captive to distant lands. [Lamentations 1.18]

These are hard words. But they are true words, “The LORD is right." 

If only we would know God well enough to understand that sin will be punished. It is an eternal law. There are blessings for obeying God and there are curses for disobeying. And, God gave His Son Jesus to save us from our sins if only we will repent and believe.

The problem surfaces when, in our suffering, we refuse to say, “The LORD is right.” From that point of refusal forward arises a plethora of ideas that do nothing but confuse basic truth - the truth that sin will be punished, and that, that punishment is straightforwardly identified in Deuteronomy 28.

Here is a novel idea: when we suffer, we should immediately say, “The LORD is right,” repent (trusting Jesus' work on our behalf), and simply let God's forgiveness do what God's forgiveness does: restore us to right standing with Him so we might serve Him and enjoy the blessings for obedience defined in Deuteronomy 28.

"But I've tried that and it didn't work!"

Really? Since when have we been vested with the authority to declare our own selves innocent? Since when does our valuation of our spiritual condition transcend God's valuation of our condition? We say, "I have suffered, but I have not sinned." But God's Word says, “But if you refuse to listen to the Lord your God and do not obey all the commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come and overwhelm you..." [Deuteronomy 28.15]

Let's see, is there any doubt about who is right? If God says curses are the result of sin, then who are we to say they are not? Will a man be so proud?

Bottom line: “The LORD is right,”

Father, forgive me for proudly denying what my circumstances reveal. My suffering is my own doing - my own unrepentant sin. Forgive me for all the pride and arrogance my own heart has promoted by convincing me I am innocent. Forgive me for believing my deceptive heart instead of Your Word. Father, You are right, and I am wrong.