Lamentations 2  This chapter, like the first is an acrostic poem.  The theme here is God's awful anger that has been poured out upon His people.. "the daughter of Zion".   God's anger over sin is not a small thing.   We need to take heed of this.. 

V1.. His anger is vast.. "How the Lord has covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud in His anger! He has cast from heaven to earth the glory of Israel and has not remembered His footstool in the day of His anger."

The Lord's anger.. swallows up habitations; throws down strongholds; profanes kingdoms; cuts off strength; and burns like a flaming fire.. ( v2-3)

The Lord's anger is personal.. "He bent His bow.. He has set His right hand like an adversary.. The Lord has become like an enemy... He has swallowed up Israel.. "(v4-5)

The Lord's anger is all- inclusive.. palaces, strongholds, and His own tabernacle are violently destroyed.  Kings and priests.. elders and children.. virgins and young men...all are affected by God's anger, for all have sinned against Him. 

Oh how this breaks Jeremiah's heart.. "My eyes fail because of tears, my spirit is greatly troubled; my heart is poured out on the earth, because of the destruction of the daughter of my people. When little ones and infants faint in the streets of the city.. as their life is poured out on their mothers' bosom... O virgin daughter of Zion.. for your ruin is as vast as the sea; Who can heal you?" (v11-13)

The enemies of Zion gloated over her ruin.. but the truth is that they were not the cause.. "The Lord has done what He purposed; He has accomplished His word which He commanded from days of old. He has thrown down without sparing. And He has caused the enemy to rejoice over you; He has exalted the might of your adversaries." (v17)

Can we read this and not think of Israel today? The Lord is angry over the sins of His people.. His desire is repentance.. His purpose is to bring His people back to Himself.  But, if they.. if we.. refuse God's grace, in the persons of Jesus Christ, who took upon Himself all the sin.. all the shame.. all the wrath of God.. who swallowed up sin and death.. then God's vast, violent, destroying anger will be poured out upon us too. 

Wonderful grace of Jesus.. greater than all my sin.. thank You for taking my punishment.. for saving my soul from the eternal wrath of the Father. Thank You for the victory purchased upon the cross.. Your blood poured out.. Your body broken.. Hallelujah, What a Savior!