SCRIPTURE: Lamentations 3:1-66 (Page 982); Mark 13:1-37 (Page 1205)
SERMON: Lessons & Duties in a Difficult Providence				 16 September 2001

INTRODUCTION
A. THE INTERPRETATION OF HISTORY (Deut.29:24; 2Chr.36:15f; Jer.44:17f,20f)

B. STRIKING ANALOGY (Jer.52:13,17; see Lam.1:1f)

  I. LESSONS IN A DIFFICULT PROVIDENCE
A. APPOINTED BY GOD (Job2:10; Lam3:38; Is45:7; 46:8-11; Jer31:28; 32:42; Acts2:23; 4:27,28; Eph1:11/Jms1:17; Rom3:4f)

B. PURPOSED BY GOD IN JUSTICE
1. the moral consequences of sin (Lam.1:5,18,22; Ps.119:67; Deut.29:24; 2Chr.36:15f; Jer.30:14,15; 44:17f,20f; Prov.3:33)
2. repentance and restoration (2Chr.7:14; Jer.3:12f; 31:18f; Lam.3:21f,32,33)

C. PURPOSED BY GOD IN GRACE
1. the spiritual means of sanctification (Ps.119:71; 1Pt.1:6,7; Heb.12:10)
2. perseverance and growth (Ps.119:71; 1Pt.1:6,7; Heb.12:10)

D. PURPOSED BY GOD IN MYSTERY
1. other purposes hidden from men (Dt.29:29; see Job 1,2; 38-42)
2. childlike faith and its fruit (Job13:15; 42:1-17; Is.53:10f; Phil.2:5-11)

E. SATAN STILL RAGES (Job.1:6f; 2:6f; Lk.22:3f; 31f; 2Cor.12:7f; Rev.12:12)

F. NO ONE IS UNTOUCHABLE (Jer.7:1-15; see Ezk.28:1f; see Is.47:1f,8f; Dan.4:27f,11f)

G. A TYPE OF TYRE (Ezk.26-28; e.g., 28:1f; see Rev.18:2f,10f,16f; see v.20)

H. A BROTHER TO BABYLON (Gen.11:1f; Jdg.8:9f; 9:51f; see Is.47:1f,8f; Dan.4:27f,11f; Jer.50:23; 51:20f; 52:13,17)

I. VENGEANCE DELEGATED (Rom.12:19 & 13:1f,4; see Is.10:5f,12f; Jer.50:23; 51:20f)

J. A JUST WAR (Ps.101:8&1f; see Josh.7:6f,11f)

II. DUTIES IN A DIFFICULT PROVIDENCE
A. WEEP WITH THOSE WHO WEEP (Rom.12:15; see Lk.19:41-44)

B. COMFORT THOSE WHO MOURN (2Cor.1:4,8&9; Job 2:11-13; 42:2,11; see Ps.23:4; 34:18)

C. HELP THOSE WHO ARE IN NEED (Jms.2:16; Lk.10:33f; Tt.2:14; 3:1,8,14; Rom.15:26)

D. EXAMINE YOURSELF (Lam.3:39f; see Ps.139:23; see Ex.20:1-17; Mt.5:17-48)

E. REPENT & OBEY (Is.19:22f; 55:1f,6f; Zech.1:3; see Rev.2:5,etc; 9:20,21; 16:9,11)

F. TRUST GOD IN MIDST OF GRIEF (Lam.3:21f; see Rom.8:28; 2Cor.4:17)

G. TRUST GOD IN MIDST OF INSECURITY (Rom8:31-39; Ps3:5; 4:8; 23:1f; 34:4,etc; 37:1f; 46:1f; 61:3; 73:25f)

H. LOVE & PRAY FOR ENEMIES (Rom.12:19-21; Lk.6:27f; Ps.35:13f)

I. HONOR & PRAY FOR CIVIL GOVERNMENT IN PURSUING VENGEANCE & PEACE (Rom.12:19; 13:4f; see 1Tm.2:2; 1Pt.2:17)

J. HONOR & PRAY FOR THE CHURCH IN CALLING TO REPENTANCE (Lam.2:14; Jer.23:14,22(19:4f); 1Kngs.22:15-17(46); Jms.5:19,20; Josh.7:1f,10f,16f; 8:1f)

K. PREPARE FOR THE DAY OF THE LORD (Mk.13:28f&33f; see 1f; Lk.13:1f; 2Pt.3:12f; 1:1-11; see Rev.2:5,etc; 9:20,21; 16:9,11)

L. WORSHIP GOD (Mt.6:10(26:42),19f,33; 22:37,39; Ex.20:1f,6; Jn.14:15,21; see Lk.12:16-21 and Ps.20:7; 147:10,11)