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NOVEMBER 4
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ful and hating one another. But when the kind-
ness and the love of God our Savior toward
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man appeared, not by works of righteousness
which we have done, but according to His 3:3 ourselves. It is not that every believer has
mercy He saved us, through the washing of committed every sin listed here, but rather
regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, that before salvation every life is characterized
6 whom He poured out on us abundantly by such sins.That sobering truth should make
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through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having believers humble in dealing with the unsaved,
been justified by His grace we should become even those who are grossly immoral and
heirs according to the hope of eternal life. ungodly. If it weren’t for God’s grace to His
8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I own, they would all be wicked.
want you to affirm constantly, that those who
have believed in God should be careful to be diligent to come to me at Nicopolis, for I
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maintain good works. These things are good have decided to spend the winter there. Send
and profitable to men. Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey
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9 But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, con- with haste, that they may lack nothing. And
tentions, and strivings about the law; for they let our people also learn to maintain good
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are unprofitable and useless. Reject a divisive works, to meet urgent needs, that they may
man after the first and second admonition, not be unfruitful.
11 knowing that such a person is warped and 15 All who are with me greet you. Greet those
sinning, being self-condemned. who love us in the faith.
12 When I send Artemas to you, or Tychicus, Grace be with you all. Amen.
DAY 3:What is the Book of Lamentations about?
The prophetic seeds of Jerusalem’s destruction were sown through Joshua 800 years in
advance (Josh.23:15,16).Now,for over 40 years,Jeremiah had prophesied of coming judgment and
been scorned by the people for preaching doom (ca. 645–605 B.C.).When that judgment came on
the disbelieving people from Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian army, Jeremiah still responded
with great sorrow and compassion toward his suffering and obstinate people.Lamentations relates
closely to the Book of Jeremiah, describing the anguish over Jerusalem’s receiving God’s judgment
for unrepentant sins.In the book that bears his name,Jeremiah had predicted the calamity in chap-
ters 1–29. In Lamentations, he concentrates in more detail on the bitter suffering and heartbreak
that was felt over Jerusalem’s devastation (Ps.46:4,5).So critical was Jerusalem’s destruction that the
facts are recorded in 4 separate Old Testament chapters: 2 Kings 25; Jeremiah 39:1–11; 52; and
2Chronicles 36:11–21.
All 154 verses have been recognized by the Jews as a part of their sacred canon. Along with
Ruth, Esther, Song of Solomon, and Ecclesiastes, Lamentations is included among the Old
Testament books of the Megilloth, or “five scrolls,” which were read in the synagogue on special
occasions.Lamentations is read on the ninth of Ab (July/Aug.) to remember the date of Jerusalem’s
destruction by Nebuchadnezzar. Interestingly, this same date later marked the destruction of
Herod’s temple by the Romans in A.D. 70.

5 He has besieged me
November 4 And surrounded me with bitterness
and woe.
6 He has set me in dark places
Lamentations 3:1–5:22 Like the dead of long ago.
3 I am the man who has seen affliction 7 He has hedged me in so that I cannot
by the rod of His wrath.
get out;
2 He has led me and made me walk He has made my chain heavy.
In darkness and not in light. 8 Even when I cry and shout,
3 Surely He has turned His hand He shuts out my prayer.
against me 9 He has blocked my ways with hewn
Time and time again throughout the day. stone;
He has made my paths crooked.
4 He has aged my flesh and my skin,
And broken my bones. 10 He has been to me a bear lying in wait,

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