PLUNDERED
Today's reading: Lamentations 1-2

"The enemy has plundered her completely, taking everything precious that she owns..." Lamentations 1:10 NLT

Plunder-to take by force, theft or fraud.

The prophet Jeremiah writes Lamentations as a funeral song for Jerusalem.

Jerusalem has fallen into enemy hands and has been completely and utterly destroyed.

The words he uses are personal.

The words he uses are descriptive.

The words he uses are dripping with his tears.

Because he knows, God has revealed to him, that what the enemy has taken was allowed.

The children of God allowed the enemy to walk in their city gates, to infect their homes, to contaminate their worship services, to get into their minds.

At first they were sold lies. Little doubts planted in their heads. Tiny questions that sprouted and grew.

Then they had what was theirs stolen. Slowly and steadily the enemy took more--and more--and more.

And now anything that remained was taken by force. Pried from their hands. Stolen from their Temple. Wrenched from their hearts as embarrassment, conviction and shame took over.

The enemy has not changed his tactics!

That's what he continues to do today.

He knocks discreetly at the doors of our hearts. He looks unintimidating. He looks harmless. He tells us what he offers is a little, tiny ray of hope.

He twists the Word of God. He adds, or takes away from, what we have read in our Bibles. He raises doubt on the darkest of nights. He lies to us about all we know to be true.

Then he steals. Our joy. Our peace. Our hope. Our assurance.

And we find ourselves plundered. Empty.

Don't answer the door when he knocks!