Restoration

 Lamentations 5:21 ESV 

 Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may be restored! Renew our days as of old— 
 

Ecclesiastes teaches us that as a general rule, it isn't wise to hearken back to 'the good old days'. This verse in Lamentations however acknowledges that history isn't linear: things aren't inevitably always getting better. I'm also reminded of the building of the second temple when the old folks remembered that the original was more magnificent.

Notwithstanding the warning in Ecclesiastes to be wary of nostalgia, it is okay to ask God for restoration if necessary. Judah was at a low ebb. Most Jews were in captivity in Babylon. The Babylonians had devestated Judea.

The writer of Lamentations recognised that the problem wasnt primarily geopolitical. The problem was spiritual. It was because the Jews had rejected the Lord that they were estranged from him and handed over to the Babylonians.

Even when we're the problem, we can still ask God for restoration. He's a merciful and gracious God. He longs to renew us: we just need to cry out to him to do so.

'Sovereign Lord, please restore us to a right relationship with yourself where we have gone astray. May you renew us to rejoice in you where we are filled with mournful sorrow at our sinfulness. For your glory we ask, amen'.  

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