OUR DAILY BREAD : SILHOUETTE

[cimi]

October 23
Thursday


SILHOUETTE

READ:
Lamentations
1:12-16; 3:19-23
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Through the LORD's
mercies we are not
consumed, because His
compassions fail not.
__Lamentations 3:22
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In the 18th century, silhouettes (shadow profiles traced and cut from black paper) were a popular alternative to costly portraits. The word took its name from the French controller general of finance, Etienne de Silhouette. During the Seven Years War against England, he tried to raise revenues by heavily taxing the wealthy. Victims of his high taxes complained and used the word silhouette to refer to their wealth being reduced to a mere shadow of what it once was.

With the destruction of Jerusalem, Jeremiah lamented over the shadow of what once was a great city and center of worship now devastated by war. "Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Behold and see if there is any sorrow like my sorrow" (Lam. 1:12).

But Jeremiah did not remain in despair. He recognized God's sovereignty in suffering. later in this book of sorrow, the prophet reflected: "I have hope. Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning" (3:21-23).

Has sorrow or suffering made your life feel like a dark silhouette of what it once was? Remember, God's mercies are new every morning. He is compassionately working in your life for His glory and your blessing. __Dennis Fisher
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````````````Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,``````````
`````````````````But His smile quickly drives it away;``````````````
``````````````Not a doubt nor a fear, not a sigh nor a tear```````````
````````````Can abide while we trust and obey. __Sammis``````````
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To see beyond earth's shadows
look to Christ the Light.

*********Today's Bible Reading __ Lamentations 1:12-16;3:19-23*****

Lamentations 1
12 Is it nothing to you, all
you who pass by? Behold
and see if there is any sorrow
like my sorrow, which has
been brought on me, which
the LORD has inflicted in the
day of His fierce anger.

13 From above He has sent
fire into my bones, and it
overpowered them; He has
spread a net for my feet and
turned me back; He has
made me desolate and faint
all the day.

14 The yoke of my
transgressions was bound;
they were woven together by
His hands, and thrust upon
my neck. He made my
stength fail; the Lord
delivered me into the hands
of those whom I am not able
to withstand.

15 The Lord has trampled
underfoot all my mighty men
in my midst; He has called
an assembly against me to
crush my young men; the
Lord trampled as in a
winepress the virgin daughter
of Judah.

16 For these things I weep;
my eye, my eye overflows
with water; because the
comforter, who should
restore my life, is far from
me. My children are desolate
because the enemy prevailed.

Lamentations3
19 Remember my affliction
and roaming, the wormwood
and the gall. 20 My soul still
remembers and sinks within
me. 21 This I recall to my
mind, therefore I have hope.

22 Through the LORD's
mercies we are not
consumed, because His
compassions fail not. 23 They
are new every morning;
great is Your faithfulness.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Most likely written by the prophet Jeremiah, Lamentations consists
of five dirges, or laments, and gives an eyewitnes account of the
destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 586 BC. Yet in the midst
of suffering, Jeremiah expresses great hope (3:19-23). __Sim Kay Tee