The joy of our heart has ceased. Our dance has turned into mourning. The crown has fallen from our head. Woe to us, for we have sinned! Because of this our heart is faint. Because of these things our eyes grow dim. Because of Mount Zion which is desolate, with foxes walking about on it. You, O Lord, remain forever. Your throne from generation to generation. Why do You forget us forever, and forsake us for so long a time? Turn us back to You, O Lord, and we will be restored. Renew our days as of old, unless You have utterly rejected us, and are very angry with us! Lamentations 5:15-22
We are all familiar with the expression, “God moves in mysterious ways.” It is certainly true that God is sovereign; He can do whatever He wants. There is no mystery here; this must be the case, by definition.
However, God is not capricious. He is not arbitrary. He does not act willy-nilly. His character—His glory—is revealed through His actions in history. How does a righteous, merciful God work in a fallen world with fallen sinners? That is what the Bible—His story—is all about.
