In the aftermath of hurricane Katrina we are left with such an uneasy feeling of “What's next? What is yet to come?” We feel helpless, and many people including “Christians” are asking, “Why would a God that is loving, merciful, and kind allow this kind of destruction.”  Why would He allow orphans, widows and the elderly to have to go through such calamity?  Was this tragedy merely “chance and circumstance”, was it simply a natural disaster? Or was this the hand of correction from a pure and righteous God? 

     As I was doing research for this article, I found a commentary of the book of Lamentations by Matthew Henry. It is amazing at the parallels that can be drawn in what has happened and what is yet to come. If you would open your bible to the Book of Lamentations and let's read:

 

Lam 1:1  How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! how is she become as a widow! she that was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become tributary!

Lam 1:2  She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks: among all her lovers she hath none to comfort her: all her friends have dealt treacherously with her, they are become her enemies.

Lam. 1:4  The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn feasts: all her gates are desolate: her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness

Lam 1:11  All her people sigh, they seek bread; they have given their pleasant things for meat to relieve the soul: see, O LORD, and consider; for I am become vile.

Lam 1:12  Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the LORD hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger.

Lam 1:13  From above hath he sent fire into my bones, and it prevaileth against them: he hath spread a net for my feet, he hath turned me back: he hath made me desolate and faint all the day.

Lam 1:14  The yoke of my transgressions is bound by his hand: they are wreathed, and come up upon my neck: he hath made my strength to fall, the Lord hath delivered me into their hands, from whom I am not able to rise up.

Lam 1:18  The LORD is righteous; for I have rebelled against his commandment: hear, I pray you, all people, and behold my sorrow: my virgins and my young men are gone into captivity.

Lam 1:19  I called for my lovers, but they deceived me: my priests and mine elders gave up the ghost in the city, while they sought their meat to relieve their souls.

Lam 1:20  Behold, O LORD; for I am in distress: my bowels are troubled; mine heart is turned within me; for I have grievously rebelled: abroad the sword bereave at home there is as death.

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      Even though this book is literally about Jerusalem, it fits perfectly with the situation we are now witnessing.  Jerusalem had to endure, the Citizens that have been affected by Hurricane Katrina will have to endure. We, in the Church, are told to endure ( Matt. 24:13), God has given us the annual Feast days telling us the end results of enduring to the very end. From the Passover to the Eight Day Festival, there are times of trauma. We see Jesus' death as a time of trauma.  The times of the sounding of Trumpets and all of the unbelievable events taking place in the heavens and the earth. God states   " yet once more I shake not the earth only but also Heaven." ( Heb. 12:26)

 

The Feast of Tabernacles and the eight Day tells us to endure because God is going to bring good out of all of the trauma that has come, and that is coming upon this earth.

 

The Church has to learn to put greater emphasis on the promises of God, then these present events will not be so controlling in our lives. Every member of the body of Christ should put forth great effort and as much times as possible into preparing for the Fall Feast days, by attending and rejoicing with fellow believers, knowing that we have endured and shall continue to endure, because "he that which has begun a good work in you, will finish it until the day Jesus Christ." (Phil. 1:6).

 

Let's observe the Festivals, with this assurance, and the questions of :  "what's next, and what is yet to come?"  will not be a wet blanket on our lives.

 

Let's keep this scripture in mind:  "I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day." (II Tim.1:12).