Little Men

A Series on Lamentations
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Lamentations 2:1-22; Jeremiah 19:1-15 

[The book of Lamentations was written by Jeremiah to the Jews in Babylon who had been exiled and were lamenting the destruction of Jerusalem. Known as the “weeping prophet”, his tears flowed from a broken heart for Jerusalem – the “City of God” – and her people. This series will look at Lamentations to learn about God’s justice and mercy, the consequences of sin and the hope for redemption.]

  

When I was about eight years old, I loved playing with my “little men”. One time I had a good western story going. It included a prairie home built with Lincoln Logs, fences, horses and “little men” cowboys.

 

However, when mom called me to dinner, I wasn’t quite ready to stop. After the third time and no response from me, my dad took charge. He stomped into the living room and, with one swift kick of his foot, destroyed everything that I had built.

 

I was devastated. It hurt more than if he had spanked me. Not only was he angry at me, but I felt like he didn’t love me.

 

The people of Jerusalem may have felt the same way towards the Lord. They had been disobedient by worshiping the false god Baal. They’d even sacrificed their own children by fire.

 

The Lord told Jeremiah to take a clay jar and meet with the elders and priests at the Potsherd Gate. This is where people would throw away their broken and worthless pots. It was also adjacent to the Valley of Hinnom, which in the New Testament was translated as hell. It’s where the people sacrificed their children.

 

Standing on broken shards of pottery, with the memories of dying children in his mind, Jeremiah gave them one last opportunity to repent. They refused. Therefore, as a metaphor of the judgment that the Lord would bring upon them, the Lord gave Jeremiah the following instructions.

 

¹⁰ “As these men watch you, Jeremiah, smash the jar you brought. ^11a Then say to them, “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: As this jar lies shattered, so I will shatter the people of Judah and Jerusalem beyond all hope of repair.     NLT   Jeremiah 19

 

When I was disobedient as a little boy, the only thing that I lost was the story of my “little men”. But the people of Jerusalem? They lost everything!

 

^1b In his day of great anger,
    the Lord has shown no mercy even to his Temple.

 

^2a Without mercy the Lord has destroyed
    every home in Israel.
In his anger he has broken down
    the fortress walls of beautiful Jerusalem.  

^11b Little children and tiny babies are fainting and dying in the streets. ^12a-b They cry out to their mothers, “We need food and drink!” … They gasp for life as they collapse in their mothers’ arms.     

 

^21a “See them lying in the streets—
    young and old, boys and girls,
    killed by the swords of the enemy.     NLT   Lamentations 2

 

We are all disobedient to the Lord. We may not sacrifice our children, but our sin is still detestable to him. Just like it did for the people of Jerusalem, sin brings death and destruction. Thankfully, the Lord sent his son Jesus to take our punishment.

 

²¹ So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. ²⁴ What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? ²⁵ Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!     NIV    Romans 7

 

Copyright 2026 Joseph B Williams

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Lincoln Logs and Little Men

Hebrews 12:3-17

 

Growing up in the 50’s, my favorite past time was playing cowboys and Indians. I used to take all my “little men” and create a story around them including the Lincoln Log homes that I would build. The problem was, I would get so involved in my playing that I would rather play than obey.

 

On one occasion, my Mom called me to the dinner table several times, and although I heard her, I didn’t come. I was too busy playing with my “little men”. Finally, my Dad came out, and with one swift kick, completely wiped out my toys. I was crushed.

 

¹¹ All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those

who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.          NASB

 

The “peaceful fruit of righteousness” sounds like such a pleasant, desirable thing, but apparently the process of acquiring such fruit can be painful at times.

 

For instance, Moses wandered in the desert as a fugitive for forty years. Jesus wandered in the wilderness for forty days while being severely tempted by Satan. Paul struggled with his “thorn in the flesh”, but God said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness”.

 

God uses difficult experiences in our lives to mold and shape us; to make us into the men and women that we are meant to be. In a word, he disciplines us.

 

My dear child, don’t shrug off God’s discipline, but don’t be crushed by it either. It’s the child he loves that he disciplines; the child he embraces, he also corrects.            MSG

 

When my Father disciplined me by destroying my Lincoln Log game, I was crushed. It felt more like he didn’t love me than he was trying to teach me a life lesson.

 

However, our Heavenly Father is always at work in our life with our best interests in

mind. Because of that, it’s important to identify how God is working and to not get in His way. By doing this, God will be the potter and you will be the clay.

 

Here are some questions that might help you to identify His discipline in your life.

• What experiences have you had that have shaped you to be more like Jesus?
• Who has God brought into your life to help you to be more godly?
• What gifts and opportunities has God given you to use?
• How is God disciplining you through your weakness?

 

Answering these questions will help you to answer the most important question:

 

 

Are you ready to grow the “peaceful fruit of righteousness”?