The Rebel

A Series on Lamentations
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Lamentations 5; Jeremiah 29:10-14; Luke 15:11-24 

 

[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. In this series we will look at Lamentations to learn about God’s justice and mercy, the consequences of sin and the hope for redemption.]

  

When I was a little boy, Westerns were the staple of TV. One show that I used to watch was called The Rebel with Johnny Yuma. I can still remember the theme song, sung by Johnny Cash. ♫ “Johnny Yuma was a rebel; he wandered alone” ♫.

 

As a former Confederate soldier, not only was he a rebel in that sense, but also, he was a loner that didn’t fit well with the establishment. In fact, the character of Johnny Yuma was often described as a symbol of rebellious youth.

 

The people of Jerusalem were rebellious. But the difference was that they didn’t rebel against the status quo, they rebelled against the Lord. In the opening verses of Lamentations 5, Jeremiah prayed for the shattered nation.

 

¹ Remember, Lord, what has happened to us; look, and see our disgrace. ² Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our homes to foreigners.                             NIV            Lamentations 5

 

Jeremiah also prayed about: their daily necessities like firewood and water, which at one time was free, but now had to be bought; their enemies who pursued and oppressed them; their food which required risking your life to get it; their women who were raped; and their princes who were killed.

 

But Jeremiah realized that the Lord hadn’t shut the door on them completely.

 

¹⁹ You, O Lord, remain forever; Your throne from generation to generation. ²¹ Turn us back to You, O Lord, and we will be restored; Renew our days as of old.                                                 NKJV      Lamentations 5

 

In fact, the Lord spoke to Jeremiah telling him that after seventy years he would bring his people back home from Babylon to Jerusalem.

 

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ¹² Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³ You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.      NIV    Jeremiah 29

 

No matter how much we rebel against the Lord, he still desires to redeem us; to bring us back into relationship with him; to bring us home. Jesus told a parable illustrating this principle – the prodigal son.

 

In the context of Jesus’ parable, the word prodigal means wastefully extravagant or recklessly spending. In his story, a father’s youngest son asked for his inheritance. Once received, he went to a far land where he spent it all on wild living.

 

When he had nothing left and became desperate, he realized that his rebellion was a sin against his father and returned asking for forgiveness. He even went so far as to say that he didn’t deserve to be called his son. But his father wouldn’t hear of it. Instead, he set into motion a big celebration.

 

²⁴ For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So, they began to celebrate.                      NIV    Luke 15

 

Like the prodigal son, we’re all lost without our Heavenly Father who happily embraces us to welcome us home.

 

Copyright 2026 Joseph B Williams

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Welcome Home

A Series on the parables of Jesus
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Luke 15:11-32 

[During the first century, it was common for a rabbi to use parables when teaching their disciples. The parables of Jesus were stories that he told to illustrate spiritual truth using some element from everyday life. Jesus used seeds, fish, trees, bread - things people could easily relate to – for a “teachable moment”.]

  

Leaving home is a big deal.

 

It was very painful for my wife and I when we took our daughter, who is our only child, to college her freshman year. My wife cried all the way home. Or was that me? Either way, it was a difficult time.

 

The thing is that’s what we’re supposed to do as parents. To prepare our kids to become independent… to leave home… even though it hurts.

 

One of Jesus’ best-known parables is about a young man who left home, not to go to school or get a job, but to do whatever he wanted. The parable of the Prodigal Son is about a father and his two sons. The younger son decided that he’d had enough, so he asked for his portion of the inheritance.

 

Once on his own, he quickly spent it on wild living. When he was penniless, a famine hit
and it became so bad that he took a job feeding pigs. For a Jew, this would have been the ultimate demeaning job because pigs were considered ceremonially unclean.

 

When the son finally hit bottom, he realized that his father’s servants had more food than he did. That food, shelter and clothes were all readily available for him at home. That life at home didn’t look so bad now.

 

In some ways, this story is a metaphor. Home is where the Father is… our Heavenly Father. But, like the younger son, there are times when we want more. We want to live by our own rules. So, we leave home.

 

It might be for a split second; or a minute; or a year; or a lifetime. But soon we find out that all of the anticipated benefits of leaving home are a lie. And the home that we were created for, that provides unconditional love, is with our Heavenly Father.

 

The Good News is that he’ll take us back… every time. It doesn’t matter what we’ve done. Like the Father in the parable, he’ll rejoice upon our return.

 

“Turning to his servants, the father said, ‘Quick, bring me the best robe, my very own robe, and I will place it on his shoulders. Bring the ring, the seal of sonship, and I will put it on his finger. And bring out the best shoes you can find for my son."       TPT

 

Then your Heavenly Father will turn to you and say, “Welcome home”.

 

***

¹⁵ Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!

                                                                                                Matthew 11 NLT

 

Copyright 2022 Joseph B Williams