Sin’s Sorrowful Impact on This World

The Doctrine of Suffering

Jeremiah’s agonizing expressions recorded in Lamentations remind us that sorrows abound
in this world. People all around us face physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual pain. Life’s
natural course involves losing people and things we love. Our human fortitude wanes. Our
comfort zones are constantly tested. At times, we feel paralyzed with anguish. Jeremiah personally
experienced the consequences of Judah’s unrepentant rebellion against God. The heavyhearted
prophet expressed the raw physical and emotional pain he felt when God’s judgment fell on his
beloved city, Jerusalem.

God Keeps His Promises

 The Doctrine of Covenants

Covenants play an important role in the Bible. Most simply, covenants are promises God
makes to an individual or group. Some covenants, such as God’s covenant with Israel
through Moses, were conditional – dependent on the people’s response. God promised
abundant blessings if the people obeyed His commands. Other biblical covenants stood on
God’s unchangeable commitments to fulfill His promises. God’s vow to make Abraham’s
offspring into a great nation and land rested on God’s resolve to form and deliver His
people.