I will banish from them the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of bride and bridegroom, the sound of millstones and the light of the lamp.

I was sad when I read this. Sounds of joy and laughter, children playing and singing, the happy celebration of marriage – all removed from their lives. Abundance of food, the simple ability to light up the darkness with a lamp – all gone. Every vestige of gladness, joy, peace of heart and mind replaced by desolation. This is life without God’s hand of blessing. It seems like too steep a price to pay for sin.