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Jeremiah

Lamentations

Growing in Christ

"He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures." Luke 24:45

Overview of Old Testament or New Testament

Links to observations drawn from other books of the Bible

Background: A heading to this book in the Septuagint and Vulgate reads in part "Jeremiah sat weeping and lamented with this lamentation over Jerusalem." The book is made up of five melancholy poems mourning the utter destruction of Jerusalem and the temple by the Babylonians. This would represent the last of Jeremiah's writings that have been preserved.

Practical and Pastoral Observations on the Book of Jeremiah (please read each chapter slowly and meditatively, taking personal notes, before reading observations below):


Lamentations 1

Utter loneliness: Overcome by Babylon, like a widow (v.1) Judah is without help or protection and there is no one to comfort (v.2, 9, 16, 21). The mocking of her plight by her enemies (v.7, 21) adds to her abandonment.

No Mystery: The cause of her grief holds no mystery. For decades Jeremiah has warned of the pending results of her abandonment of Yahweh, but Judah took no thought to her future (v.9). Judah's pain has come as discipline from the Lord (v. 5, 12. 18). "The Lord has caused her grief because of the multitude of her transgressions." (v.5)

Jeremiah's sorrow: Jeremiah is known as the "weeping prophet" due to verses like v.16 and 20. He laments openly and it is good and right that we do when we experience sorrow, whether for our own choices or those of others.

Desire for justice: just as Jerusalem has experienced the just punishment of the Lord, Jeremiah asks for justice on the enemies of Judah that they may be dealt with as God has dealt with Judah (v.21-22).

I can hardly imagine Jeremiah's grief, having warned of impending discipline for decades, having consistently been rejected, to sit now at a vantage point from which to see all the sorrow and horror he warned of, inescapably and irreversibly before him.

Personal Response: I will be QUICK to turn from temptation, QUICK to respond to conviction, QUICK to repent from sin, QUICK to rejoice in the Lord's sustaining grace and forgiveness.

My Prayer: Father, let no temptation or sin cling to me, let no hesitation linger, nothing but immediate wholehearted response of love to your every word or prompting.

Lamentations 2

It is Yahweh Himself who has done this: God judgment is as thorough as fire. He throws down (v.1) destroys and breaks down (v.2), withdraws his protection and consumes (v.3), bringing the deepest of sorrows. He blots out good memories (v.6), rejects his own temple (v.7) and ceases to speak to His people through the prophets (v.9). Israel's enemies may take credit (v.16) but it is God who has done what He has warned (v.17).

What God called for the Canaanites, He has done to His own people: God called Israel to strike quickly and remove it's pagan peoples from the promised land. All Israel did not do to the Canaanites, God did to Israel and in some ways worse. Striking quickly (which Israel did not do to the paganism they were called to cleanse from the land) would have been more merciful than the starvation that led to cannibalism (v.20). God's standards apply to His own people as fully (v.22: "no one has escaped") as to those who worship other gods. 

v.14 "The vision of your prophets were false and worthless; they did not expose your sin to ward off your captivity. The oracles they gave you were false and misleading."

To anyone who doubts the reality of hell or the Lord's willingness to allow people to freely choose it, we see here the horror of man left to his own devices (v.20-21). The surprising part is perhaps only how the cracks open slowly but the collapse is instantaneous.

Personal Response: I will evaluate the message of any prophet or person who makes truth claims by setting their word beside what God has said. I will never water down or change God's Word when I share it with others (v.14). The consequences of error, in this life and the next, are too great.

My Prayer: Lord, redemption from the rebellion and destruction of the evil one's purposes is man's great need, yet history shows we inexplicably want to go our own way. Spare us Lord. Raise up true prophets who speak Your words of truth and life.

Lamentations 3

Suffering with the Punished: Jeremiah suffered the "rod of His wrath" (v.1) with those who deserved it. Jesus, in contrast, suffered for those who sinned. With rebellious Judah, Jeremiah suffered the darkness (v.2) of being walled in (v.7) and a closed heaven above (v.8) so that not even prayer seems to enter (v.44) and the sight of suffering all around (v.51) so that his strength and hope perished (v.18), even to the despairing of life (v.52-54).

Hope for the Suffering: In suffering, remembering is important to hope (v.21), even as is looking to the future God brings. Jeremiah's focus is only on the Lord (v.22-26). Though the wicked may prosper and God's chosen people suffer just punishment or random evil, though the righteous may suffer in nature or at the hands of the wicked, though our questions about pain, suffering and evil be many, the source of our hope is but single: The Lord is my only portion, therefore I have hope in Him (v.24).

Discipline is but a season: Unlike fallen men, God will not reject forever (v.31) or gain pleasure from bringing affliction (v.33). In this also God is good. Temporary discipline is for our good to overcome sin therefore we should not complain (v.39). If we think otherwise we should examine ourselves (v.40) and seek His pardon (v.42). Even in our lowest season God will hear our prayer (v.55-56) and say "Do not fear." (v.57).

"The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him." Lam 3:22-24

Personal Response: I will hope in the Lord whether or not the reason for my discipline is immediately obvious to me, I will hope in the Lord.

My Prayer: Father, I lift my heart and hands towards heaven (v.41) in trust asking forgiveness and insight.

Lamentations 4

The Punishing Siege: When the Babylonians surrounded Jerusalem, gold became worthless (v.1) and children were worse off than animals (v.3-4). The fact that the sin of Jerusalem had become worse than that of Sodom is seen in the prolonged suffering of Jerusalem compared to the quick end of Sodom (v.6). Death by famine is worse than sudden death by the sword (v.9); famine that causes compassionate women to do unspeakable evil (v.10). God's punishment spared not the very foundations of His people (v.11).

The Cost of Unworthy Leaders: False prophets and priests not only lied and deceived but shed innocent blood (v.13). When the consequences of their sin became apparent they were treated like lepers (v.14-15) but it was too late, punishment had come and looking for a nation (Egypt) to save was a false hope. False and evil leaders had brought the enemy to their gates (v.18-19).

Respect for our spiritual leaders must not exclude examination of their lives and message for alignment with the character, calling and message of the only True Living God. Blind trust makes us vulnerable to the consequences of their errors. There is a need for godly guidance in this dance of respect and examination.

v. 13: Because of the sins of her prophets, the guilt of her priests, who shed blood in her midst, of righteous people... v.16: the presence of Yahweh has scattered them, he will no longer watch over them…

Personal Response: I will respect leaders and observe their lives and evaluate the message of their behavior and words. To follow someone to a wrong destination is dangerous. To follow someone on the path to the Living God is life and righteousness.

My Prayer: Father, help me see how to support Godly leaders in their difficult and important task. Give me always to show respect and support while their hearts seek and lives reflect yours.

Lamentations 5

The Misery: Judah under their Babylonian captors felt dispossessed (v.2) and abandoned (v.3), abused (v.4, 11-14) and exhausted (v.5). They felt the unfair punishing weight of their forefather's sins (v.7) on top of their own (v.16). Though they were being ruled by slaves of the Babylonians, they were lower still (v.8), their hearts faint and eyes dim (v.17).

The Yearning: The entire chapter is a prayer and in these closing verses the captives make their request for hope - the restoration which could only come from the Lord (v.21). In the public reading of Lamentations it became customary, because of the despondent note of the final verse, that v.21 be read a second time (Ryrie): "Restore us to yourself, O LORD, that we may be restored! Renew our days as of old. (Lam 5:21)

When we can envision options, we are more likely to consider those we might accomplish on our own. When we cannot, we come to recognize what has been true all along; God alone is our only true and lasting hope.

Personal Response: I will look to the Lord for the shalom which can only come from His hand on the brightest days and on every other.

My Prayer: Father, I run down, I leak and I loose perspective. Restore my strength, the fullness of your Holy Spirit and view of Your Glory today - again.