by Katrina
LINK: Lamentations 1 & Lamentations 2
BACKGROUND
Author - The book of Lamentations is assumed to have been written by Jeremiah when Jerusalem fell to Nebuchadnezzar's army. Imagine how Jeremiah must have felt after 40 years of warning the people of the coming judgment from God. They never listened, and God followed through on His promise to destroy Jerusalem and the temple. What sorrow Jeremiah must have felt to see the destruction of what was so dear to him! The city and temple he loved were reduced to ashes and rubble. And he must have felt frustrated that 40 years of his preaching had had no effect on the people. He struggled with the emotions and the theology of seeing God bring destruction to His people. This book is borne of gut-wrenching experience and emotion.
Literary Style - The book consists of five chapters, each one a lament, or dirge. The first four laments are written in the form of acrostic poems. Each verse begins with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet, in alphabetical order (22 letters). In chapter 3, each letter has three lines assigned to it, making it three times as long. Although chapter 5 has 22 verses, it is not an acrostic. Chapters 1, 2, and 3 all end with prayers, and all of chapter 5 is a prayer.
Historical Context - Nebuchadnezzar first invaded Judah in 605 B.C. to put down King Jehoiakim's revolt against Babylonian rule. At that time Daniel along with many other Jews were deported to Babylon. The army returned in 597, looted Jerusalem, and deported more people. The siege of Jerusalem began on January 15, 588, and on July 18, 586, the walls were breached. On August 14, the city was set on fire. Each year on this date, the Jews remember the event and read the book of Lamentations aloud in their synagogues. (Wiersbe)
Chapter 1 - Jeremiah surveys the city of Jerusalem and weeps over it. It was once a beautiful princess, but is now desolate as a widow. There is no one to help in the affliction. They had sought help from neighboring nations only to have those nations turn against them.
Chapter 2 - Jeremiah sees the devastation and cries out to God. God has destroyed all the strength and beauty of the nation and delivered it into the hands of its enemies. The devastation is overwhelming.
REFLECTION
Once again, why was God destroying His chosen nation? They did not keep the covenant, they were disobedient, they refused to trust in God. These are the more obvious reasons, but I think there is also a broader reason. God's ultimate purpose for everything is His glory. The nation of Israel had been entrusted with His glory, as God Himself dwelt in the temple. But the people defamed that glory. They treated God with contempt and drug His name through the mud. They were also entrusted with the word of God, His message to the nations. But they corrupted that as well. God could not leave them in that state. So, instead, He destroyed them and kept a remnant that would later return and start over. Since then, the nation of Israel has never turned to idolatry again.
APPLICATION
As believers, we have the riches of His glory and His word. What are you doing with them?
PRAYER
Lord, let us not waste the precious gifts You have given to us. Teach us to live obediently to You in order to bring You glory and honor in all that we think, say, and do. Thank You for the precious gift of Your word. Help us to continue to "soak" in it and let it transform us into Your image. Through the power of Your Holy Spirit, in the name of Jesus, amen.
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