LAMENTATIONS 1-3:24 In the Hebrew bible, Lamentations is called Ekah (How), - after the first word of the book. The book does not identify its author; however, many scholars consider Jeremiah to be the author for a couple of reasons: 1) 2 Chronicles 35:25 reports Jeremiah had written a book of laments. Jeremiah also lamented for Josiah. And to this day all the singing men and the singing women speak of Josiah in their lamentations. They made it a custom in Israel; and indeed they are written in the Laments. (2 Chronicles 35:25) 2) Jeremiah was an eye witness to the fall of Jerusalem. Lamentations describes the results of Babylon s destruction of Jerusalem in 587 B.C. in detail. The date of the writing of Lamentations probably falls between 587-516 B.C. The book is written in a poetic fashion a collection of laments with hope as its main theme. It is a funeral oration, in which the author expresses deep personal grief for the dead and the suffering that surrounds Israel s loss; it is a formal expression of grief. Traditionally Lamentations has been read or sung as a part of annual Jewish observances related to remembering the temple s destruction. Another interesting feature of Lamentations is that in terms of structure, it is written as an acrostic based on the Hebrew alphabet, from A to Z (or aleph to taw ), similar to Psalm 119. There are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet. In chapters 1, 2, 4, 5, there are 22 verses; in Hebrew, the first word of each verse begins with a letter from the Hebrew alphabet, beginning with aleph. Chapter 3 is a little different in that it has 66 verses, in which every third verse begins with a letter from the Hebrew alphabet. The idea being conveyed is that Jeremiah gives a full expression of the suffering in Jerusalem and the sorrow of his own soul, from A to Z. Chapters 1-2: Reveal Jerusalem s horrible defeat at the hands of the Babylonians. Chapter 3: Jerusalem is counseled to return to God. Chapter 4: Similar to chapters 1-2, describing Jerusalem s defeat. Chapter 5: Is a community lament whereby Jerusalem cries out to God. (ESV Study Bible).
Chapter 1 Jerusalem s rebellion against the word of God brought about their defeat. (v.1-11). Here we find a correlation between Jerusalem s physical defeat and that of a backslidden church or believer. There are 14 evidences of sins destructive nature found here, which we should avoid. 1. Isolation. A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; He rages against all wise judgment. (Proverbs 18:1) 2. Slavery. Bondage to sin. 3. Sorrow. Bitterness of soul. 4. Captivity. Loss of freedom. 5. Mourning. (Isaiah 61:3) oil of joy for mourning 6. Adversary becomes our master. 7. Lost splendor. (v.6a) Lost Beauty, honor and glory. By humility and the fear of the Lord Are riches and honor and life. (Proverbs 22:4) 8. Weakness/Fear. (v.6b) 9. Haunted by the past. (v.7a) 10. Mockery. (v.7b) (Proverbs 25:26) A righteous man who falters before the wicked Is like a murky spring and a polluted well. 11. Exposure. (v.8b, 9a) 12. No comfort. (v.9b) 13. Contamination (v.10) (ttt) Nehemiah 13:6-12. Eliashib (priest) Tobiah; Nehemiah; grain new wine and the oil returned to the House of the Lord. 14. No bread (word). (v.11, 12) Where you find rebellion there you will also find an absence of the word of God. These 14 attributes are fruits of the backslidden heart. I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely, For My anger has turned away from him. (Hosea 14:4) (v.13-22) the voice of Judah/Jerusalem; a call for help.
Chapter 2 effects of God s punishment. (v.10) A sad commentary regarding the life of the unfaithful. (v.11-13) The children suffer. We forget that our sinful actions inevitable will affect the most innocent among us. Even with the situation in Israel today; regardless of which side of the conflict people are on the victimization of children is always a horrific casualty of war. The Germans and their collaborators killed as many as 1.5 million children, including over a million Jewish children and tens of thousands of Romani (Gypsy) children, German children with physical and mental disabilities living in institutions, Polish children, and children residing in the occupied Soviet Union. (Wikipedia) Spiritually speaking, children are also casualties of sinful adult behavior as fathers/mothers abandon them in pursuit of their own carnal gratification. Malachi 4:6 reminds us, that in Christ, the hearts of the fathers will be turned back to their children and the children to their fathers. (v.14) The work of the prophet (preacher) is to uncover iniquity; to call sin, sin! Today we have prophets who refuse to deal with sin for fear they will offend. Her priests have violated My law and profaned My holy things; they have not distinguished between the holy and unholy, nor have they made known the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they have hidden their eyes from My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. (Ezekiel 22:26) (v.14-17) Enemies rejoice! (v.18-22) Jerusalem calls out to God to see and to act. The enemy may rejoice, but God is not finished with us yet! Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; When I fall, I will arise; When I sit in darkness, The Lord will be a light to me. I will bear the indignation of the Lord, Because I have sinned against Him, Until He pleads my case And executes justice for me. He will bring me forth to the light; I will see His righteousness. (Micah 7:8-9) In chapter 3 Jeremiah speaks (v.1-24) as a man who has endured great suffering (v.1-20); here we find a graphic description of the ministry things which the Lord
allows a man or woman of God to go through. In ministry you will suffer affliction (v1); walk in times of dark uncertainty (v.2); face opposition (v.3); physical/spiritual discomfort (v.4); bitterness (anguish) of soul (v.5); loneliness (v.6, 7); seasons of unanswered prayer (v.7, 8); twists and sudden turns on the path of lifetimes when God appears to be more of an enemy than a friend (v.9-13); ridicule for trusting God (v.14, 15); humility (v.16); times of hopelessness (v.17, 18); and uncertainty (v.19, 20). And in all of this you still have hope you can be assured you are called or crazy! In reality, you need to be both! It was Jeremiah who declared: Then I said, "I will not make mention of Him, Nor speak anymore in His name." But His word was in my heart like a burning fire Shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, And I could not. (Jeremiah 20:9) Adversity is a natural component of ministry; there can be no real ministry without it. It is the means by which God makes men and women of God! The means by which faith is made great! If you faint in the day of adversity, Your strength is small. (Proverbs 24:10) Whom God will use greatly He will hurt deeply. A.W. Tozer. Through all of this, the minister (saint) reaches a place of victorious hope! (v.21-24)! Ministry can only be offered according to God s grace and mercy, without any confidence in the flesh! God allows the problem that we might reach a place whereby He alone is our portion!