INTRODUCTION TO LAMENTATIONSLamentations was written sometime after Jerusalem fell to the Babylonians in 587 BC but possibly before the rebuilding of the temple around 520 BC. The five poems in the book seem to have been written by someone who experienced the destruction of Jerusalem firsthand. Some scholars believe Jeremiah wrote Lamentations while others believe there were several authors. The book itself does not explicitly state an author. The first four poems are acrostics. Chapters 1, 2 and 4 each have twenty-two verses, with each verse beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Chapter 3 has sixty-six verses, with three consecutive lines beginning with the same letter, then the next three lines beginning with the next letter, and so on. Chapter 5 is not an acrostic but has twenty-two verses. The poems are laments of the tragic situation that has come upon Judah because of her sins. God punished his people but his wrath was intended to express his righteousness and to help his people to repent. The poems show us how to handle grief and tragedy. We must accept what has happened, not minimizing it, but bring it to God. Then we confess our sin and repent. Finally, we find hope in God who is faithful and good. The key verse of Lamentations is 3:23. No matter how difficult our life circumstances, let us turn to God, repent our sin and trust him. May God bless us to learn anew his great love, compassion and faithfulness.
GOD'S RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT
1. Jerusalem deserted (1-12)
The Babylonians had burned Jerusalem and deported most of the people. Former allies, like Egypt and Moab, had betrayed her. No one came to worship God at the appointed times. Her glory days were a distant memory. She had been stripped of all her treasures. The temple had been desecrated. The few people who remained suffered miserably as they scavenged for food. They were a despised people. God inflicted this suffering on his people because of their sins.
3. I am in torment within...." (13-22)
The people's suffering was like fire in their bones. Their sin was like a yoke on their neck. God sapped their strength. He allowed enemies to crush and trample them. The writer's tears overflowed because of what he saw and experienced. His torment and suffering did not harden his heart. He humbly confessed that the LORD is righteous. God's judgment was deserved. No one could comfort him. But he called on God, confessing his sin and rebellion toward God's word.
Application: Lord, your judgments are right and I am sinful. Please forgive me newly by the blood of Jesus.
One Word: The LORD is righteous