INTRODUCTION

This book is actually a collection of five poems. Each chapter is a poetic lament.

Some people contest the authorship of Jeremiah. However, the Greek translation of the Old Testament (the Septuagint) has a superscription to this book. Part of that inscription reads, "Jeremiah sat weeping and lamented with this lamentation over Jerusalem." And 2Chronicles 35:25 connects Jeremiah with this type of literature if not with this specific book.

Jeremiah was known as the "weeping prophet" (see Jeremiah 9:1). He was specifically called of God to preach the downfall of the kingdom of Judah and the destruction of Jerusalem. He was called as a relatively young man for this purpose, and was forbidden to marry. He was to focus his attention upon the awful tragedy of God's named people turning away from Him to idolatry. There is little doubt in my mind that it affected Jeremiah so much that he wrote these poems. They are written almost as funeral dirges, and explain the awful feelings and emotions of tremendous LOSS!

While great loss is lamented, the REASON for the loss is also pointed out (Lamentations 1:8 & 18; 2:17; 4:13-14). But in the middle of the sorrow, there is hope projected because of the mercy of God (Lamentations 3:21-22).

As one reads Lamentations, one cannot escape the analogy of what sin DOES. Sin removes one from the closeness of God. Sin removes the protection of God. Sin brings the discipline of God upon the sinner. When pleading and discipline go unheard, sin brings destruction!

CHAPTER 1

1 How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! how is she become as a widow! she that was was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become tributary! 2 She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks: among all her lovers she hath none to comfort her: all her friends have dealt treacherously with her, they are become her enemies. 3 Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction, and because of great servitude: she dwelleth among the heathen, she findeth no rest: all her persecutors overtook her between the straits. 4 The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn feasts: all her gates are desolate: her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness. 5 Her adversaries are the chief, her enemies prosper; for the LORD hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions: her children are gone into captivity before the enemy. 6 And from the daughter of Zion all her beauty is departed: her princes are become like harts that find no pasture, and they are gone without strength before the pursuer. 7 Jerusalem remembered in the days of her affliction and of her miseries all her pleasant things that she had in the days of old, when her people fell into the hand of the enemy, and none did help her: the adversaries saw her, and did mock at her sabbaths. 8 Jerusalem hath grievously sinned; therefore she is removed: all that honoured her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness: yea, she sigheth, and turneth backward. 9 Her filthiness is in her skirts; she remembereth not her last end; therefore she came down wonderfully: she had no comforter. O LORD, behold my affliction: for the enemy hath magnified himself. 10 The adversary hath spread out his hand upon all her pleasant things: for she hath seen that the heathen entered into her sanctuary, whom thou didst command that they should not enter into thy congregation. 11 All her people sigh, they seek bread; they have given their pleasant things for meat to relieve the soul: see, O LORD, and consider; for I am become vile.

The first emotion exhibited is a feeling much like the same as sudden widowhood. Jerusalem is like a bride that has lost her husband. She is left desolate, and feels "vile" (verse 11).

She was an UNFAITHFUL bride, because she had many "lovers" verse 2. All of her "lovers" (idols) have forsaken her, and now she is widowed by her husband. God has left the city to "affliction" (verse 3).

One can imagine from the description given (verses 4-5) that the city is EMPTY where it was once a hub-bub of excitement. Where there once was joy now there is "bitterness."

Verse 8 explains the "why" of Jerusalem's desolation. She, or rather her inhabitants, "sinned." Her sin is shown by the "filthiness...in her skirts" (verse 9). Instead of physical adultery, it was spiritual adultery through idolatry.

Where there once was plenty, now there is WANT (verse 11). The widow is left to be afflicted by her captors.

12 Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the LORD hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger. 13 From above hath he sent fire into my bones, and it prevaileth against them: he hath spread a net for my feet, he hath turned me back: he hath made me desolate and faint all the day. 14 The yoke of my transgressions is bound by his hand: they are wreathed, and come up upon my neck: he hath made my strength to fall, the Lord hath delivered me into their hands, from whom I am not able to rise up. 15 The Lord hath trodden under foot all my mighty men in the midst of me: he hath called an assembly against me to crush my young men: the Lord hath trodden the virgin, the daughter of Judah, as in a winepress. 16 For these things I weep; mine eye, mine eye runneth down with water, because the comforter that should relieve my soul is far from me: my children are desolate, because the enemy prevailed. 17 Zion spreadeth forth her hands, and there is none to comfort her: the LORD hath commanded concerning Jacob, that his adversaries should be round about him: Jerusalem is as a menstruous woman among them. 18 The LORD is righteous; for I have rebelled against his commandment: hear, I pray you, all people, and behold my sorrow: my virgins and my young men are gone into captivity. 19 I called for my lovers, but they deceived me: my priests and mine elders gave up the ghost in the city, while they sought their meat to relieve their souls. 20 Behold, O LORD; for I am in distress: my bowels are troubled; mine heart is turned within me; for I have grievously rebelled: abroad the sword bereaveth, at home there is as death. 21 They have heard that I sigh: there is none to comfort me: all mine enemies have heard of my trouble; they are glad that thou hast done it: thou wilt bring the day that thou hast called, and they shall be like unto me. 22 Let all their wickedness come before thee; and do unto them, as thou hast done unto me for all my transgressions: for my sighs are many, and my heart is faint.

In these verses the depths of sorrow are discussed. The great sorrow of the people is that God has afflicted them (verse 1). They realize now that their rebellion caused God's discipline to give them deep sorrow indeed.

The sorrow is like a fever, being trapped or being very weak (verse 13). It is like a "yoke" (of bondage), and the reason is "my transgressions" (verse 14).

The "warriors" of the city have been beaten, and a new army has come to "tread" upon the city like it were a "winepress" (verse 15). The sorrow brings weeping (verse 16) which is uncontrollable. And though the people cry for help, there is NONE to comfort them (verse 17).

There is also a realization of contrition (verse 18). The call goes out to all who will hear, "The LORD is righteous" in bringing such affliction to His people because of their sins.

After having called to everyone ELSE for help (verse 19), now the people are willing admit their sin and to call upon GOD (verse 20).

Yet there is a note of HOPE in verses 21-22. Even though God will discipline His children for their sins, He will also bring JUDGMENT upon unbelievers. A loving God chastises His children to keep them on the "right path." But God has set a LIMIT upon time. And at the last day, ALL men will face God for the judgment of their lives. Believers in God will be acquitted, but those who have never beleived will be found guilty and given eternal punishment.

The sorrow that accompanies discipline for our sins causes beleivers to understand that that sorrow is NOTHING compared to the sorrow of eternity without God!!

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.