All the Bible, Every Book Study Notes Ed Underwood

The Book of Lamentation Despite the national suffering, destruction, and deportation of Judah, Yahweh’s faithfulness is great and hope is not lost.

Jeremiah 31:31-34 describes a new covenant that has been implemented through Christ in the church and will be fulfilled with the house of Israel & Judah.

Setting: The Book of Lamentations was probably written in Egypt (where Jeremiah was kidnapped just prior to or after the deportation) shortly after the Fall of Jerusalem. You can almost picture Jeremiah as he is being taken down to Egypt, looking back and watching the smoke and desolation of his beloved land and his heart breaking in his chest. The English title for this book that comes from the Talmud is “Lamentations” but the Hebrew Bible’s title is simply “Ahhhh How!?” How did this happen? What a great title for a Book.

Lamentations aggressively deals with the issue of personal and national suffering. Jeremiah is a righteous and faithful prophet, yet His laments are national, community laments. God is disciplining Judah and they deserve it—they have forsaken God, the fountain of living waters, and have chosen broken cisterns that hold no water (Jeremiah 2:13). Despite the brokenness and anguish of Jeremiah, he teaches us how to relate to God in pain, disappointment, and crises. Jeremiah’s 5 laments are full of very unique prayers and interactions with God. His 3rd lament, found in Lamentations 3, may be one of the greatest laments in all of Scripture. Chapter 3 is the heart of Lamentations.

Defeat and Desolation of Jerusalem (586 BC) Jeremiah (warning) Looking forward Lamentations (mourning) Looking back 5 Corporate Laments Ch. 1 (overview)

Josiah begins his reforms

The dark days of the people of Jerusalem. Sorrow over Jerusalem’s condition.

Jeremiah begins his ministry (Jeremiah 1)

Ch. 2 (internal view)

—Josiah killed in battle by Egyptians at Megiddo. —Jehoahaz reigns over Judah 3 months, —Johoiakim made king of Judah by Pharaoh Necho

God’s punishment of Israel’s unfaithfulness. God’s anger and Jeremiah’s plea.

Nebuchadnezzar defeats Egypt at Carchemish; first deportation of Jews to Babylon (Daniel taken)

Ch. 3 (God-centered view)

The compassion and faith- fulness of God. Jeremiah’s hope and prayer. “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “There fore I hope in Him. The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait qui- etly for the salvation of the Lord.” (3:22-26)

Jehoiakim is deposed and dies and Jehioachin regns over Judah for 3 months

Ch. 4 (overview)

Cyrus of Persia issues his decree allowing Jews to return to Palestine. First return with Zerubbabel (70 years from first exile and they begin to rebuild temple Jer. 29:10 & 2 Chron.36:21).

The sin of all the people and God’s severity towards Jerusalem.

Temple completed (70 years after destruct.)

Ch. 5 (future view)

2nd return under Ezra (Revival of the People)

The response of the right- eous remnant—plea for restoration.

3rd return under Nehemiah (The Wall)

Josiah (8 years) begins his reign.

Fall of Nineveh (Assyria)

Second deportation of Jews to Babylon (Ezekiel & Jehioachin taken). Zede- kiah made king of Judah.

Jerusalem falls to Nebu- chadnezzar 3rd deportation. Judean refugees flee to Egypt,, take Jeremiah.

Themes & Message of Lamentations

Lamentations is written by a broken and discouraged Jeremiah, “See, O Lord, that I am in distress; my soul is troubled; my heart is overturned within me... They have heard that I sigh, but no one comforts me...My eyes fail with tears, my heart is troubled; my bile is poured on the ground because of the destruction of the daughter of my people, because the children and the infants faint in the streets of the city...He has hedged me in so that I cannot get out; He has made my chain heavy. Even when I cry and shout, he shuts out my prayer. He has blocked my way with hewn stone; He has made my paths crooked.” (1:20-21, 2:11, 3:7- 9).

Jeremiah says that God has done the opposite of Proverbs 3:5-6 (“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. Ac- knowledge him in all your ways, and he will make your paths straight.” ) and has made his paths crooked (3:9) and has taken the promises of Psalm 139:2 & 5, (“You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off...You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me”) and applied them to his enemies, “He has hedged me in so that I cannot get out...Look at their sitting down and their rising up; I am their taunting song” (3:7, 63).

Lamentations aggressively deals with the issue of personal and national suffering. Jeremiah is convinced of the guilt of his people and their transgression of the Mosaic covenant (1:5, 18, 2:17, 4:6, 11, 22, 5:7, 16). Yet he is perplexed by the Abrahamic Covenant with its unconditional promises to Israel of Land, Seed, and Blessing (Gen 12 & 15). How can God fulfill His promises to Abraham when Jerusalem and the Temple are destroyed and all of her inhabitants are march- ing towards captivity in Babylon? “Our inheritance has been turned over to aliens, and our houses to foreigners...You, O Lord, remain forever; Your throne from generation to generation. Why do You forget us forever, and forsake us for so long a time?” (5:2, 19-20).

Despite the brokenness and anguish of Jeremiah, he teaches us how to relate to God in pain, disappointment, and crises. His laments are full of very unique prayers and interactions with Yahweh:

1. Davidic like cries for justice: “They have heard that I sigh, But no one comforts me. All my enemies have heard of my trouble; They are glad that You have done it. Bring on the day You have announced, That they may become like me. Let all their wickedness come before You, And do to them as You have done to me For all my transgressions; For my sighs are many, And my heart is faint....O Lord, You have pleaded the case for my soul; You have redeemed my life. O LORD, You have seen how I am wronged; Judge my case. You have seen all their vengeance, All their schemes against

   me." (1:21-22, 3:58-60)

2. Expressing the terror and pain of the moment: “You have invited as to a feast day The terrors that surround me. In the day of the LORD's anger

   There was no refugee or survivor. Those whom I have borne and brought up My enemies have destroyed." (2:22)

3. Jeremiah longs for rescue:“My eyes flow and do not cease, Without interruption, Till the LORD from heaven Looks down and sees. My eyes bring suffering to my soul Because of all the daughters of my city...I called on Your name, O LORD, From the lowest pit. You have heard my voice: "Do

   not hide Your ear From my sighing, from my cry for help. You drew near on the day I called on You, And said, "Do not fear!" (3:49-51, 55-57)

4. Plea to remember and restore: “Remember, O LORD, what has come upon us; Look, and behold our reproach!... You, O LORD, remain forever; Your

   throne from generation to generation. Why do You forget us forever, And forsake us for so long a time? Turn us back to You, O LORD, and we will be restored; Renew our days as of old” (5:1, 19-21).

Yahweh fulfills every covenant and promise that He establishes: For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable [Rom 11:29]). In this is the prophetic fulfillment of Leviticus 26, Deuteronomy 28 and the blessings and cursings of the Mosaic covenant with Israel, “The LORD has done what He purposed; He has fulfilled His word which He commanded in days of old. He has thrown down and has not pitied, And He has caused an enemy to rejoice over you; He has exalted the horn of your adversaries.” (2:17).

This is true of the Abrahamic Covenant as well. The climax of Jeremiah’s lament is 3:21-32: “ 21 This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. 22 Through the LORD’S mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. 24 "The LORD is my por- tion," says my soul, "Therefore I hope in Him!" 25 The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him. 26 It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. 27 It is good for a man to bear The yoke in his youth. 28 Let him sit alone and keep silent, Because God has laid it on him; 29 Let him put his mouth in the dust—There may yet be hope. 30 Let him give his cheek to the one who strikes him, And be full of reproach. 31 For the Lord will not cast off forever. 32 Though He causes grief, Yet He will show compassion according to the multitude of His mercies.” Despite the absolute chaos of the destruction of Jerusalem and deportation of the Jews, God will remain faithful to His promises. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord! “You, O LORD, remain forever; Your throne from generation to generation” (5:19).