Today's Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today's episode: Ch. 1-5 HCSB

New Lifespring! Family Bereans

Brother Howie and Sister Ann

Podcast Introduction

It’s Prophecy Friday, and we’ll read the book of Lamentations.. I’m calling this episode “Alas.”

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Comments on Lamentations

Introduction to Lamentations

First, let’s talk about the name: Lamentations. In Jewish tradition, the first word of a biblical book is often the name that is used as its title. So the Hebrew title of Lamentations is eikhah, which means “Alas” or “O how.” The Septuagint and other Greek manuscripts refer to it as Thrēnoi, which means “Dirges,” or Thrēnoi Hieremion, which means “Dirges of Jeremiah.” The English translation of thrēnoi is Lamentations. 

The book of Lamentations is traditionally held to have been written by the prophet Jeremiah as a sort of appendix to his book of prophetic writings. As David and others wrote many sacred songs of joy, these are sacred songs of lament, or sadness. 

Jeremiah is expressing his sadness at seeing his prophecies fulfilled. Though he was ill-treated by his countrymen when he delivered God’s message to them, he is nonetheless heartbroken at the destruction that he sees come upon them. 

He wrote these songs, or odes, when he saw the destruction of Judah and Jerusalem by the Chaldean army and the falling apart of the Jewish state…both the government and the body of Jewish believers. This might be referred to as a dirge for Jerusalem.

Thoughts on Lamentations

You may have noticed that this book ended on a down note:

19You, Lord, are enthroned forever;

Your throne endures from generation to generation. 

20Why have You forgotten us forever, 

abandoned us for our entire lives?

21Lord, restore us to Yourself, so we may return; 

renew our days as in former times,

22unless You have completely rejected us

and are intensely angry with us.

Lamentations 5:19-22 HCSB

We're more used to David in the Psalms. When he wrote of his times of trial, he usually said something like, "But you Lord, are my comfort and strength. I will praise you." Or even the book of Job ended with God restoring him. Lamentations doesn't give us the same comfort. Verse 21, the second to the last verse of chapter five says, "Lord, restore us to Yourself, so we may return; renew our days as in former times..." which does sound like something David would have written, but verse 22 says, "...unless You have completely rejected us and are intensely angry with us." So the reader of Lamentations is left with the question, "Lord, what is your response?" Interestingly, in Jewish liturgical use, or in Temple or Synagogue, I've read that it was common practice, when reading Lamentations, they would end the reading with verse 21, instead of ending with the uncertainty and lack of comfort of verse 22. 

Obviously, I do not have the mind of God. I don't know why He inspired the writer of Lamentations to end like this. What I do know is that God made a way for us to know that we will not be completely rejected by God. We can know that we are forgiven for all of our sins when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. We are not left wondering if we will be restored or rejected. Jesus said in Matthew 10:32,