{"id":55369,"date":"2005-11-01T21:12:00","date_gmt":"2005-11-02T03:12:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/?p=55369"},"modified":"2022-11-01T22:00:19","modified_gmt":"2022-11-02T03:00:19","slug":"the-book-of-lamentations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-book-of-lamentations\/","title":{"rendered":"The Book of Lamentations<\/strong>"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\tby Philip North\n

This book, believed to be written by the prophet Jeremiah between 586 and 585 B.C., is centered around the aftermath of the first destruction of Jerusalem, due to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. Jeremiah had prophesied of Jerusalem’s destruction for forty years before it finally took place.\u00a0 Since Jeremiah is known as “the weeping prophet,” then we can conclude in all probability that he authored the book.\u00a0 The word “lament” itself means, “To mourn; sorrow; especially about the past.”<\/p>\n

Lamentations is divided into five chapters:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Destruction and desolation of Jerusalem,<\/li>\n
  2. God’s anger with Jerusalem,<\/li>\n
  3. Prayer for God’s mercy on Jerusalem,<\/li>\n
  4. Repentance of Jerusalem, and<\/li>\n
  5. Prayer for God’s restoration of Jerusalem.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    As with everything else in life, this writer caught something in the way of a lesson seen in everyday life in the main theme of each chapter.\u00a0 Actually, all five chapters together show a particular cycle<\/em>\u00a0of life, where sin is concerned, particularly\u00a0grievous<\/em>\u00a0sins, which nearly always result in worse consequences than do some other sins.<\/p>\n

    First, when sin, grievous or otherwise, arrives at its stage of punishment, the sinner, whether being of a penitent heart or not, will then lament the consequential results that have come about.\u00a0 Suddenly, things are seen through different eyes.\u00a0 Tears will be shed, sadness felt, and a feeling of gloom will overshadow that person.\u00a0 This is almost always the immediate result — a reaction<\/em>, so to speak.\u00a0 It’s a “why did I do this?” kind of thing, or, “I can’t believe this happened.”\u00a0 Maybe too, “I didn’t expect all of this to occur” is felt.\u00a0 The exclamation by the wrongdoer, along with others as well, is, “just look what has happened here!”\u00a0 Alas, reader!\u00a0 This is sin’s ugly picture when its true colors are revealed.\u00a0 This is what one might call the initial exposure<\/em>\u00a0to the results of sin.\u00a0 Indeed, Jeremiah lamented about Jerusalem’s sins before God, along with the people’s desolation.<\/p>\n

    Second, one spends time, often a lot of it, lamenting while suffering the total aftermath (condition) of what has occurred when payday for sin is upon them.\u00a0 Anger and resentment are felt by the one(s) wronged, and some sort of justice or retribution is sought toward the wrongdoer.\u00a0 What was once fun has now become hurt.\u00a0 What was previously enjoyable has since produced pain.\u00a0 What was such a strong and seemingly uncontrollable thought now reeks of regret.\u00a0 Rock bottom is hit.\u00a0 Reality has now set in.\u00a0 The overall picture of what has happened due to sin now “comes home” to that individual.\u00a0 The more one sees of the fruits of his sins, the more one grieves, as sin’s ugliness is more and more manifested.\u00a0 This empty gut feeling has now surpassed that initial exposure<\/em>\u00a0mentioned in the last paragraph.\u00a0 To the one wronged, “this means war!”\u00a0 Especially is this the case for the truly penitent liar, murderer, rapist, robber, adulterous one, etc.\u00a0 Things aren’t the same now, nor will they ever be.\u00a0 True, forgiveness can be obtained, but never, ever can sin go unpunished or be in any way inconsequential.\u00a0 So, when righteous Jeremiah saw all the destruction that took place in Jerusalem, he lamented over their now sad state of affairs, having seen God’s anger revealed.\u00a0 The prophet was now an eyewitness on the scene.<\/p>\n

    Third, the one who has sinned possessing a genuinely sorrowful heart for what has been done will cry out to God and the one(s) wronged for mercy.\u00a0 (One will also ask for mercy from those making up civil law!)\u00a0 Actually, there are two kinds of repentance, that being\u00a0convenient<\/em>\u00a0sorrow and\u00a0godly<\/em>\u00a0sorrow (II Corinthians 7:10).\u00a0 To illustrate, one can be sorry that he got caught, or be truly sorry in this heart he committed the wrong.\u00a0 Either way, both by the wrongdoer and those pleading on his behalf, cries of mercy are made and heard ever so verbally.\u00a0 Jeremiah cried to God for mercy on behalf of Jerusalem.<\/p>\n

    Fourth, when realization sets in as to just what has occurred, a sorrowful kind of reminiscing<\/em>\u00a0takes place with the one who has a burning conscience of the evil committed.\u00a0 Each individual sin is recalled and lamented over, including those committed in the past that had nothing to do with the particular situation at hand.\u00a0 I speak of being\u00a0haunted<\/em> by one’s past, as well as one’s present.\u00a0 It all comes back at a person like a ton of bricks.\u00a0 As they say in court, “the book” has been thrown at them.\u00a0 Sorrow for both sin and punishment is felt, often leading that person to repentance.\u00a0 Jerusalem felt such a way. Jeremiah lamented over the condition of Jerusalem, due to their not listening to his many pleas to them to cease their idolatry.<\/p>\n

    Fifth, prayer and pleading are made for the total restoration of how life was previously.\u00a0 A desire is felt to atone, hence, an attempt is sought after to “pick up the broken pieces” and start over in rebuilding one’s life.\u00a0 Restitution, if it can be is also done.\u00a0 The wrongdoer wishes for things to be back to normal, and hopefully,\u00a0 this person plans to look the next time before he leaps, thus, promising to “straighten up and fly right”.\u00a0 Hopefully, lessons have been learned.\u00a0 Some of returning to how life was before are possible and some aren’t, depending on the degrees of sin that have been committed.\u00a0 Jeremiah prays to God for Israel’s restoration.<\/p>\n

    Lamentations 1:8 says, “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.<\/em>”\u00a0 This verse tells that Jerusalem’s sin was very bad, and so, desolation came.\u00a0 Lamentations 2:2 says, “The Lord hath swallowed up all the habitations of Jacob, and hath not pitied: he hath thrown down in his wrath the strong holds of the daughter of Judah; he hath brought them down to the ground: he hath polluted the kingdom and the princes thereof.<\/em>”\u00a0 God was indeed angry with His people, and He let them know it, finally and at last, in no uncertain terms, after repeated warnings from Jeremiah, as said, for 40 years.\u00a0 In Lamentations 3:41, we read, “Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.<\/em>”\u00a0 Jeremiah was pleading to God for mercy to be extended to Jerusalem, due to their destruction being so great.\u00a0 Punishment was immense.\u00a0 Consequences were felt in spades.\u00a0 Lamentations 4:17 declares, “As for us, our eyes as yet failed for our vain help: in our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save us.<\/em>”\u00a0 Needing help in deliverance from their calamities seems to indicate repentance here on the part of Jerusalem.\u00a0 They didn’t really feel so independent of God after all.\u00a0 Lamentations 5:1 says, “Remember, O Lord, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach.<\/em>”\u00a0 Lamentations 5:21 tells us, “Turn thou us unto thee, O Lord, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.<\/em>”\u00a0 The last part of this verse would show that Jeremiah was praying for Israel’s total restoration, for he said, “renew our days as of old.”<\/p>\n

    Lamentations is an eye-opener.\u00a0 This book shows mankind how not<\/em>\u00a0to live. Israel had been pleaded by the prophets to cease their idolatrous living, which was the reason for their immorality.\u00a0 They didn’t listen.\u00a0 The much admonishing by the prophet Jeremiah, likewise along with warnings from other prophets cited in many other places of the Old Testament, went repeatedly unheeded.\u00a0 So, the destruction of Jerusalem took place.\u00a0 The generations following, for the most part, did not learn from the mistakes of their ancestors.\u00a0 This led to their second and final destruction in A.D. 70, when a Roman captain named Titus besieged the city.\u00a0 This was prophesied by Jesus in Matthew 23:37-39; 24:1-35, and Luke 23:27-31.<\/p>\n

    This awful demise happened to the nation of Israel because they ignored warning, after warning, after warning to put sin out of their lives.\u00a0 Because of allowing themselves to become slaves to sin, they will never, ever again be the great nation they once were.\u00a0 May we all read, believe, and learn from this. Disobedience to God is sin, and sin is disobedience to God.\u00a0 Sin’s only result is destruction.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    by Philip North This book, believed to be written by the prophet Jeremiah between 586 and 585 B.C., is centered around the aftermath of the first destruction of Jerusalem, due to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. Jeremiah had prophesied of Jerusalem’s destruction for forty years before it finally took place.\u00a0 Since Jeremiah is known as “the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[1536,268,179],"class_list":["post-55369","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-lamentations","tag-old-testament","tag-sin"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":69517,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/will-life-ever-be-good-again\/","url_meta":{"origin":55369,"position":0},"title":"Will Life Ever Be Good Again?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 30, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"by Zeke Flores Sometimes, it may seem like nothing will ever be right in your life again. You might look back to happier times and wonder how things could so completely fall apart. Beaten down by circumstances, maybe even the consequences of your own bad decision, you become overwhelmed with\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":83773,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/propaganda-wars-when-people-cant-or-wont-hear-truth\/","url_meta":{"origin":55369,"position":1},"title":"Propaganda Wars – When People Can\u2019t or Won\u2019t Hear Truth","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 29, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by Terry Wane Benton We have the book of Jeremiah only because truth wins in the end. But think of the propaganda that seemed to prevail when Jeremiah was trying to preach to the corrupt establishment. God had an important mission for Jeremiah, \"to root out and to pull down,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":66956,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-is-your-understanding-of-jeremiah-410\/","url_meta":{"origin":55369,"position":2},"title":"What is your understanding of Jeremiah 4:10?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 8, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I just wanted to get your understanding of Jeremiah 4:10. Answer: \"Then I said, 'Ah, Lord GOD! Surely You have utterly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, \"You will have peace\"; whereas a sword touches the throat'\" (Jeremiah 4:10). Imagine a robber has grabbed you, and he has a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":51799,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/why-is-jeremiah-referred-to-as-the-weeping-prophet\/","url_meta":{"origin":55369,"position":3},"title":"Why is Jeremiah referred to as the weeping prophet?\u00a0","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 25, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Why is Jeremiah referred to as the weeping prophet? Answer: \"Oh, that my head were waters, and my eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people! ... I will take up a weeping and wailing for\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":36714,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/jerusalems-fall\/","url_meta":{"origin":55369,"position":4},"title":"Jerusalem’s Fall","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 16, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"by Terry Wane Benton Though Jerusalem had been destroyed during the Babylonian period (536 BC) as predicted by Jeremiah, it was also predicted that the Lord of hosts would be riding on the clouds to bring about that fall, and later the fall of Babylon, which was used to bring\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":16594,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/how-many-major-and-minor-prophets-are-there-in-the-bible\/","url_meta":{"origin":55369,"position":5},"title":"How many major and minor prophets are there in the Bible?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 12, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: How many major and minor prophets are there in the Bible? 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