Dei Time

The Poet Speaks for the People

Dei Break

Lamentations 3:1 – 5:22

The writer's grief is well told in the word "filled" in verse 15. It meant filled like a soaked sponge that can hold no more water. We all have times when it seems God is far away. In those times we must do what Jeremiah did. He depended on his mind instead of his emotions to hold to the truth in verses 19-24.

During stressful times, remember that Jeremiah was not suffering because of his own sin against God. He was in a situation not of his own making, and his grief was not over his own rebellion, but the tragedy of his nation. We also can suffer without sin. Our fallen world often causes suffering for all, both good and bad. Our inability to see God in hard times does not mean that He is not working in our behalf, or that His love for us has diminished.

Chapter 4 visualizes the horrible existence of people under ancient siege. Is it any wonder that God urged His people to leave the city and turn themselves over to Babylon? Verse 13 clearly states the reason for Jerusalem's suffering.

Verse 20 echoes the belief among the Judeans that God could not let them fall. It was one reason that they ignored, jailed, and even murdered His prophets. God would not let His city fall. If an enemy laid hand on the holy city's walls, he would simply drop dead.

Verse 22, however, again promises restoration even for rebellious Judah.

Lamentations has been a poetic account of the events and emotions of the times. The claims that Jerusalem could not fall had ended. Some still defied Babylon, but they were few.

Reading Ezra and Nehemiah has already told us that the people did not return to Jerusalem to live happily ever after. They continued their sinful ways and under the domination of more powerful nations. Prophets still reminded them of their need to place God at the center of their lives.

We also continue to rebel; to make assumption on God's protection. We, however, live on this side of the cross and know absolutely that our sin is forgiven through Jesus and our eternity with God is assured.

Next time: The Man of Many Visions

Lamentations over the Loss

Dei Break

Lamentations 1:1 – 2:22

Though not named, both Jewish and Christian traditions say that Jeremiah penned Lamentations. Because of the obvious tone of still painful mourning, it was probably written shortly after Jerusalem's fall, which is its topic.

Though not obvious in English, the entire book is quite complicated poetry. Your study Bible may list the poetic points in more detail, but here are the primary ones: Each of the five parts has 22 verses or multiples of 22 which is the number of letters in the Hebrew alphabet. The 22 verses in each of the first 4 chapters, or laments, begin with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet in progressive order. The Zondervan Study Bible says it well: "Use of the alphabet as a formal structure indicates that, however passionate these laments, they were composed with studied care." It might be added that the style also demonstrates that writer/prophets of 2600 years ago were not ignorant, primitive men; they were very much like us and perhaps more literate than many Americans today.

All of Judah suffered in the fall of Jerusalem, though God protected His remnant by warning them to surrender to Babylon before the city fell. Justice demanded that the nation be held responsible for its rebellion, even though they were lied to by their leaders and the false prophets who declared victory and God's protection in defiance of the truth spoken by men like Isaiah and Jeremiah. The people had failed to choose God instead of self-satisfying lies.

How could they have known what way to choose? How could they have avoided being in rebellion against God? They had the written word (the laws and history of God and His people), as well as the witness of God's prophets. Their lives were in contrast to the will of God, but they did not want to give up what they considered their right to determine their own way. They did not realize that God did not set up His laws in order to limit their freedom, but to enhance their freedom to enjoy His grace and escape the slavery of sin.

Next time: The Poet Speaks for the People