Lamentations

Author: Jeremiah, the weeping prophet. (2 Chronicles 35:25; Lamentations 2:11))

Date: 586 BC or soon thereafter (Lamentations 1:1-2)

Context: Jeremiah was called to be a prophet in 626 BC in the 13th year of King Josiah’s reign (Jeremiah 1:1-2). When he recieved the call of God he was no more than 20 years old (Jeremiah 1:6-7). He was prophesying in Judah until halfway through 586 BC (Jeremiah 1:3). That means he was a prophet during the reign of four kings of Judah: Josiah, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin and Zedekiah. Josiah was a good king but was killed by Pharoah Neco at Megiddo in the 31st year of his reign (2 Kings 22 - 2 Kings 23:30). His son, Jehoiakim was an evil king in Judah. He reigned 11 years (2 Kings 23:30 - 2 Kings 24:1-5). His son, Jehoiachin became king after him and reigned 3 months. He was also an evil king and Nebuchadnezzar took him away as a captive to Babylon and replace him with Zedekiah 2 Kings 24:6-17). Zedekiah was a puppet king, making him the “Herod” of Babylon. In his 9th year he rebelled against Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar held Jerusalem under seige for 2 years until eventually the city fell in 586 BC (2 Kings 25). Jeremiah endured all this over the span of about 40 years and the book of Lamentations is the outcry of his heart, having witnessed and experienced all this trauma and suffering. Lamentations is a poetic Hebrew alphabet acrostic, like Psalm 119 and Proverbs 31:10-31. Chapters 1, 2 and 4 have 22 stanzas each, and every verse begins with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet, in sequential order. Chapter 3 is a triple acrostic. Each letter of the Hebrew alphabet is given 3 consecutive verses, in sequential order.

Lamentations 3:21–40 NASB

21 This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. 22 The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. 24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him.” 25 The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the person who seeks Him. 26 It is good that he waits silently For the salvation of the Lord. 27 It is good for a man that he should bear The yoke in his youth. 28 Let him sit alone and be silent Since He has laid it on him. 29 Let him put his mouth in the dust, Perhaps there is hope. 30 Let him give his cheek to the smiter, Let him be filled with reproach. 31 For the Lord will not reject forever, 32 For if He causes grief, Then He will have compassion According to His abundant lovingkindness. 33 For He does not afflict willingly Or grieve the sons of men. 34 To crush under His feet All the prisoners of the land, 35 To deprive a man of justice In the presence of the Most High, 36 To defraud a man in his lawsuit— Of these things the Lord does not approve. 37 Who is there who speaks and it comes to pass, Unless the Lord has commanded it? 38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High That both good and ill go forth? 39 Why should any living mortal, or any man, Offer complaint in view of his sins? 40 Let us examine and probe our ways, And let us return to the Lord.