Lamentations

Introduction

If ever a book described a hopeless situation, it is the book of Lamentations. This book is written as a funeral dirge, mourning the destruction of Jerusalem. Recorded in 586 BC, Lamentations is the only book in the Bible that is composed solely of words of lament and sorrow. What strikes the careful reader, however, is that the central message of Lamentations is one of hope. In the midst of the most hopeless situation, we can find hope.

The Author

From the earliest periods of Biblical history, Jeremiah has been understood to be the author of Lamentations. While the book itself doesn’t specifically mention Jeremiah’s name, the Greek, Latin, and Arabic Bibles, along with the Jewish Targum and Talmud all included a preface to verse one declaring Jeremiah the author. The ancient Greek Septuagint preface read: “And it came to pass, after Israel had been carried captive, and Jerusalem became desolate, that Jere- miah sat weeping, and lamented with this lamentation over Jerusalem and said...”

Jeremiah was the prophet who most clearly declared Jerusalem’s downfall. He was the man who wept most freely for her sins. It was this weeping prophet who remained with a faithful few, to sit in the rubble and mourn the loss of Jerusalem.

The style of the book fits Jeremiah’s style; many key phrases are repeated in both Jeremiah and Lamentations. (One example would be in the phrase “terrors on every side.” Compare Lamen- tations 2:22 with ; , ; ; , . The only other place this phrase occurs in the whole Bible is .).

The first challenge to Jeremiah’s authorship came in AD 1712, when Herman von der Haardt wrote a commentary crediting the five chapters of Lamentations to Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and King Jehoiachin, respectively. Haardt opened the floodgate for a whole line of scholars speculating alternative authors.

One of the arguments against Jeremiah’s authorship has been the writing style of Lamenta- tions, which contains a unique and striking form of Hebrew poetry. However, many scholars feel the unique way in which Lamentations was written in no way diminishes the argument that Jeremiah authored this book. Rather, the style adds significance and emphasis to the meaning of the book.

The Book

Lamentations was written with great thought and care. The primary vehicle for expression in this book is acrostic poetry, where the letters of the Hebrew alphabet are used—from begin- ning to end—to chronologically begin lines of the poem. At the time Lamentations was written, writers in the Middle East used acrostic poetry to bring beauty to the poem and meaning to the heart. Also, an acrostic provides supportive structure for memorization.

The writer of Lamentations, crafting the only Biblical book describing in minute detail the de- struction of Jerusalem, chose one of the most effective forms of writing at the time. Research

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him. It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

has shown that for the two millennia prior to Jerusalem’s destruction, acrostic compositions were common in surrounding cultures. This evidence refutes scholars who argue that Lamen- tations must have been written in a period later than Jeremiah’s.

Lamentations is composed of five dirges. Chapters 1, 2, 4, and 5 have twenty-two verses each. Chapter 3, the focal point of the book, has sixty-six verses. In the first two chapters, we find each verse is composed of a three-line stanza, each beginning with one of the letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The verses connect chronologically through all 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet, from aleph to tau (corresponding to our “a to z”).

Chapter 3 has the same acrostic form, but is given special emphasis as the prominent chapter of the book. Here, each of the three lines in every stanza begins with the same letter of the alphabet, with each triad building upon the next by carrying forward the alphabetic sequence.

The fourth chapter carries forward this acrostic device with two-line repetitions, and the final

chapter drops the acrostic pattern, but maintains the 22-verse format.

The Message

The book of Lamentations was clearly written to build to a crescendo, like so many great clas- sical overtures. The high point of this lament is its middle chapter (three), affirming the central message of the book—that we can hope in God despite our dire and hopeless situations.

Chapter 3 inscribes the word hope three times, which is found nowhere else in the book. The basis of our hope is the unchanging love and faithfulness of God: “Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’S great love we are not consumed, for his compas- sions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” ().

Chapters 1 and 2 form steps up to the great affirmations of Chapter 3. Chapters 4 and 5 provide steps toward their application. We can marvel at this incredibly crafted work of art! In his book, A Biblical Approach to Personal Suffering, Walter Kaiser outlines the book as follows:

Chapter 1: The City (Outside View) Chapter 2: The Wrath of God (Inside View)

Critical Point

Chapter 3: The Compassions of God (The Upward View) Chapter 4: The Sins of All Classes (The Overall View) Chapter 5: The Prayer (Future View)

The critical point in every believer’s life is the upward view. Looking to God, we find His mercies

never fail. Begin each day anew regardless of what happened the day before.

The Jews recognized mourning as an important aspect of a balanced and healthy life. Lamen- tations has long been used as the Jewish guidebook for annually mourning the destruction of Jerusalem. In fact, many of the ancient Hebrew Bibles grouped the book of Lamentations with

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

four other liturgical books, each read during key Jewish calendar festivals. These books were collectively called the Five Little Scrolls.

1. Song of Songs (for Passover)

2. Ruth (for Pentecost)

3. Lamentations (for the Ninth of Ab: The Destruction of Jerusalem)

4. Ecclesiastes (for Tabernacles)

5. Esther (for Purim)

Final Thought

Sometimes, we need to recognize our hopelessness before we can appreciate our hope. The glowing affirmations in Chapter 3 of Lamentations regarding God’s love, compassion, and faithfulness shine brightly amidst the desperate and dark situation described in surrounding chapters. Joy is mourning unmasked. If we do not know how to grieve our losses, how can we truly appreciate our blessings?

The Jews use Lamentations as a guidebook for mourning. However, to many Christians, Lam- entations remains an unread and little understood literary gem, hidden by the dust of neglect.

Let us open this book anew and study its pages with a fresh appreciation. Perhaps then, by God’s grace, we will find a new sense of joy in our lives and new strength to get through our periods of loss and sorrow. The critical point in every believer’s life is “looking upward.” God’s mercies are new every day and His faithfulness is sure!

Spending Time With God

This study, on “God’s Sovereignty in Your Suffering,” is designed to supplement your personal and small group Bible study. The devotion questions are written for your personal study. The discussion questions are especially for smallgroups. Members who answer the questions ahead of time can bring more insight into their small group meeting. The digging deeper questions are for those who wish for more personal or small group study. As you spend time with God, may His Word enrich your life and enhance your daily walk with Him. BEFORE YOU BEGIN, PRAY.

Devotion (Personal Study)

1. Read the commentary portion of this study guide. Write down one insight that was especially challenging or encourag- ing for you.

2. Read . Paraphrase this section, describing Jerusalem after her desolation.

Why do you think a whole book of the Bible is devoted to mourning the loss of Jerusalem?

3. Read . What are some of the reasons giv- en here for the destruction of Jerusalem?

Might the same factors bring other nations, including our own,

into ruin?

4. See . Note how the author experiences personal grief and sorrow. What things cause grief in your life today? Read , noting how grief melts into hope as one reflects on the works and ways of God. Talk to God about your sorrows and put your hope in Him!

Discussion (Small Group Study)

5. makes it clear that Jerusalem was destroyed, not by coincidence or unforeseen circumstance, but by the hand of God. Read aloud Lamentati1-3, and discuss:

a. Why did God bring calamity on the city of Jerusalem? (see also question 3 above)

b. When tragedy or loss comes into our personal lives, is God

the author of the same?

6. opens with a description of the writer’s per- sonal mourning. Read the first several verses.

a. Describe times in your life when you had reason to grieve and mourn deeply. How did God sustain you through your trI- al?

b. In Middle Eastern culture, people mourned (and still do) vis- ibly and loudly, wailing and weeping to release their emotions. Do you think this is a better way to handle grief than the more subdued Western approach? Explain your reasoning. Which approach do you prefer personally?

c. Whatcausesyousorrowandgrief today? Thosewhoarecom- fortable doing so may wish to share the sorrows that weigh on them. The very process of telling another may lighten the load.

7. Read .

a. Here, in the midst of sorrow and pain, the author finds con- solation and hope in the goodness of God. Read the verses and list the divine qualities that are here described.

b. Which verse is your favorite? Why?

c. Add to these wonderful verses your own words of praise to God for all that He has done for us through the life, death, resurrection, and present intercessions of our LORD. (You may wish to reference and .) Take time together to praise God for who He is and what He has done for us. Pray also for particular needs in the group.

Digging Deeper (Further Study)

8. is essentially a prayer to God for aid in times of crisis. On what basis does the lamenting writer argue for God’s help?

9. See . How might this be a good prayer for

the Church in our country?

What about the “days of old” do we lack today? Pray for the Church, local and national, to find times of refreshing from the LORD.

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