Lamentations 1:1-22
Lamentations a series of five poems, each written as a dirge – “A song sung at the burial of, or in commemoration of, the dead; a song of mourning or lament.” OED Something many today make great effort to avoid, are many others who seem unable to find any other song to sing. Clear example from Bible – time for both lamenting and for rejoicing. Jesus called man of sorrows, acquainted with grief yet joy prominent in final hours before death.
A few examples of dirge commonly found in hymnals, usually in the Holy Week section: O Sacred Head, Now Wounded; Stricken, Smitten and Afflicted; Were You There
Focus on sorrow, grief, mourning, lamenting loss of someone or something of great importance. Not necessarily the only content, can be movement during the dirge toward quest for hope, rarely if ever approaches what might be taken for celebration. Grieving something more and more don’t know how to do well, follower of Christ should at least understand the basics. Remember 1 Thess. 4.13
“But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.”
Two options there: sorrowing without hope, sorrowing with hope. Includes far more than simple concept of seeing loved one again someday. Another time…
Likely Jeremiah penned five poems, from first-hand experience, perhaps some time but not long time after city finally overthrown. Not first sharpest grief collected and written down. Composed with great care and artistic talent expressing serious purpose – finding meaning and purpose in suffering. No need to try determine why suffering happened, is abundantly clear from Jeremiah and other prophets. Not about personal suffering, Job deals with that more specifically, personal losses and tragedies. Lamentations in another category, suffering of a community, particularly a nation or people group. Leonard Bernstein, in his 20s, first symphony Jeremiah composed and performed during Holocaust, text of last movement from Lamentations.
This prophets best effort under inspiration of Holy Spirit to give accurate objective view of real life situation. No attempt to shift blame or make excuses or avoid responsibility. Genuinely working to help his people make sense of circumstances, clear away misconceptions, find genuine hope if it exists and move forward in godly way.
A. she is destroyed v.1-7
empty and lonely
can no longer be rightly thought of as city, empty streets / houses / businesses / churches, iow empty of life and companionship
devoid of purpose, is people of city that give reason for existence, gives meaning to what takes place there, incentive for future
what she relied on most really belonged outside city, powers driven by worldview contrary to most important one in city, God
friends/allies from other worldview only around as long as it pays – didn’t simply abandon, deceived and betrayed into slavery
grieving
for what she has lost
lost all her children – this more significant literally than otherwise in both physical/spiritual sense – siege / famine costs lives
young more easily drawn away into wrong worship esp. when parents / authority figures actively lead the way
no prospect of more – characterized as “widow”, destitute of help at home, in culture, in worship- Temple no longer usable
no position with neighbors – one sought out by world leaders for wisdom reduced to beggary, homeless among the nations
for what she has become – ridiculed and avoided, used as good example of bad even though neighbors identify wrong cause
afflicted
genuine suffering – no aspect of city left untouched by invaders, all who had any part in city experienced pain in some way
those near and far no longer able to worship on any occasion, no access to God w/o priest and sacrifice, could have lost family ties when Temple/records destroyed (see Ezra 2.62, Neh 7.64)
past, present, probably future – affliction and suffering didn’t end in 586, no real defined start or end to it – would remain uncomfortably hard for very long time
B. she sinned v.8-11
she is vile
not just raggedy, has become kind of “person” even pagans don’t want to be around – looks funny, dresses funny, smells disgusting, get too close and…
obvious her situation not an accident, not end of run of bad luck – humiliation result of careful purposeful intent to destroy
was necessary for God to promise to preserve “remnant”, indicates w/o his intervention destruction would be complete
she is destitute
treatment not unjust, was exactly what God had promised if she did not consider her destiny, consequences of her disobedience
bad enough to not have something you think essential – she didn’t have nor did she have any way to get: no bargaining chips
even more painful when have memory of such good times, great blessings, then reduced to lowest on scale… slavery
she is hungry
homeless people don’t look like ones from concentration camp – as desperate as circumstances are, haven’t missed many meals
not true for the city (representing entire people) – has missed meals, nothing for next meal, no prospects for meal tomorrow
she starts to do right thing – writer here declares reason is sinful rebellion but… she isn’t ready to go there… yet… it’s coming
C. she pleads for mercy v.12-22
God did this
does rightly acknowledge active source of hardship, is what covenant God has brought on her through human instruments
does acknowledge God’s action has humbled with no following …but… – glimmers of hope she will turn from her rebellion
even reaches point of grief b/c of what has happened – more important, tears b/c the comforter is far away and looking away
God is righteous, gods are not
continues saying the right things, God is righteous and we are rebels – important step to acknowledge sinfulness, personal and corporate
no clear statement of sin of idolatry but finally recognition not only gods but priests and teachers had deceived
Lord, see my distress
is repentance full and genuine? hard to tell at this point – don’t discount value of giving public witness to right things
as long as is followed by more right things, certainly good beginning and place from which to encourage more good actions
finally at point of crying out to true God rather than useless idols – really big step seeing idolatry was their big sin against God
As badly behaved as Jews were, as harsh as treatment was they merited, God didn’t abandon them. He made them feel like he had… until they missed him, started making their way back. Whether families or churches or nations in world today, many following similar path of rebellion and waywardness. Shouldn’t assume God has abandoned, has no plan for their future. Can rightly believe God has his people everywhere, those for whom Christ has died in every part of our world. And… God has message for them – he may use suffering and calamity as part of his purpose to get attention and bring eternal significance to their lives. We can declare his truth, absolutely confident it will never change and will accomplish his good purpose.
Reformanda 