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Lamentations Introduction
Lamentations Introduction
IN our Bibles this book has been 'connected' to Jeremiah. We don't know for certain who wrote it but it needs to be read following the reading of Jeremiah.
The end of Jeremiah writes about the destruction of Judah and Jerusalem by the Babylonians. Babylon had taken control of the whole land, city, and government in 606 B.C. They controlled who would be king in Judah. Because of false prophets among the people and false hope that Jerusalem could not be destroyed, Judah rebelled against Babylon one too many times. Nebuchadnezzar came with his army and laid siege to the city.
Siege warfare was nasty stuff. Because cities like Jerusalem had built great walls to keep armies out, the armies would surround the city and cut off all food and water supplies. The people inside would be starved (2:11-12; 4:4). This siege lasted some 18 months. The people became so desperate that they turned to cannibalism to try to survive, even to the degree of mother's eating their own children (4:10).
The army would begin using huge battering rams and would knock a hole in the walls or knock down the gates. At that point the army, having lived through their own bad times in the tents and discomforts of life in a siege camp, would enter the city and kill man, woman, and child. They would burn the buildings and utterly destroy the city. It is of little wonder that Ezekiel and Jeremiah had written that it was better to have been taken into captivity then it would be to stay in the land and face such war. (see 4:9).
The book of Lamentations is a studied expression of the grief and sorrow that comes from having witnessed such a destruction of one's people and city. It is actually a series of 4 poems and a prayer - thus we have 5 chapters.
The book states in a matter of fact style that the reason this happened was that God brought it about. He did this because Judah had sinned grievously against Him (1:5). God had warned them by sending prophet after prophet. They had despised His warning and persisted in flaunting their unfaithfulness to His covenant. God was righteously angry with the people (1:12; 2:1, 6, etc.).
We have seen the patience and long suffering of God as He tried to discipline the people and to avert having to do this. We now see the justice of God as He sits in judgment upon the people's sin. We see the holy judicial wrath against those who willfully sin against God. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the God we serve IF one choses to live a life of ungodliness (cp. Heb. 10:31). "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life" (Gal. 6:7-8).
YET, the book also contains hope and consolation that will arise out of this calamity. God would yet fulfill His promises to Abraham and David. Out of this destroyed nation of Judah God would bring the Messiah. Though He has torn down, He would build again. Though it looks completely hopeless to men, God would restore the people, the city, and the temple.
Reading 8/29/13 Hugh DeLong
