| Spending time in the Scriptures Lamentations | by A. Kimber | |||||
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So we arrive at the book of the Lamentations of Jeremiah. This is another interesting book which perhaps we don’t read all that often; you may think from its name that it would be a straightforward account as many Scriptural books are, yet it actually follows the acrostic pattern adopted by many psalms. This means that each verse of each chapter in this book has one verse beginning with each letter of the Hebrew alphabet in turn; although having said that there is variation in the third chapter which has three verses for each letter; so we have a book which was poetical in the original language. As you would guess by the title this books contains an expression of the woes over the nation of Judah and the city of Jerusalem. As the writer is looking on they see how that the city lays empty, paying tribute to other nations and that the people have been taken into captivity. As this book progresses the writer looks at some of the nations’ history of sinfulness realising that everything that has befallen the people speaks of God’s righteousness. Those that once had the finest now have nothing. Those clad in purest white are now in black, filthy with their bones showing through their skin. People buy bread where once it was plentiful and it’s better to be killed by the sword than to wait to be killed by starvation. When we get to the third chapter we see some of Jeremiah's personal observations of the afflictions. He looks at the apparent hopelessness and over the first 18 verses looks at the things that have happened to him. However he then has a change of heart as he realises that it’s only because of the Lords goodness that he is still alive. This was certainly an interesting book to read; and it’s an important reminder to us of God’s righteousness and our obligation to honour, trust and obey his just demands. When we read the lament of one man recorded like this; speaking about a city and a people he knew and loved it really brings our thoughts to bear on attributes that often we prefer not to remember of our God. Here we are clearly shown the punishment for disobedience and sinfulness; we are reminded that God does not like to do this but that it is often necessary to make people realise that we have a responsibility to Him.
The LORD is righteous; for I have rebelled against his commandment: hear, I pray you, all people, and behold my sorrow: my virgins and my young men are gone into captivity.
Lamentations 1:18
This theme is key, terrible things are happening but it’s because of the people’s sinfulness and God’s righteousness.
The LORD hath done that which he had devised; he hath fulfilled his word that he had commanded in the days of old: he hath thrown down, and hath not pitied: and he hath caused thine enemy to rejoice over thee, he hath set up the horn of thine adversaries.
Lamentations 2:17
The Lord is always true to his word.
It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
Lamentations 3:22
Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst, Fear not.
Lamentations 3:57
The anger of the LORD hath divided them; he will no more regard them: they respected not the persons of the priests, they favoured not the elders.
Lamentations 4:16
Thou, O LORD, remainest for ever; thy throne from generation to generation.
Lamentations 5:19
As always we welcome comments and suggestions, would you have selected different verses? Let me know what you think, it’s always good to get some feedback. You can e-mail me at a.kimber@assemblyyouth.net
All quotes are from the King James version of the Bible unless otherwise specified. | ||||||
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