Thanks for being here for this Bible study- Please read all the book of Lamentation before you Start- Then Lets dive in!

Our story is set in Assyria and Babylonia in Mesopotamia, where Iraq is today.

In 605 B.C. Babylonia surpassed Assyria as the dominant Mesopotamian power. Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylonia defeated Egypt at Carchemish. Then, Babylonia was established as the reigning superpower.

In 598 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar responded to a rebellion in Judah. He laid siege to Jerusalem, forcing the most prominent citizens into exile in Babylonia. Nebuchadnezzar carried “all the treasures of the house of the Lord” (2 Kings 24:13). laid

In 587 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar responded to a rebellion by Zedekiah of Judah by again laying siege to Jerusalem. This time, he destroyed the city and killed as many inhabitants as possible. Those who remained, he took to Babylon — leaving behind only the poorest (2 Kings 25).

Judah’s remaining population rebelled against Gedaliah, who was Babylonia’s proxy ruler. He inspired a final deportation to Babylon. The Jewish prophets declared that this was Yahweh’s judgment on Judah for her sins.

What is the Book of Lamentations?

The Book of Lamentations was written during the Babylonian Exile. The exile lasted from 587 B.C. to 539 B.C. when Cyrus of Persia freed the exiles. Lamentations consist of five poems, each of which comprises a book chapter.

The first four poems are alphabetic poems in which each line begins with the following letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The first four chapters were written during the first part of the exile. The fifth chapter may have been written later — but it was still written during the exile. The book serves as a funeral dirge for the nation, hence the title Laminations.

Lamentation doesn’t tell us the author’s name, but theologians accept that the authorship is ascribed to Jeremiah.

The Book of Lamentations is found among the writings in the Hebrew canon. Yet, the Septuagint, the Greek version of the Old Testament, places Lamentations after the book of Jeremiah. The Christian canon follows the same model.

LAMENTATIONS 1:1. HOW THE CITY SITS SOLITARY.

1 How the city sits solitary, that was full of people! She has become a widow who was great among the nations! She, who was a princess among the provinces, has become tributary!

“How the city sits solitary, that was full of people!” (v. 1a). Jerusalem was a thriving, bustling city. Her streets are full of people, and her air is full of the cries of merchants hoping to sell their wares. Pilgrims from many nations travelled to the Holy City’s annual pilgrimage festivals in tens of thousands.

But now, the city sits lonely, empty. Many of Jerusalem’s people were killed in the great siege. As a result, the city now sits quiet, lonely, and almost deserted.

Life has ceased to exist. The streets are empty, scraps of paper blown by the wind providing the only movement. That’s how this verse pictures Jerusalem — lifeless — lonely — deserted — and desolate.

“She has become as a widow, who was great among the nations! She who was a princess among the provinces has become tributary!” (v. 1b). These two lines express the same thought in different words (an example of parallelism — characteristic of Hebrew poetry). It pictures Jerusalem as a woman — a great woman — a princess — who has been widowed.

In that patriarchal culture, widows are vulnerable. They have few property rights and only marginal ways to make a living. While Jewish law has provisions to protect widows, they often find themselves reduced to desperate circumstances. They struggle financially and become subject to exploitation (Psalm 94:6; Isaiah 1:23; Ezekiel 22:7).

The point is that Jerusalem was formerly a great city. She was a princess among cities. She was Yahweh’s wife but has become a widow due to her adultery. She is a vassal of Babylonia and no longer has control over her future.

LAMENTATIONS 1:2. SHE WEEPS BITTERLY IN THE NIGHT

2 She weeps bitterly in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks;

Among all her lovers, she has none to comfort her:

All her friends have dealt treacherously with her; they have become her enemies.

“She weeps bitterly in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks” (v. 2a). It is terrible to go from being a princess to being a widow. It is terrible to go from being an independent nation to a vassal. Jerusalem is grieving her loss.

“Among all her lovers, she has none to comfort her” (v. 2b).

Beginning of Sorrows

Jerusalem’s problems began with going after many lovers. She joined herself with pagan gods, abandoning Yahweh. She was bound to Yahweh by a covenant relationship but chose to go after the Baals and other Canaanite gods. Now, these former lovers offer her no comfort in her time of distress.

A covenant is likened to a marriage, and to break the vows by going after another lover is adultery.

In times of distress, it is lovely to be comforted by someone who loves us. When we are afraid, having our lovers take us in their arms and reassure us is fantastic.

When we feel unsure of ourselves, having the person we love tell us they love us, it assures us. Yet, a person who chases many lovers will experience a chaotic life. Many relationships often provide more tension than comfort.

When we have a problem, it is lovely to have someone who loves us say, “How can I help?” — or “Don’t worry about that. I’ll take care of it.” But Jerusalem has found that her pagan gods have no power to help or offer comfort. They are just idols — sticks and stones — worthless and powerless.

“All her friends have dealt treacherously with her; they have become her enemies” (v. 2c).

In it’s unfaithfulness to Yahweh, Judah made political alliances with Egypt. Judah also joined with other nations to protect itself from Babylonia. itsHowever, once Babylonia sent its armies against Jerusalem, the other nations refused to rescue Jerusalem. Deferring to Babylonia’s power, they have become Judah’s enemies.

LAMENTATIONS 1:3.JUDAH IS GONE INTO CAPTIVITY

3 Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction and because of great servitude;She dwells among the nations (Hebrew: goyim), and she finds no rest:All her persecutors overtook her within the straits.

“Judah is gone into captivity” (v. 3a). This is a plain reference to the Babylonian exile that followed the destruction of Jerusalem.

“She dwells among the nations”.

Once a proud nation protected and loved by Yahweh, Judah is forced to live among foreigners in exile. Once so proud of its position as God’s chosen people, Judah has been forced to live among those who hate the One true God. Not only is she living among them, but she has become their servant.

LAMENTATIONS 1:4. THE WAYS OF ZION DO MOURN

4 The ways of Zion do mourn because none come to the solemn assembly; All her gates are desolate. Her priests do sigh: Her virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness.

“The ways of Zion do mourn because none come to the solemn assembly” (v. 4a). The city of Jerusalem is sited on Mount Zion, so the word Zion is often used to mean Jerusalem.

It isn’t just Jerusalem in mourning but also the roads leading to it. In the past, those roads have been busy with the commerce of the bustling city. Also, Pilgrims came to worship at the temple during the great pilgrimage festivals. Now, those same roads are nearly empty. As a result, the occasional traveller no longer enjoys the safety of numbers and has no defence against those who attack.

“All her gates are desolate” (v. 4b). City gates are busy places. Gates are the only way to enter or leave the city. People must go through the gates to attend to their fields during the day and return at night. City elders administer justice at the city gates. Prophets deliver prophecies there. Merchants conduct business there.

But that is happening outside of Jerusalem’s city gates. Instead, this centre of commerce and justice, as is the rest of the city, is now desolate., as the rest of the city, this centre of commerce and justice.

“Her priests do sigh” (v. 4c). In the past, priests kept busy taking care of temple sacrifices. Now, there are neither temples nor sacrifices. So, it seems likely that most priests are either dead or in exile.

“Her virgins are afflicted” (v. 4d). In that patriarchal society, young women must find a husband to have any kind of life. They depend on husbands for financial support, affection, and procreation. In Jerusalem, the young girls are grieving because their marriage prospects are few.

It is not only the people suffering but the city itself. It has been razed. Its temple lies in ruins. Its people have been killed or taken into exile. Jerusalem’s past was glorious, but it seems to have no future. The city is like a widow (v. 1) — lonely, vulnerable, and subject to exploitation.

LAMENTATIONS 1:5. HER ADVERSARIES PROSPER

5 Her adversaries become the head (Hebrew: ro’sh), her enemies prosper; for Yahweh has afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions.

Her young children are gone into captivity before the adversary.

“Her adversaries have become the head (ro’sh), her enemies prosper” (v. 5a). In Deuteronomy 28, Yahweh outlined a series of blessings that the people of Israel would enjoy if they proved faithful (Deuteronomy 28:1–14). But, they would experience a series of curses if they proved unfaithful (Deuteronomy 28:15–68). Note that there are many more verses of curses than blessings. Yahweh has given these people fair warning of the consequences of infidelity.

Time has proven that this has come to pass. The Babylonians have become the rulers, and the people of Judah/Jerusalem have become the subjects “for Yahweh has afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions” (v. 5b). Israel’s suffering is not a sign that Yahweh could not protect the people of Judah and Jerusalem. Instead, divine justice visited upon an unfaithful people.

“Her young children are gone into captivity before the adversary” (v. 5c). This has happened. The people of Judah/Jerusalem who survived the siege have been taken into exile in Babylonia. They are once again enslaved.

A Lesson For Us

Although an abusive spouse accused me of it, I have never committed adultery toward my spouse or toward the Lord God. But for those who might be considering it, be warned. If you cheat on your spouse or the Lord, as a consequence, you too may create for yourself, a chaotic, lonely and desolate life. Like Jerusalem, we, too, if we are not diligent, may lose everything familiar.

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