Lamentations1:1-22
Q.1. What picture did Jeremiah paint of Judah? Who had caused the grief of the nation of Israel? Why? – (Lam.1:1-11)
Jeremiah portrayed Judah as broken and comfortless – 2 She weeps bitterly in the night and her tears are on her cheeks; She has none to comfort her among all her lovers. All her friends have dealt treacherously with her; They have become her enemies. 3 Judah has gone into exile under affliction and under harsh servitude … (Lam.1:2-3). He pictured the Temple in Jerusalem as destitute – The roads of Zion are in mourning because no one comes to the appointed feasts. All her gates are desolate; Her priests are groaning, her virgins are afflicted, and she herself is bitter … All her majesty has departed from the daughter of Zion (Lam.1:4 & 6). After describing Judah’s harsh punishment, Jeremiah explained – 5 Her adversaries have become her masters, her enemies prosper; for the Lord has caused her grief because of the multitude of her transgressions … 8 Jerusalem sinned greatly; Therefore, she has become an unclean thing. All who honoured her despise her because they have seen her nakedness; Even she herself groans and turns away. 9 Her uncleanness was in her skirts; She did not consider her future. Therefore, she has fallen astonishingly; She has no comforter (Lam.1:5 & 8). The weeping prophet cried out to God – See, O Lord, my affliction, for the enemy has magnified himself … See, O Lord, and look; For I am despised (Lam.1:9 & 11).
Q.2. Can we find any application to Messiah’s suffering in the description of Israel’s sorrow? Why was Jeremiah in anguish? – (Lam.1:11-22)
The description of Jeremiah accurately portrayed the suffering of our Saviour, and the thoughts in His mind, as Jesus bore our sins – See, O Lord, and look, for I am despised. Is it nothing to all you who pass this way? Look and see if there is any pain which was severely dealt out to me, which the Lord inflicted on the day of His fierce anger. From on high He sent fire into my bones, and it prevailed over them. He has spread a net for my feet; He has turned me back; He has made me desolate, faint all day long. The yoke of my transgression is bound; by His hand they are knit together. They have come upon my neck; He has made my strength fail. The Lord has given me into the hands of those against whom I am not able to stand (Lam.1:11-14). As in other Messianic prophecies such as Isaiah 53 and Psalm 69 that were quoted in the New Testament, there are aspects there that found their fulfilment in the exile of Israel. Sadly, in blindness, that is all many Jews see to this day. Their Messiah is hidden from their minds (c.f. 2 Cor.3:14-15). However, those who know and love the Saviour, see how it was His love and our sin that committed Jesus to the way of the cross. As a faithful prophet of God’s people, Israel, Jeremiah was heartbroken by what he saw and had to reveal – For these things I weep; My eyes run down with water; Because far from me is a comforter, One who restores my soul (Lam.1:16). Nevertheless, Jeremiah accepted God’s judgment as just, and declared on Judah’s behalf – The Lord is righteous; for I have rebelled against His commands (Lam.1:18). The irony is that the nation was still oblivious to the prophet’s anguish. He could clearly see the impending doom. However, Judah was only focused on the present (i.e. before the destruction and captivity) and would not identify with his pain – 21They have heard that I groan; There is no one to comfort me; All my enemies have heard of my calamity; They are glad that You have done it. Oh, that You would bring the day which You have proclaimed, that they may become like me. 22 “Let all their wickedness come before You; And deal with them as You have dealt with me for all my transgressions; For my groans are many and my heart is faint (Lam.1:21-22).