Book of Lamentations

by Jeremiah

The Setting

Jeremiah is sitting in a cave overlooking Jerusalem.

The Old City (Jerusalem) was originally built by King David and has
always been considered the center of the world. Since then Jerusalem
has been cherished and glorified by kings, rulers, and conquerors who
attempted to storm its walls and adored by ordinary people who made
it the loadstone of their faith. This was the place where the Jews built
the Temple, where Jesus was crucified.

The Characters
Jeremiah, who wrote the lamentations, was an eyewitness of the
events, and this brought him great sorrow for he knew the people,
he knew the city, he knew the children, and he knew the festivities
that existed among the people of Judah.
People of Jerusalem, they feel Gods wrath because of their
disobedience.
Nebuchadnezzar II, was king of Babylonia. Nebuchadnezzar is
most famous for the conquering of Judah and the destruction of
Judah and Jerusalem in 586 BC. Nebuchadnezzar as a brutal,
powerful, and ambitious king, and the Bible, for the most part,
agrees.

 Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem and Solomon's Temple

God it shows that God gets angry about sin. He is happy when we
change. This book also shows us what God wants. He wants us to
love him. He wants us to obey him. If we do that, he helps us. He
will help us to be good and to do good things.

The Story
The book of Lamentations is book of sorrowful poems. The name
implies that the topic is expressing grief over something (to lament).
Jeremiah, also known as the weeping prophet writes this after the
destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. It was written soon after the
fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C.; he was an eyewitness. He predicted this
destruction (as did others), watched it take place, and now in this book he
is sadly reflecting on it. Key personalities are the prophet Jeremiah and
the people of Jerusalem.
Outline of the Book of Lamentations
The five lament poems are outlined here:
Lamentations 1 - Jerusalem's desolation is lamented
Lamentations 2 - God's wrath against the city of Jerusalem
Lamentations 3 - God's faithfulness is acknowledged
Lamentations 4 - God's faithfulness is viewed as chastisement
Lamentations 5 - God's faithfulness is worthy of trust

My Thoughts
I feel comforted in this following verse like: Lamentations 3:22-23,
Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his
compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your
faithfulness.
Lamentations reminds us of the importance not only of mourning
over our sin but of asking the Lord for His forgiveness when we fail Him.
Much of Jeremiahs poetry concerns itself with the fallen bricks and
cracking mortar of the overrun city. Do you see any of that destroyed
cities in your own life? Are you mourning over the sin thats brought you
to this point? Do you feel overrun by an alien power; are you in need of
some hope from the Lord? Turn to Lamentations 3:1726, where youll
find someone aware of sins consequences and saddened by the results
but who has placed his hope and his trust in the Lord.
I learned that:
A. "It is the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed."
If God had given to us what we deserved, I wouldn't even be here to
see this mess. It is only by God's mercies that any of us are alive today.
Our lives are all in His hands. He is under no obligation to sustain us.
Some even biting the hand that is holding them.

B. "His compassions fail not."

God never ceases loving you. How often mercy associated with
compassion. Mercy stems from compassion. "They are new every
morning."
C. "Great is Thy faithfulness."
God was faithful to warn of what He would do. God was faithful to
do what He warned.
But more - God is faithful to love and show mercy.
D. "The Lord is my portion. (Lamentation 3:24)
He is all I need.
E. "The Lord is good to those who wait for Him and seek Him.
(Lamentation 3:25)
F. "The Lord will not cast us off forever. (Lamentation 3: 31)
G. "The Lord is with us in our afflictions.(Lamentation 3:30)