Introduction To Book Of Lamentations - Jerusalem In Agony

Intro:

1. Swindoll, “At one time or another, all of us have enjoyed the fleeting pleasures of sin…Because, we are sinners by nature, we are prone to shove aside, the anguishing reality of the effects of compromise, so that, we can more thoroughly embrace the thrills of evil. Realizing this, the Lord has graciously inspired, and preserved the Lamentations of Jeremiah, which records, the devastating consequences that flowed from Judah is rebellion against God. As we read the pages of this book we will find ourselves asking if the bitter fruit of disobedience is worth the tremendous price it exacts.”

2. After reading this book the only logical conclusion we can come to, is that, sin simple has too high a price tag to make it worth our while.

3. Jerusalem in Agony.

Lessons on consequences of persistent sin from A to Z. Chps 1-4 are arranged in alphabetical order. This might have been done for memory purposes. Chps 1,2,4 begins with the successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet; Chp. 3 appears in triplicate; Chp. 5 does not follow suit.

A structure – Jerusalem in Agony (1); Jehovah is Angry (2); Jeremiah’s response to this Adversity (3); Jerusalem’s people’s understandable Anxiety (4); and Jerusalem’s people pray to the Almighty (5).

Also we need to identify Jeremiah’s voice (1:1-9a, 10-11a, 17) and Jerusalem’s personified voice (1:9b, 11b-16, 18-22).

I. First, Jerusalem in Agony. 1:1-22

A. Sin brings Separation. 1:1-2

1. For starters, sin’s agony is the loss of Fellowship. 1:1a

a. Death.

How – or Alas! This adverb is used as a lament, often in the context of one morning over one who has died.

Baptist Study Bible note, “The word “how” which begins this book, was sometimes used to introduce a funeral dirge, but here it introduces a political dirge and magnifies the grief and sorrow experienced by Jerusalem at the time of destruction. The term “lonely” suggests desolation.”

“The first word is a mournful cry…What follows is a dirge – like a funeral song. He was in shock and deep grief, almost despair, and he pictured the city as a grief stricken. He remembered the crowds of people that came for business and worship. It seemed incredulous that they were all gone.”

Whose funeral was this? Jerusalem!

We are encouraged to confess and forsake sin; if we refuse we face chastisement which can be severe. Ac. 5/ I Cor. 11:31-/etc.

b. A Departure.

(1) God’s Place – Jerusalem is the City of God. I Ki.8:44; 11:32/Neh.1:8-9.

(2) God’s Presence – Psa. 9:11; 135:21/ Isa. 8:18

(3) God’s People – was full of people – the Temple was there, the place of His presence; Jerusalem was filled with worshippers.

The City is now alone – God has departed! Ezk. 10:1-19; 22:22-25 When it says “lonely sits the city” is speaks of isolation.

2. Furthermore, the agony of the loss of Family.

a. This loss was Perpetual.

she has become – the tense indicating it was continual. We need to realize that while Judah will ultimately be restored, the people of that generation would never live to see it.

b. This loss would be Painful.

like a widow – this is both literal and figurative. Many of them had literally seen loved ones either killed or carried off. “The ‘kaf’ prefixed to widow, expresses identity – “has become a widow” rather than comparison, “has become like a widow.” [NET]

(1) The pain of a loss of Provisions.

Dyer, “The concept of widowhood is used throughout the OT to depict a position of helpless despair, it is often linked with aliens and orphans as individuals who could not protect themselves.”

(2) The pain of the loss of Protection.

Jerusalem is now totally defenseless!

ʾalmânâh is a noun occurring around fifty times, consistently translated "widow."

Literal references to "widows" in general contexts are found in Gen. 38:11; 1 Sam. 14:5; 1 Kgs. 17:9 ff.; Job 24:21. Mosaic legislation concerning the status, protection, and care of such women is recorded in Exod. 22:22; Lev. 21:14; 22:13; Deut. 10:18; 24:17 ff.; 26:12 ff.; 27:19. In Isa. 1:17; Jer. 22:13 there are exhortations to protect widows; and Pss. 68:5; 146:9; Prov. 15:25 note that widows are guaranteed protection by God. Conversely, the exploitation and mistreatment of widows are indicated in Isa. 10:2; Jer. 7:6; Ezek. 22:7. The status of widowhood is designated occasionally as the consequence of divine judgment (cf. Exod. 22:24; Jer. 18:21).

ʾalmânâh is also used figuratively in Isa. 47:8, referring to the kingdom of Babylon, whose rulers arrogantly deny that they will ever be "widowed." In Lam. 1:1, Jerusalem herself declares that she has become a "widow" in the aftermath of invasion by the Babylonians. Expository Dictionary of Bible Words: Word Studies for Key English Bible Words Based on the Hebrew and Greek Texts.