Lamentations By Jeremiah

Marilyn Hickey Ministries: Immediately following Jerusalem's destruction in 586 BC; a quarry north of Jerusalem on the road to Damascus. In spite of years of disobedience-and repeated warnings -the Jewish people lost their beautiful city of Jerusalem. Here Jeremiah eloquently mourns its destruction. Lamentations presents Jeremiah's grief along with God's great sorrow, the depth of His love, and His willingness to forgive. While expressing God's sorrow along with his own, Jeremiah takes this opportunity to express God's faithfulness and to call His people to repentance. God again reminds them to trust in Him. The 3 themes are Jerusalem's holocaust (strong word), confession of sin and God's restoration and faithfulness.

The Sorrows of Zion / Mourning for Jerusalem after capture / Desolation and Misery/ ACROSTIC

1 How lonely sits the city That was full of people! She has become like a widow Who was once great among the nations! She who was a princess among the [a]provinces Has become a forced laborer!

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 [b]under affliction And [c]under [d]harsh servitude; She dwells among the nations (RACES / PEOPLE GROUPS), But she has found no rest; All her pursuers have overtaken her In the midst of [e]distress.

4 The roads [f]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 [g]is bitter. SOME PASTORS ARE GROANING BECAUSE OF THE SIN IN THE WORLD TODAY. WE NEED TO PRAY, WORSHIP, STUDY THE WORD & EVANGELIZE.

5 Her adversaries have become [h]her masters, Her enemies [i]prosper; For the LORD has caused her grief Because of the multitude of her transgressions; Her little ones have gone away As captives before the adversary. PREDESTINED VS. FREEWILL DEBATE

6 All her majesty Has departed from the daughter of Zion; Her princes have become like deer That have found no pasture; And they have [j]fled without strength Before the pursuer.

7 In the days of her affliction and homelessness Jerusalem remembers all her precious things That were from the days of old, When her people fell into the hand of the adversary And no one helped her. The adversaries saw her, They mocked at her [k]ruin.

8 Jerusalem sinned greatly, Therefore she has become an unclean thing. All who honored her despise her Because they have seen her nakedness; Even she herself groans and turns away. CITIES SIN. WHAT IS SAN FRANCISCO, BANGKOK, LAS VEGAS, AMSTERDAM ETC. KNOWN FOR? WHEN WE SIN WE ARE DIRTY. ONE DROP OF JESUS’ BLOOD CLEANS HUMANKIND FROM HEAD TO TOE FROM THE BEGINNING OF TIME

9 Her uncleanness was in her skirts; She [l]did not consider her future. Therefore she has [m]fallen astonishingly; She has no comforter. “See, O LORD, my affliction, For the enemy has magnified himself!”

10 The adversary has stretched out his hand Over all her precious things, For she has seen the nations enter her sanctuary, The ones whom You commanded That they should not enter into Your congregation. ALL ARE WELCOME BUT CONFESSION IS NEEDED. IN THE PAST IF SOMEONE WAS UNCLEAN THEY MAY BE KILLED.

11 All her people groan seeking bread; They have given their precious things for food To restore their [n]lives themselves. “See, O LORD, and look, For I am despised.” IT'S OK TO TELL THE LORD HOW WE FEEL.

12 “Is it nothing to all you who pass this way? Look and see if there is any [o]pain like my [p]pain Which was severely dealt out to me, Which the LORD inflicted on the day of His fierce anger. SEE THE BOOK OF REVELATION. MARILYN HICKEY MINISTRIES: THIS EXPRESSES THE FEELINGS OF THE MESSIAH AND IS ALSO THE VOICE OF JERUSALEM EXPRESSING HERSELF. JERUSALEM ACKNOWLEDGED JEHOVAH'S RIGHTEOUSNESS AND PRAYED FOR RETRIBUTION ON HER FOES.

13 “From on high He sent fire into my bones, And it [q]prevailed over them. He has spread a net for my feet; He has turned me back; He has made me desolate, [r]Faint all day long.

14 “The yoke of my transgressions is bound; By His hand they are knit together. They have come upon my neck; He has made my strength [s]fail. The Lord has given me into the hands Of those against whom I am not able to stand.

15 “The Lord has rejected all my strong men In my midst; He has called an appointed [t]time against me To crush my young men; The Lord has trodden as in a wine press The virgin daughter of Judah.

16 “For these things I weep; [u]My eyes run down with water; Because far from me is a comforter, One who restores my soul. My children are desolate Because the enemy has prevailed.” EVIL REIGNS UNTIL REVELATION.