Letters Of Lament – Thoughts From Lamentations Chapter Five
INTRODUCTION: There are times when we all lament – or need to lament. There are times when we have walked down the wrong path – and have found at the end of it – a dead end. At the end of the road we cry out, “What have I done? How could I have been so foolish? How could I have been so stupid? How could I have NOT listened to my Father and followed His advice?” As you reach the dead end – you look back and reflect of what you have done to get you to that lifeless spot. You cry out in your desperation – you cry out in your foolishness – you cry out in your sorrow. The book of Lamentations is a book of crying out. In this chapter we find great truths – A God of justice – and A God of mercy.
v. 1 – Remember, O LORD, what has befallen us; Look, and see our reproach!
O Lord, in my affliction – remember what has fallen on me. There is nothing that You have handed out that I do not deserve. There is nothing that I have received that is unjust. For Your judgments are always righteous – as is Your chastisement. I stand ashamed. I am undone – before You.
v. 2 – Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, Our houses to aliens.
The family heirlooms have been given to strangers. Those things that have remained in the family for years – have been handed out to anyone walking down the street. Our own houses that the family has lived in for generations – is gone. How can this be?
v. 3 – We have become orphans without a father, Our mothers are like widows.
I am fatherless – child without a home. My mother is a widow – cast out on the street. Where is my protection? Where is my help? Who will watch over me? Who will care for me? Is there no one? Am I all alone?
v. 4 – We have to pay for our drinking water, Our wood comes to us at a price.
Those things that should be offered for free – I now have to pay for. The water that I drink – the wood to warm my home – now comes at a price. I never had to pay for them before – but now – but now. All my sins come at a price. All my actions have consequences.
v. 5 – Our pursuers are at our necks; We are worn out, there is no rest for us.
Those who are chasing me – are ready to grab me by the neck. They are so close I can feel them breathing on it. I am worn out with worry – with running and with rushing. Will there ever be any rest for me?
v. 6 We have submitted to Egypt and Assyria to get enough bread.
I have been forced to go to my enemies for food. I have to beg them for bread to eat. If it weren’t for them – I would have starved to death.
v. 7 Our fathers sinned, and are no more; It is we who have borne their iniquities.
My father sinned – and do you see him hanging around. No! He died in his sinfulness. He is dead – gone – and buried. The sin of my father has been passed on to my generation.
v. 8 Slaves rule over us; There is no one to deliver us from their hand.
I am owned by slaves. I am the servant of servants. How did I ever get myself into this mess? How can I be in this position? Is there no one to deliver me? Is there no one to rescue me? Is there no one to save me?
v. 9 We get our bread at the risk of our lives Because of the sword in the wilderness.
I am in danger every time I go out the door – even when it’s to go to the store on the corner to get a loaf of bread. There are those who wait around every corner – ready to kill me. I live in the wild – even though it’s my home town.
v. 10 Our skin has become as hot as an oven, Because of the burning heat of famine.
My skin is burning off my bones – the famine is consuming me. There is no spiritual power – there is no living water – my sin is ever before me – I can find no refreshment for my soul. How could I have been so stupid? How could I have ignored the loving actions of my True Lover – The Lover of My Soul? Yet I turned my back on Him and traveled a dead end road.
v. 11 They ravished the women in Zion, The virgins in the cities of Judah.
My sin has taken away the good things of God. A heart that He has cleansed – has now become impure. I have allowed corruption to enter my heart. I have slipped down the slippery slope – and look at where I am now.
v. 12 Princes were hung by their hands; Elders were not respected.
The works that I have done – no longer have any meaning or power. The work of my hands has become useless. I can go through the same actions – but all of its meaning has changed. Those commandments that I use to love – have become meaningless. They have lost their power and respect.
v. 13 Young men worked at the grinding mill; And youths stumbled under loads of wood.
Forced labor is everywhere. Whatever I do takes so much energy that I feel like a slave. The innocence of my youth is gone. He had touched me and change my life – He had taken me out of the mud hole – but I have placed myself back in it. Now I labor in vain. I am like a youth stumbling under a heavy load – or a young man whose labor just keeps him going in circles. What have I done? How have I been so foolish? Now I labor but it is in vain.
v. 14 Elders are gone from the gate, Young men from their music.
There is no one sitting in the seats of wisdom. It has not come – even with old age. How can I be wise when I have been so foolish? How can I give counsel – when I don’t even listen to myself? I know what is right – but I have done wrong – is there any wisdom in that? Joy has vanished from my life. There is no music that can make me dance.
v. 15 The joy of our hearts has ceased; Our dancing has been turned into mourning.
Joy has walked out the door. How can it take residence in my heart when I turned from the One I love? I am filled with remorse – I am filled with sorrow. There is no dancing in my heart. Where there should have been a celebration – it has turned into a funeral. What have I done – where have I gone?
v. 16 The crown has fallen from our head; Woe to us, for we have sinned!
My wedding ring has fallen from my finger. The crown of joy and pleasure has fallen off my head. How could I have been so foolish – how could I have been so stupid? Woe to me – I am undone. My own sins stare me in the face – for I have traveled the highway of fools.
v. 17 Because of this our heart is faint; Because of these things our eyes are dim;
My sin has affected me both spiritually and physically. The stress of my sin had affected my whole being. My heart is faint – my eyes are dim. I am a total wreck. My bones ache because of what I have done.
v. 18 Because of Mount Zion which lies desolate, Foxes prowl in it.
My heart has become desolate – my life has become destitute. Without You – I stand open to every attack. Those who would seek to kill me – to devour me – roam my streets. My thoughts race to do that which is not pleasing in Your sight. They prowl to devour me.
v. 19 Thou, O LORD, dost rule forever; Thy throne is from generation to generation.
You, O Lord are great and mighty. You O Lord are magnificent and holy. You rule forever and ever and ever – from generation to generation – Your mercy will never cease. You who was and is and is to come – I praise Your name.
v. 20 Why dost Thou forget us forever; Why dost Thou forsake us so long?
Will You forget me forever? Will my name never enter Your mind? Will You never again remember the joy that we shared? Will You never again remember the intimate times that we had? I cannot forget – I cannot cease remembering. How long will it be till You show Your love to me again?
v. 21 Restore us to Thee, O LORD, that we may be restored; Renew our days as of old,
Restore to me O Lord the joy of my salvation – and it will be restored. Only You can take that which is bent and straighten it out. Only You can take that which is shattered and bring it back together. Only You can take that which is broken and fix it. Fix me O Lord – repair me – heal me. Renew me as in the days when I first met You.
v. 22 Unless Thou hast utterly rejected us, And art exceedingly angry with us.
Unless You have totally rejected me – heal me. I know that You are angry with me – but I beg – heal me.
We would like each story to have a happy ending – some stories don’t. The book of Lamentations ends with a plea. A plea to restore – a plea to refresh – a plea to renew. If you have ever traveled the slipper path of sin – you too realize once the journey begins it is very difficult to get back home. In fact it is impossible for us – but for the grace, forgiveness and mercy of God. I hope that if you have traveled the dead end road – you will find the forgiveness of God at the end.
