The Book Of Lamentations – Part 24 – Cry Of Misery And Much Weeping For The Conditions Being Endured. Jeremiah Is The Weeping Prophet - Chapter 3:47- 51 Series

THE BOOK OF LAMENTATIONS – PART 24 – CRY OF MISERY AND MUCH WEEPING FOR THE CONDITIONS BEING ENDURED. JEREMIAH IS THE WEEPING PROPHET - CHAPTER 3:47- 51

The laments from the survivors of the Babylonian genocide continue. These people were in a miserable state and they were starving with skin slippery like wood and some resorted to cannibalism. The people were desperate and were trying to come to grips with their condition. They had realised that the whole fault lay with them for they insulted the LORD with their continued idolatry and violence and corruption. The lamenting continues.

PART [42]. JUST MISERY AND EVEN MORE MISERY

{{Lamentations 3:47 “PANIC and PITFALL have befallen us, DEVASTATION and DESTRUCTION.”}}

The English translation in the NASB unintentionally uses alliteration though I am sure it is not in the Hebrew. All four words are miserable, used to shed some light on the woefulness of their situation. It does not take much to set an audience in a panic, and some of the worst panics have seen people crushed. It is as if all understanding has gone and unreasoned dread takes over.

Jeremiah can only be the mouthpiece for the populace being killed, but the horrors did not end there. The survivors had to live with their lot and these 4 words give indication of how they lamented their situation. Being powerless against the enemy is a heart-rending set of emotions. Today, it can happen to Christians falsely accused and even suffering worse things. We are so thankful that this world is not our home and we are just passing through.

I won’t add any more, for to drag out that suffering is unpleasant.

PART [43]. THE SENSITIVE PROPHET IS CRYING BECAUSE OF THE DESTRUCTION

{{Lamentations 3:48 “MY EYES run down with streams of water because of the destruction of THE DAUGHTER OF MY PEOPLE.”}}

In the next 12 or so verses we have a series of personal pronouns that I find a bit difficult to assign either to Jeremiah or to the nation in its grief. In fact, most of the time I think the application is made to both.

In this verse 48 I think this section is introduced by the prophet speaking of himself. It is his eyes that pour out tears because the destruction has been so great. The expression “daughter of my people” is more likely to be the prophet speaking his own emotion. “The daughter of my people” is a tender means of identification, just like a father lamenting over the loss of his daughter. It speaks of the depth of connection between Jeremiah and his sinful nation that finally came under judgement.

This expression “daughter of my people” is used elsewhere in scripture. Interestingly it was used by Isaiah over 100 years before the destruction actually occurred and you can see the strong similarity with Lamentations. {{Isaiah 22:3-5 “All your rulers have fled together and have been captured without the bow. All of you who were found were taken captive together though they had fled far away. Therefore I say, “Turn your eyes away from me. Let me weep bitterly. Do not try to comfort me concerning the destruction of THE DAUGHTER OF MY PEOPLE,” for the Lord GOD of hosts has A DAY OF PANIC, subjugation and confusion in the valley of vision, a breaking down of walls and a crying to the mountain.”}}. That is a remarkable prophecy but not unexpected because all biblical prophecy is real and accurate, not like the pretend so-called prophecy we hear of today.

Speaking of the coming judgement early in his ministry Jeremiah pronounced this – {{Jeremiah 4:11 In that time it will be said to this people and to Jerusalem, “A scorching wind from the bare heights in the wilderness in the direction of THE DAUGHTER OF MY PEOPLE - not to winnow, and not to cleanse,”}}

There are another 9 exact expressions in Jeremiah but I will give just one more -

Jeremiah 8:22 “Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has not the health of THE DAUGHTER OF MY PEOPLE been restored?” Jeremiah 9:1 “Oh, that my head were waters, and MY EYES a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of THE DAUGHTER OF MY PEOPLE!”

The expressions in this verse (3:48) indicate intensity. He does not use crying or weeping but “streams of water” and “fountain of tears”. Jeremiah was a deep feeling prophet because he was so close to the heart of God and his sensitivities were assaulted by the violent destruction. Did you notice how similar Jeremiah 8:22 and Lamentations 3:48 are?

PART [44]. CONTINUAL WEEPING FOR THE DEVASTATED PEOPLE

{{Lamentations 3:49 “MY EYES pour down unceasingly, without stopping,”}}

Parallelism is engaged linking this verse with 48 and emphasises the fact that there is so much weeping. The grief is beyond description and Jeremiah becomes a fountain of anguish for his people. He wept over them as did his Lord more than 500 years later, but in a different manner – {{Matthew 23:37-38 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. Behold, your house is being left to you desolate,}}