Scroll to the bottom for thoughts/discussion questions!
One-sentence summary: The prophet Jeremiah laments over the destruction and captivity of his people.
"How lonely sits the city that was full of people! How like a widow is she who was great among the nations!" The princess has become a slave., he says. "She weeps bitterly in the night." She has no lovers to comfort her, and her friends have dealt treacherously with her; they have become her enemies. Judah has gone into captivity under affliction and hard servitude. She dwells among the nations and finds no rest. There are no more feasts. The priests sigh; the virgins are afflicted, and Israel is bitter. Her enemies prosper and are her master. The Lord has afflicted her because of the multitude of her transgressions. All her splendor has departed. At the time of her wanderings, Jerusalem remembers. all the pleasant things in the days of old. She has fallen into the enemy's hand with no one to help her. The enemy mocked her downfall. She has sinned greatly and is despised. She did not consider her destiny; therefore her collapse was great. Jeremiah cries out to the Lord on behalf of the people and and says, "Oh Lord, behold my affliction!" The nations have entered her sanctuary, the ones the Lord commanded not to. He asks the Lord to consider, for she is scorned. "Behold and see, if there is any sorrow like my sorrow which has been brought on me!" The Lord Himself has spread a net for them and made them desolate. He caused their strength to fail and delivered them into the hands of those stronger than them. The prophet weeps for the virgin daughter of his people, because their Comforter is far from them. Zion spreads out her hands, but no one comforts her. The Lord commanded those around Jacob to be their adversaries and for Jerusalem to be an unclean thing among them. "The Lord is righteous, for I have rebelled against His commandment." Their lovers deceived them, and they find no comfort. Their enemies rejoice at their calamity. Jeremiah asks the Lord to judge the nations as He has judged them.
The Lord has covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud in His anger. He has fought against them, stood like an enemy against them, and become their adversary. He has poured out His fury like fire on them. He has swallowed up Israel and increased mourning and lamentation in the daughter of Judah. He has abandoned His sanctuary. The prophets have no vision for the Lord, and the elders sit on the ground in sackcloth and ashes. All are laid low. Jeremiah says, "My eyes fail with tears; my heart is troubled... because of the destruction of the daughter of my people." The children and infants faint for hunger in the streets. Jeremiah (speaking for the Lord) asks, "How shall I console you? To what shall I liken you, oh daughter of Jerusalem? What shall I compare with you that I may comfort you, oh virgin daughter of Zion? For your ruin has spread wide as the sea. Who can heal you? Your prophets have seen for you false and deceptive visions.They have not uncovered your iniquity to bring back your captives, but have envisioned for you false prophesies and delusions... Is this the city that is called the perfection of beauty, the joy of the whole earth?" The nations gloat at their demise. Jeremiah declares, "Let tears run down like a river day and night. Give yourself no relief. Give your eyes no rest. Arise, cry out in the night, at the beginning of the watches! Pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord. Lift your hands to Him.... see your Lord and consider: to whom have you done this?" Women even eat their own children, and the priests and prophets are slain in the sanctuary of the Lord. Many slain are in the streets. The Lord has slain them in the day of His anger. He has "invited the terrors" as if to a feast day.
Thoughts/discussion questions:
Lamentations, though heartbreaking, is truly beautiful. For anyone experiencing grief, it gives voice to your feelings. I don't know if anyone besides Jesus felt as much sorrow as the prophet Jeremiah did!