Scroll to the bottom for thoughts/discussion questions!
One-sentence summary: Jeremiah continue mourning the destruction of His people and nation but praises the Lord's faithfulness and mercy.
Jeremiah says he has seen affliction; the Lord has made him walk in darkness and not in light. The Lord has turned His hand against him and even aged him. He has broken his bones, besieged him, surrounded him with bitterness and woe, and set him in dark places like those long dead. He has hedged him in so he cannot get out; He has made his chain heavy. When he cries and shouts, his prayer is not heard. His ways are blocked, and his paths are crooked. He says the Lord has ambushed him like a bear and torn him in pieces, making him desolate. He has even set him as a target for his arrows; He has become the ridicule of all his people. The Lord has broken his teeth and covered him with ashes. His soul has been removed far from peace, and he has forgotten prosperity. He says his strength and hope has perished. However, he remembers, "Through the Lord's mercies, we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness. 'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul. Therefore I hope in Him. The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. It is good for a man to bear the yoke in his youth. Let him sit alone and keep silent because. God has laid it on him. Let him put his mouth in the dust. There may yet be hope. Let him give his cheek to the one who strikes him and be full of reproach, for the Lord will not cast off forever. Thought He causes grief, yet He will show compassion, according to the multitude of His mercies. For He does not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men to crush under one's feet all the prisoners of the earth..." He tells his people to turn back to the Lord and lift their hands to Him and confesses they have rebelled. He says the Lord has covered Himself in a cloud so that prayers do not pass through. "My eyes overflow with rivers of water for the destruction of the daughter of my people. My eyes flow and do not cease... til the Lord from heaven looks down and sees." He asks the Lord not to hide Himself from his crying. He reminds the Lord that when he called on Him in the past, He told him not to fear. He says the Lord has pled the case for his soul and saved his life. He has heard the voice of his enemies. He asks the Lord to curse them.
Jeremiah says the gold has become dim. The stones of the sanctuary are scattered in the streets. The precious sons of Zion, as valuable as gold, are regarded as clay pots. The daughter of his people are cruel, like ostriches. The people are thirsty; the children ask for bread. Those who lived in prosperity are now destitute. Their sin is worse than the sin of Sodom. The Nazarites were "brighter than snow and whiter than milk," like rubies and sapphires in their appearance, but now, their appearance is like soot, and they are unrecognizable in the streets. Those dying of starvation are worse off than those who died by sword, because they languish. The women even eat their own children. The Lord has fulfilled His fury and poured out His fierce anger. They shed innocent blood and have defiled themselves. They watched in vain for help, looking to nations that could not save them. Their punishment is accomplished.
Jeremiah asks the Lord to remember their affliction and reproach. They have becomes "orphans and waifs." Their dancing has turned into mourning. The crown has fallen from their head. "Woe to us, because we have sinned. Our heart is faint. Because of these things, our eyes grow dim. Because of Mt. Zion, which is desolate..." However, Jeremiah prays, "You, oh Lord, remain forever, Your throne from generation to generation. Why do you forget us forever?... Turn us back to You, oh Lord, and we will be restored. Renew our days as of old, unless you have utterly rejected us..."
Thoughts/discussion questions:
It is good to voice our afflictions. Go on as long as you like. Pour out your complaint before the Lord.
His mercies are new every morning. Great is His faithfulness. Wow!