Lamentations
Title: The cry of the destroyed Jerusalem
by Jeremiah.
Hebrew:
Eyha(h) – “How” is taken from the first word of the book.
Date of
writing: 586 BC
Structure:
Five
chapters – the best identified structurally book of the Bible. To understand
the structure of the book we need to know that the Hebrew alphabet has 22
letters.
Chapters
1&2 – 22 verses, acrostic based the Hebrew alphabet – from Aleph to Tov.
Chapter 3 –
66 verses = 22*3, acrostic where verses are grouped into the blocks of three
1-2-3 (Aleph), 4-5-6 (Beit), etc. each of the verses begins with the related
letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
Chapter 4 –
22 verses, acrostic based the Hebrew alphabet – from Aleph to Tov.
Chapter 5 –
22 verses, no acrostic…
There are
few theories why the book is structured this way.
Main
themes:
Destruction
of the City and Temple.
Faithfulness
of God in the midst of the total world collapse.
Reflection
in other parts of the Bible:
The Book is
written as a result of what Jeremiah prophesied about. Therefore, it is
important to remember how Jeremiah prophesied about the Temple turned into an
idol (Jer. 7:1-20; Ez. 8 – 11).
The
destruction of the Temple means the “destruction” of the regular festive times,
priestly office, and the connection with the Temple mount (cp. 2:6, 9-10; Ps.
137).
The city
(Jerusalem) is presented as a woman who was left/betrayed by her (foreign) lovers.
The image is picked up/developed by the Prophet Ezekiel (ch. 16) when he writes
about the unfaithful bride of the LORD. Also, theme of uncleanness which begins in Leviticus 12 –
15.
When Jesus
weeps over Jerusalem predicting the fall of great and glorious buildings (Mt.
23:37-39; Lk. 13:31-35), He is presented as a greater Jeremiah.
Lutheran
teaching:
Even though
the Lutheran Confessions do not refer to the Book of Lamentations explicitly,
two themes of the book are very important for the teaching of the Lutheran
Church. First, God’s love is the foundation and the reason for our salvation.
The Jews in the days of Jeremiah could not do anything to recover from the
disaster of Temple destruction. It was God who carried them through the tunnel
of national death and resurrection. Ap. V(III):26; 58-61.
Second, this
love is not only should in the act of God’s deliverance but is an aspect of
continual mercy for us on daily basis. God is the one who provides for us in
our daily needs. Cp. SC II:1.
Lutheran
hymnody:
760 - What God
ordained is always good
809 – Great
is Thy faithfulness
Relevancy
of the Book:
The Book of
Lamentations is an important part of the canon. We remember about God’s love
and mercy, but along with that we need to understand the reasons for His mercy
– the infidelity of His people. As the people of old were punished, we can
expect the punishment of the same grandiose magnitude if a nation is not going
to submit to Christ’s rule.
At the same
time, we can expect that loving Father will carry us through the present-day
storms and attacks of Zeit Geist. The world/creation is sustained by His
love and great faithfulness. We are but the agents who bring this love and
faithfulness into a reality.
Memory
verses:
3:22-23, The
steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new
every morning; great is your faithfulness.
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