Friday, November 11, 2022

Overview of the Bible: Lamentations

Lamentations

 

video lesson  

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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