LAMENTATIONS

Lamentations reflects poetically on the exile of Judah, the sacking of Jerusalem, and (most critically) the destruction of the temple. Exile presented a theological crisis for the people of God: What of God’s promises to Israel? What of God’s blessing upon the people - including land, security, a king on David’s throne, and the promise of his presence among them? Without ever presenting easy answers to these difficult questions, and with barely a note of hope, Lamentations wrestles with how Jerusalem and her people could have been brought into such a desolate estate.

Outline of Lamentations

  • Lament for God's City

    Lamentations 1:1-22

  • The Day of God's Anger

    Lamentations 2:1-22

  • Hope in Suffering

    Lamentations 3:1-66

  • Lament for God's People

    Lamentations 4:1-22

  • Sorrow and Faith in Waiting

    Lamentations 5:1-22

Theological Themes of Lamentations

sin and judgement

Even as people are prone to minimize sin, becoming complacent about our own offenses against God, God himself never minimizes sin. Lamentations declares again and again that it is Judah’s sin that led to her suffering. Throughout the book, we see a clear picture of what sin is, how it offends God, and how it incurs his righteous anger. 

the providence of god

Lamentations makes it clear that it is God, not Babylon, that has brought judgment upon the nation of Judah. The nations - especially Babylon - have been the instruments of judgment, but those instruments are wielded by the hand of God himself.

comfort in suffering

The Lord’s hand in Judah’s suffering is ultimately a source of comfort to those who suffer. Judah’s sorrow is not random, meaningless, or hopeless. Hope comes from knowing the God who superintends that sorrow, turning from the sin that precipitated it, and trusting in his every-renewing mercy.

prayers of lament

Lamentations teaches us how to pray in the face of sin and judgment. We can wrestle with God honestly, confessing our sins, looking to him for redemption, pleading with him to remember his commitment to his people. God answers prayers like these; they are a key part of his covenant with his people.

Lamentations during Lent.

We will spend the Lenten season studying the book of Lamentations. But what is Lent?

In the same way the season of Advent prepares our hearts for the joy of Christ’s arrival, the season of Lent prepares our hearts for the sorrow of Christ’s suffering, and the celebration of Christ’s triumph over Satan, sin, and death at the cross. As early as 325 AD, Christians have stepped into this season to mark their lives ‘…through God’s saving events...’

Beginning Ash Wednesday, Lent is 40 days (excluding Sundays) leading up to Resurrection Sunday. Lent invites us to share in Christ’s suffering through self-denial (fasting), confession, repentance of sin (prayer), and obedience to the will of the Father (living on mission) so we may share with Christ in His glory (Romans 8:17). Lent is intended to quiet our busy hearts, minds, and lives, and fill each space with a focused attention on the person and work of Christ.

LENT RESOURCES