Lamentations

(i) Title

– the Hebrew original does not mention the author of this book but Greek texts and ancient versions attribute it to Jeremiah (our English versions follow the latter). There is no solid reason for questioning this testimony. In fact Jeremiah’s prophecy and Lamentations have a number of similarities. The writer is an eyewitness to a great tragedy, the destruction of Jerusalem (586 B.C.) when Babylon overpowered the Jews in Judah. This was the very thing Jeremiah predicted. Before his very eyes he witnessed the humiliation of his people. His sorrow was great. It has been called “an elegy written in a graveyard….a cloudburst of grief, a river of tears, a sea of sobs”. It certainly is not a cheerful bird song!

– In the Hebrew grouping of Old Testament Scripture it is found among the sacred Writings (Hagiographa), one of the Megilloth (literally “5 rolls” – Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther). Each one was written on a roll to be read on special Jewish festivals (to this day). The Song of Solomon is read at Passover (about April), Ruth at the Feast of Weeks/Pentecost (about June), Ecclesiastes at the Feast of Tabernacles (about October), Esther at the Feast of Purim (about March), and Lamentations is read in the Jewish synagogues at the anniversary of Jerusalem’s destruction of 586 B.C. (9th day of Ab/about August), also they will sing or chant from it every Friday at the Wailing Wall (the only surviving part of the temple). So the book has continual relevance to the Jew.

(ii) Outline

– Lamentations has 5 chapters, 4 of which are written in acrostic form i.e. each verse of the chapter starts with a consecutive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. There are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet, so there are 22 verses in chapters 1, 2, & 4.

Chapter 3 has 66 verses because each letter of the Hebrew alphabet is used 3 times 30 in the chapter. Chapter 5 is not in acrostic form but keeps the poetic balance with 22 verses.

– Ch 1 the first lament, Jerusalem’s condition (vv 1-11 the prophet grieves, vv 12-22 the city grieves).

– Ch 2 the second lament, the Lord’s anger (vv 1-12 the anger detailed, vv 13-22 the city exhorted).

– Ch 3 the third lament, Jeremiah’s sorrow (vv 1-39 the hurting can hope, vv 40-66 a plea)

– Ch 4 the fourth lament, the Lord’s anger (vv 1-11 hardships suffered and why, vv12-22 how others watch).

– Ch 5 the fifth lament, Jerusalem’s prayer (vv 1-18 help needed for stricken Zion, vv 19-22 help to found alone in Jehovah).

N.B. “there is a budding morrow in midnight” (Keats); there is a song from sorrow, a song of hope in the night of hurting; “High calling, flaunted by low living, inevitably issues in deep suffering.” (J. Sidlow Baxter).