Lamentations 1-5: The grace of tears, the personification of pain

The Greek translation of the title to Lamentation is called "tears." You cannot read this book without having your heart drawn into the experience of the physical and spiritual trauma caused by the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 586 BC. The fact that it is written as a structured poem reveals that there is a sacred dignity to human suffering. When my wife and I visited the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in DC last week, we witnessed not only just the memory of the suffering of the Jews but also the need to memorialize their sufferings so that it is not forgotten especially in this age of instant gratification and quick forgetfulness. Read Lamentations aloud because the cry of suffering of the people of Jerusalem is not to be experienced in silence. This pain needs to be articulated.

Connecting the dots
Lamentation is not a work of passive resignation. Although the author understands the justice of God, the agony and bewilderment of the event can be freely expressed (2:4-5,20-22). Yet in his anguish, the author is able to affirm that Yahweh is still merciful and faithful (3:22-26), His covenant faithfulness (hesed) never ceases. Yahweh is not distant from His people in their suffering, nor has He completely abandoned them, even though their sins are great and might merit such a fate. 

Still, the overall theme of the book is filled more with pain than purpose as the first poem begins in lament and the final poem ends in lament. In fact, the book ends with a paradox - "O Lord, You reign as king forever!" (5:19) vs "Why do You forget and forsake us?" (5:20). Both restoration and rejection is mentioned in the same breath. Hence, there is no final resolution in Lamentations.

Activity idea
The sovereignty of God does not invalidate the need to lament in my prayer. Why not take some time off this week to experience a "prayer walk and talk" time with the Lord? You do not need any structure to your prayer but allow the hurts, doubts, and questions in your heart to arise as a lament. Do not seek for answers (yet) but seek to articulate your feelings to the Lord your God. You may come to experience that questions may speak more than answers.

Christ in Scripture
Jesus voiced His own lament over Jerusalem during the days leading up to His rejection by His own people (Matt 23:37-39, Luke 13:34-35). He foresaw terrible consequences for Jerusalem because of that rejection (Matt 24). Yet He Himself also uttered His own cry of abandonment as He endured the mystery of His redemptive suffering in our place (Matt 27:46). His death on the cross is the ultimate expression of the covenant faithfulness of God (hesed) that is new every morning and enables lost sinners to be restored to God's favor. Praise be to God!

We welcome your comments, feedback and questions - please post them in the comments below.


References
Lee, Peter Y. (2016). A Biblical-Theological Introduction to the Old Testament. (Miles V. Van Pelt, Ed.) Wheaton, IL: Crossway.

Sproul, R.C. Ed. (2015). The Reformation Study Bible. Sanford, FL: Reformation Trust.

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