Tanak Foundations-Concepts in Lamentations-Introduction and Chapter 1

The book of Lamentations gets its name from the Latin Vulgate and it carries the concept of “loud cries of sorrow.” The Hebrew name of the book is “Eichah” (“How”) and this word is used in Lam 1.1, 2.1, 4.1. No other book deals with lamentations as a theme for a whole book. It is like a funeral dirge for the city, the Temple and the people. This book can also be read on Yom Ha Shoah because all of this happened during the Holocaust.

The author is not named but most scholars believe it was Jeremiah, who was an eye witness to the destruction around 586 BC. Many internal witnesses point to Jeremiah as the author, such as he saw what happened; the language, style and sentiment in the prophecies of Jeremiah is the same and both books attribute Jerusalem’s fall to Judah’s sin, and Jeremiah will often speak as if he is Jerusalem lamenting what has happened to her. This is the historical level.

In the eschatological level, there are many things that we will look at. This book is seen as a prophecy of the Messiah, and Jeremiah is seen as the Messiah “weeping” over the city at what is called Jeremiah’s Grotto and very near to the site of Yeshua’s crucifixion. This book deals with the destruction of Jerusalem during the birth-pains as well.

Spiritually, Yeshua is the “temple and the city” (Ecc 9.14-16) and it was destroyed, but on the third day it was raised back up. In the Messianic Kingdom or “third day” Jerusalem will be raised up (Hos 6.1-3). Yeshua, like Jeremiah, weeps over the city before its destruction the second time in Luke 19.41 and John 11.35. This was expected to be done by the Messiah when he would come based on 2 Sam 15.30. This book is also read on the ninth of Av, a day that remembers the destruction of the Temple by the Babylonians and later the Romans.

This book is written in a chiastic structure. Chapter 1 is gloom; Chapter 2 is gloom; Chapter 3.20-31 there is hope; Chapter 3.38-66 is gloom again; Chapter 4 is gloom and Chapter 5 is gloom. We can most identify with Chapter 1 ,2, 4 and 5, but we must keep in mind that the core message is not “gloom” but that our only hope is in Yehovah. The chapters of this book are also written in an acrostic form and arranged according to the Hebrew alphabet in successive verses from aleph to tav, beginning with Chapter 1.

v 1…”How (“eichah” and the name of the book; homiletically the same word as in Gen 3.9 and vowelized as “aychah” or “where are you” in a Hebrew word play) lonely sits (as a mourner) the city (Jerusalem will be personified as a close friend or relative that has died, it is also the symbolic state of every unbeliever) that was full of people. She has become like a widow (her king taken and Yehovah has departed but only temporary. She is like a widow, not actually a widow) who was once great among the nations (they subdued the Philistines, the Moabites, Syrians and Edomites and they paid tribute to Israel)! She who was a princess among the provinces has become a forced laborer (a tribute payer).

v 2…She weeps bitterly at night (can’t sleep) and her tears are on her cheeks (so many tears they can’t dry); she has none to comfort her among her lovers (the nations with which she had alliances, especially Egypt, Edom, Moab, Ammon and Phoenicia-Jer 27.3); her friends (allies) have dealt treacherously with her; they have become her enemies (Psa 137.7; Ezek 25.3, 6; Jer 40.14).

v 3…Judah has gone into exile under affliction, and under harsh servitude (because this is what she did to others); she dwells among the nations (in Babylon) but she has found no rest; all her pursuers have overtaken her in the midst of distress (no escape).

v 4…The roads of Zion are in mourning (no travelers anymore on the roads once filled with joy) because no one comes to the appointed feasts (in Jerusalem at the Temple). All her gates are desolate; her priests are groaning (no Temple or worship), her virgins (who sang at the festivals) are afflicted (in grief); and she herself is bitter.

v 5…Her adversaries have become her masters (fulfilling Deut 28.44), her enemies prosper (in wealth and riches while Judah was in distress); for the Lord has caused her grief because of the multitude of her transgressions; her little ones have gone away as captives before the adversary (driven out like a flock of sheep).

v 6…And all her majesty (the kingdom, Temple, priesthood, palaces, etc.) has departed from the daughter of Zion; her princes have become like bucks that have found no pasture (destitute, no heart, fearful); and they have fled without strength before the pursuer (no spirit to oppose the enemy and they were taken captive).

v 7…In the days of her affliction and homelessness Jerusalem remembers all her precious things (her freedom, worship, Torah, Temple, altars, Ark, etc.) that were from the days of old when her people fell into the hand of the adversary (Chaldeans), and no one helped her (her allies in whom she trusted). The adversaries saw her, they mocked at her ruin (“mishbateh” or cessation, annihilation).

v 8…Jerusalem sinned greatly (idolatry in particular, but her sins were many), therefore she has become an unclean thing (like her idols). All who honored her despise her (her allies neglect her now) because they have seen her nakedness (she was stripped of all good things); even she herself groans and turns away (in shame).

v 9…Her uncleanness was in her skirts (alludes to a menstruous woman); she did not consider her future (what the behavior would bring upon her); therefore she has fallen astonishingly (from a higher estate to a low one); she has no comforter (to help her), “See, O Lord, my affliction, for the enemy has magnified himself (against Yehovah, his people, his city, his Temple, and magnified their own power)!”

v 10…The adversary (foe) has stretched out his hand over all her precious things (especially in the Temple, city, and the congregation), for she has seen the nations enter her sanctuary, the one whom thou didst command that they should not enter into, thy congregation (Deut 23.1-3-Moabites and Ammonites in the Chaldean army in taking Jerusalem).

v 11…All her people groan seeking bread (starving during the siege and after); they have given their precious things for food to restore (relieve) their lives (souls) themselves (to keep from fainting and falling out). “See, O Lord, and look, for I am despised (look with pity on us, have compassion and consider our state).”

v 12…It is nothing to all you who pass this way (they saw but did not show sympathy)? Look and see if there is any pain (sorrow) like my pain which was severely dealt out to me, which the Lord inflicted on the day of his fierce anger (a term for the birth-pains-their misery was so unusual that anyone seeing it would conclude that Yehovah’s hand was in it).

v 13…From on high he sent fire into my bones (judgment), and it prevailed; he has spread a net for my feet; he has turned me back; he has made me desolate, faint all day long (the land and cities were devastated and would continue for 70 years).

v 14…The yoke of my transgressions is bound; by his hand they are knit together; they have come upon my neck (her punishment is laid on her by Yehovah himself like a heavy yoke); he has made my strength fail (by its weight); the Lord has given me into the hands of those against whom I am not able to stand.

v 15…The Lord has rejected all my strong men (Judah’s army could not stand against Babylon); he has called an appointed time (moed) against me to crush my young men (Yehovah has called a divine appointment against her); the Lord has trodden as in a wine press the virgin daughter of Judah (Babylon crushed Judah).

v 16…For these things I weep; my eyes run down with water; because far from me is a comforter (Hebrew “menachem” and this is a term for the Messiah and the Ruach Ha Kodesh-Isa 40.1. It has the same numerical value as “tzemach” or branch, another term for the Messiah, and it is considered a manifestation of Yehovah-Luke 2.25; John 14.26; Isa 54.11), one who restores my soul; my children are desolate because the enemy (hater) has prevailed.”

v 17…Zion stretches out her hands; there is no one to comfort her (imploring mercy for her-even Yehovah has departed-Jer 4.31); the Lord has commanded concerning Jacob that the ones round about him should be his adversaries; Jerusalem has become an unclean thing (Hebrew “niddah”) among them (like a menstruous woman).

v 18…The Lord is righteous (in his judgment here); for I have rebelled against his command (the Torah; confession is too late); hear now, all people, and behold my pain (sorrow); my virgins and my young men have gone into captivity.

v 19…I called to my lovers (allies for help) but they deceived me (didn’t meet their obligations to her); my priests and my elders perished in the city, while they sought for food to restore their strength themselves.

v 20…See, O Lord, for I am in distress (but its too late); my spirit (“me’ay” or bowels) is greatly troubled; my heart (lev) is overturned within me, for I have been very rebellious. In the street the sword slays, in the house it is like death (famine).

v 21…They (her allies or those near to her) have heard that I groan; there is no one to comfort me (no one offered help); all my enemies (haters) have heard of my calamity; they are glad that thou has done it (like Edom was-Lam 4.21). O that thou would bring the day which thou hast proclaimed, that they may become like me (eschatologically this alludes to the birth-pains).

v 22…Let all their wickedness come before thee; and deal with them as thou has dealt with me for all my transgressions (such prayers are lawful if the foe is an enemy of Yehovah. There are no personal feelings, but God’s glory is sought, the welfare of the people is at stake and God’s promises to them); for my groans are many, and my heart is faint.”

Posted in All Teachings, Articles, Idioms, Phrases and Concepts, Prophecy/Eschatology, The Festivals of the Lord, The Tanak, Tying into the New Testament

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