Chapter 4 of Lamentations continues the funeral dirge lamenting the death of Judah and Jerusalem, then chapter 5 is a prayer and plea for mercy and restoration. Let’s dig in…
Lamentations 4 – God’s Anger Satisfied
How the gold has lost its luster!
Even the finest gold has become dull.
The sacred gemstones
lie scattered in the streets!2 See how the precious children of Jerusalem,
worth their weight in fine gold,
are now treated like pots of clay
made by a common potter.3 Even the jackals feed their young,
but not my people Israel.
They ignore their children’s cries,
like ostriches in the desert.4 The parched tongues of their little ones
stick to the roofs of their mouths in thirst.
The children cry for bread,
but no one has any to give them.5 The people who once ate the richest foods
now beg in the streets for anything they can get.
Those who once wore the finest clothes
now search the garbage dumps for food.6 The guilt (punishment) of my people
is greater than that of Sodom,
where utter disaster struck in a moment
and no hand offered help.7 Our princes once glowed with health—
brighter than snow, whiter than milk.
Their faces were as ruddy as rubies,
their appearance like fine jewels.8 But now their faces are blacker than soot.
No one recognizes them in the streets.
Their skin sticks to their bones;
it is as dry and hard as wood.9 Those killed by the sword are better off
than those who die of hunger.
Starving, they waste away
for lack of food from the fields.10 Tenderhearted women
have cooked their own children.
They have eaten them
to survive the siege.11 But now the anger of the Lord is satisfied.
His fierce anger has been poured out.
He started a fire in Jerusalem (Zion)
that burned the city to its foundations.12 Not a king in all the earth—
no one in all the world—
would have believed that an enemy
could march through the gates of Jerusalem.13 Yet it happened because of the sins of her prophets
and the sins of her priests,
who defiled the city
by shedding innocent blood.14 They wandered blindly
through the streets,
so defiled by blood
that no one dared touch them.15 “Get away!” the people shouted at them.
“You’re defiled! Don’t touch us!”
So they fled to distant lands
and wandered among foreign nations,
but none would let them stay.16 The Lord himself has scattered them,
and he no longer helps them.
People show no respect for the priests
and no longer honor the leaders.17 We looked in vain for our allies
to come and save us,
but we were looking to nations
that could not help us.18 We couldn’t go into the streets
without danger to our lives.
Our end was near; our days were numbered.
We were doomed!19 Our enemies were swifter than eagles in flight.
If we fled to the mountains, they found us.
If we hid in the wilderness,
they were waiting for us there.20 Our king—the Lord’s anointed, the very life of our nation—
was caught in their snares.
We had thought that his shadow
would protect us against any nation on earth!21 Are you rejoicing in the land of Uz,
O people of Edom?
But you, too, must drink from the cup of the Lord’s anger.
You, too, will be stripped naked in your drunkenness.22 O beautiful Jerusalem, your punishment will end;
Lamentations 4 NLT
you will soon return from exile.
But Edom, your punishment is just beginning;
soon your many sins will be exposed.
Lamentations 5 – Prayer for Restoration
Lord, remember what has happened to us.
See how we have been disgraced!
2 Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers,
our homes to foreigners.
3 We are orphaned and fatherless.
Our mothers are widowed.
4 We have to pay for water to drink,
and even firewood is expensive.
5 Those who pursue us are at our heels;
we are exhausted but are given no rest.
6 We submitted to Egypt and Assyria
to get enough food to survive.
7 Our ancestors sinned, but they have died—
and we are suffering the punishment they deserved!8 Slaves have now become our masters;
there is no one left to rescue us.
9 We hunt for food at the risk of our lives,
for violence rules the countryside.
10 The famine has blackened our skin
as though baked in an oven.
11 Our enemies rape the women in Jerusalem
and the young girls in all the towns of Judah.
12 Our princes are being hanged by their thumbs,
and our elders are treated with contempt.
13 Young men are led away to work at millstones,
and boys stagger under heavy loads of wood.
14 The elders no longer sit in the city gates;
the young men no longer dance and sing.
15 Joy has left our hearts;
our dancing has turned to mourning.
16 The garlands have fallen from our heads.
Weep for us because we have sinned.
17 Our hearts are sick and weary,
and our eyes grow dim with tears.
18 For Jerusalem is empty and desolate,
a place haunted by jackals.19 But Lord, you remain the same forever!
Lamentations 5 NLT
Your throne continues from generation to generation.
20 Why do you continue to forget us?
Why have you abandoned us for so long?
21 Restore us, O Lord, and bring us back to you again!
Give us back the joys we once had!
22 Or have you utterly rejected us?
Are you angry with us still?
Points to Ponder
- The burning of the temple melted the gold. Precious gemstones used to decorate the temple were scattered all over. Jerusalem’s treasures were gone.
- Their guilt or punishment was greater than that of Sodom — and we all know what happened there!
- The blame sits on the shoulders of the leadership — the false prophets and sinful priests. Unfortunately, we’ve got those today!
- Sin cheapens us like what it did the Jews. We are not worthy to stand in glorious presence of God.
- The whole of Judah and Jerusalem fell into desperation. Desperate times call for desperate measures.
- They lost the respect of their leaders as well as the favor of God.
- Edom rejoiced at their fall, but they will get theirs, as we will see when we continue with the Book of Ezekiel.
- The people became homeless strays.
- They abandoned their children like ostriches. Pastor Sandy Adams explains…
Ostriches lay eggs in what’s called a “dump nest.” It’s a communal nest holding up to 60 eggs. All but one of the ostriches go about their business, while the one sits on the eggs. Most ostriches lay their eggs, and then forget about them. Thus, their reputation as heartless parents. And Judah was also heartless and cruel toward her young. Famine was so severe the kids went hungry.
Sandy Adams
They Knew Better!
Why was Judah’s judgment worse that Sodom’s? Obviously, they knew better. Remember, Sodom happened back in Abraham’s day. They didn’t have the law. They didn’t have priests and prophets. Pastor Sandy Adams comments…
She (Judah) was a recipient of greater blessing and revelation – with privilege comes responsibility. In Luke 12:48 Jesus teaches the same, “For everyone to much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.” This was true of the Jews.
Sandy Adams
Regarding chapter 5, Sandy Adams comments…
Here near the close of the book there’s a breakthrough. The first step in overcoming a problem is to admit that problem. Here the Jews get honest. They wail, “Woe to us, for we have sinned!” It’s only when we confess our sin for what it is, and cease with our excuses – it’s when we put down a period, then God can start a new sentence. Confession and repentance is 90% of the battle.
Sandy Adams
A Future and a Hope
God does have a plan for Israel. Like He told the elders who were already in Babylon back in Jeremiah…
“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
Jeremiah 29:11 NLT
And we’ll see what that future and hope is in the Book of Ezekiel. Subscribe so you don’t miss out.
God Keeps His Promises!
God promises judgment for sinners and redemption for the sincerely repentant. It’s up to you to decide which promise you’ll hold on to. Eternal life in hell or in Heaven. The choice is yours to make now, while you’re alive and coherent.
If you’re not sure if you’re saved or not, if you truly want to be born again and have the assurance of salvation, receive the Holy Spirit, feel His Shalom — a peace that surpasses all understanding, and get a 1-way, non-stop ticket to Heaven after you die, or that you won’t be left behind at the Rapture, which can happen at any moment, this is what you have to do…
