LAMENTATIONS LESSON 1


     Lamentations is actually part of Jeremiah. It is written by
Jeremiah, as well. We will find it to be like a funeral for the entire
nation of Israel. It gives us a picture of the capture and destruction
of Judah.

     This book shows Jeremiah as the weeping prophet. He is
intercessor for his people. His mourning for his homeland and his
people is great. It appears, this happened after Jerusalem and Judah
were carried away captive into Babylon. Jeremiah tries to repent
before God for his people. This never works. They must repent for
themselves.

     We will begin this lesson in Lamentations 1:1 "How doth the city
sit solitary, [that was] full of people! [how] is she become as a
widow! she [that was] great among the nations, [and] princess among
the provinces, [how] is she become tributary!"

     Suddenly the greatness of Jerusalem is gone. Thousands are taken
into captivity, and many times that many have died. Jeremiah remembers
the greatness, and weeps for the desolation. He was there to see it
all. He warned them ahead of time, but they did not listen. People
from many nations had come to Jerusalem to worship in the temple. Now,
there is no temple for anyone to worship in. New Jerusalem is
described as a bride. Certainly, Jerusalem destroyed is like a widow.

     Lamentations 1:2 "She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears
[are] on her cheeks: among all her lovers she hath none to comfort
[her]: all her friends have dealt treacherously with her, they are
become her enemies."

     The "lovers" mentioned in the verse above, are speaking of lands
they had made alliances with, such as Egypt. When Babylon came, there
was no one to help, mainly because it was a judgement from God. God
was considered the husband of Israel. We will get into this teaching
in more detail in the book of Hosea. It is as if God has divorced her,
here.

     Lamentations 1:3 "Judah is gone into captivity because of
affliction, and because of great servitude: she dwelleth among the
heathen, she findeth no rest: all her persecutors overtook her between
the straits."

     We remember, that many of the people fled into the other
surrounding countries, when they knew Babylon was coming. This is
speaking of them. It was not long after Judah was overthrown, that
Babylon went to many of these countries where the Jews had fled, and
overtook them. It seems, the people who fled took their problems with
them. They did not end, when they fled to another country.

     Lamentations 1:4 "The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to
the solemn feasts: all her gates are desolate: her priests sigh, her
virgins are afflicted, and she [is] in bitterness."

     The "ways of Zion" is, probably, speaking of the roads that
people from other countries travelled on to worship at the temple in
Jerusalem. It would be sad to see those roads empty now. There are no
more priests. They are either dead, or in captivity, and there is no
more temple to worship in. Jerusalem had been the center of worship in
this area, and now, this is no more.

     Lamentations 1:5 "Her adversaries are the chief, her enemies
prosper; for the LORD hath afflicted her for the multitude of her
transgressions: her children are gone into captivity before the
enemy."

     In the past, they had been the head, and now they are the tail.
Their enemy, Babylon, has become the head. The enemy prospers, because
of the treasures they had taken from Jerusalem. They even took the
temple treasures.

     Lamentations 1:6 "And from the daughter of Zion all her beauty is
departed: her princes are become like harts [that] find no pasture,
and they are gone without strength before the pursuer."

     The beauty of Jerusalem was in her temple. The beautiful gold,
silver, and brass ornaments were unmatched anywhere.  The city focused
around the beauty of their worship. Zion is, also, the church. We know
that the beauty of the church is in its relationship to God, as well.
Throughout the Bible, we read about the beauty of holiness. This is,
perhaps, what is spoken of here. "The princes like harts" means they
are dissatisfied. They go, and find no place of pasture.

     Lamentations 1:7 "Jerusalem remembered in the days of her
affliction and of her miseries all her pleasant things that she had in
the days of old, when her people fell into the hand of the enemy, and
none did help her: the adversaries saw her, [and] did mock at her
sabbaths."

     One of the things that set Jerusalem and the Jews apart from
everyone else, was her observance of Sabbaths. In the bad times of our
lives, we look back at more pleasant times. They were no different.
Sometimes, something has to be taken away from us, before we truly
appreciate it. They had taken the temple for granted, until they had
it no more. Now, those who had admired the Jews before and had feared
her God, are making fun of her for believing in her God and keeping
Sabbath.

     Lamentations 1:8 "Jerusalem hath grievously sinned; therefore she
is removed: all that honoured her despise her, because they have seen
her nakedness: yea, she sigheth, and turneth backward."

     The people had never feared the Jews. They had feared the Jew's
God. When God took His protection away, they were even weaker than the
nations around them. God blessed them, when they were obedient to Him.
When they disobeyed Him, they were not protected from their enemy.
Their protection was removed, because they were unfaithful to God.

     Lamentations 1:9 "Her filthiness [is] in her skirts; she
remembereth not her last end; therefore she came down wonderfully: she
had no comforter. O LORD, behold my affliction: for the enemy hath
magnified [himself]."

     Her sin was spiritual adultery. Perhaps, that is what is meant
here. The Spirit of God was far removed from her. She was an
adulterous wife to God. The enemy found her unguarded, and took
advantage of it.

     Lamentations 1:10 "The adversary hath spread out his hand upon
all her pleasant things: for she hath seen [that] the heathen entered
into her sanctuary, whom thou didst command [that] they should not
enter into thy congregation."

     The temple was a holy place. The holy of holies was forbidden to
all, but the high priest. The enemy came in, and ravaged the entire
temple including the holy of holies. It meant nothing to them. The
heathen had been forbidden even the holy place, now they have come in,
and ravaged the entire temple.

     Lamentations 1:11 "All her people sigh, they seek bread; they
have given their pleasant things for meat to relieve the soul: see, O
LORD, and consider; for I am become vile."

     In a time of hunger, people will give all they have for a slice
of bread. Their fine things had gone to pay for bread. These sighs
are, probably, sadness for the past that was gone. "Vile", in this
particular instance, means to shake, to quake, to be loose morally, or
worthless.  I believe all of these things are, perhaps, true here.
They would do most anything to live.

     Lamentations 1:12   "[Is it] nothing to you, all ye that pass by?
behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is
done unto me, wherewith the LORD hath afflicted [me] in the day of his
fierce anger."

     Their grief is so great, and it appears no one cares for their
grief. Those who pass by are any who are not citizens. They look in
amazement, but not with sympathy. The terrible despair was partly for
the loss of the presence of God, who had dwelled with them. His
presence had been over the mercy seat in the temple. There was no
question that this problem was a punishment from God. The wrath of God
had been poured out upon them. To be totally separated from God, is as
near as anyone wants to be to hell.

     Lamentations 1:13 "From above hath he sent fire into my bones,
and it prevaileth against them: he hath spread a net for my feet, he
hath turned me back: he hath made me desolate [and] faint all the
day."

     Trouble from God on His people is for a purpose. God wanted them
to repent of their idolatry, and return to worship of the One True
God. When we have troubles {if we are Christians}, God allows them for
a learning process. We must grow in the process. It is hard to learn a
lesson, when things are going great. We usually learn the most
important lessons in the trials of our lives. Sin can feel like fire
in our bones. When we are living in sin, it seems with every step, we
stumble and fall. The best thing to do, is repent and let God handle
it all.

     Lamentations 1:14 "The yoke of my transgressions is bound by his
hand: they are wreathed, [and] come up upon my neck: he hath made my
strength to fall, the Lord hath delivered me into [their] hands, [from
whom] I am not able to rise up."

     Sin is like a yoke that weighs the person, who is sinning down.
Sin is a burden. It is almost too heavy to bear. I love the Scripture
that says, in I Peter 5:7 "Casting all your care upon him; for he
careth for you."  Sin seems to be like a heavy weight worn on the
shoulders like a yoke. Nebuchadnezzar for them, or Satan for us, would
be terrible hands to fall into.

     Lamentations 1:15 "The Lord hath trodden under foot all my mighty
[men] in the midst of me: he hath called an assembly against me to
crush my young men: the Lord hath trodden the virgin, the daughter of
Judah, [as] in a winepress."

     We see another Scripture about the winepress of the wrath of God.
Revelation 14:19 "And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth,
and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast [it] into the great
winepress of the wrath of God". God's people are spoken of many times
as His vineyard. He is the husbandman. The cutting off of the young
and old, is because they are ruined. They are spoiled grapes. What God
intended for good, has gone bad. Judah is no longer a virgin, they
have been unfaithful to God.

     Lamentations 1:16 "For these [things] I weep; mine eye, mine eye
runneth down with water, because the comforter that should relieve my
soul is far from me: my children are desolate, because the enemy
prevailed."

     Jeremiah is, again, weeping for the people of God, and for the
city of God which God caused to be destroyed. God is crying, too.
Nothing makes a parent more sad than to have to severely punish their
children for their sins.

     Lamentations 1:17 "Zion spreadeth forth her hands, [and there is]
none to comfort her: the LORD hath commanded concerning Jacob, [that]
his adversaries [should be] round about him: Jerusalem is as a
menstruous woman among them."

     "Spreadeth forth her hands" is reaching out to God for help, but
they waited too late to reach out. God has turned His back. Jerusalem
is a spectacle before Her neighbors, she is helpless as a woman.

     Lamentations 1:18  "The LORD is righteous; for I have rebelled
against his commandment: hear, I pray you, all people, and behold my
sorrow: my virgins and my young men are gone into captivity."

     Jeremiah admits the judgement that God has spoken on Judah, and
even on His beloved Jerusalem, is righteous judgement. Disobedience to
God brings His wrath. Jeremiah cautions others to listen to their
warnings, and not commit this sin. He continues to show them the
punishment for disobeying God.

     Lamentations 1:19 "I called for my lovers, [but] they deceived
me: my priests and mine elders gave up the ghost in the city, while
they sought their meat to relieve their souls."

     We mentioned lovers, here, are those like Egypt who had an
agreement to help them, and did not. The priests and the elders
suffered from the famine, and then died {gave up the ghost}. They have
no special privileges in war.

     Lamentations 1:20 "Behold, O LORD; for I [am] in distress: my
bowels are troubled; mine heart is turned within me; for I have
grievously rebelled: abroad the sword bereaveth, at home [there is] as
death."

     The grief that Jeremiah is feeling is almost unbearable. The
devastation is so great, that Jeremiah is sick to his stomach. His
heart is about to break into. Death is everywhere.

     Lamentations 1:21 "They have heard that I sigh: [there is] none
to comfort me: all mine enemies have heard of my trouble; they are
glad that thou hast done [it]: thou wilt bring the day [that] thou
hast called, and they shall be like unto me."

     In some of this, Jeremiah is grieving as if he were the city and
its people. The enemy is glad of the downfall of Jerusalem. They are
actually rejoicing in the calamity of others. All of the other
countries had been jealous of Israel, because of Israel's God. The day
will come, when God will take vengeance on the enemy for this very
act.

     Lamentations 1:22 "Let all their wickedness come before thee; and
do unto them, as thou hast done unto me for all my transgressions: for
my sighs [are] many, and my heart [is] faint."

     Babylon was an evil country. They worshipped false gods  and they
were not innocent of sin. The prophet, here, asks for God to judge
Babylon for their sins. It is not that he wants them to suffer for
doing God's will in destroying Jerusalem. He just wants God to judge
them equally for their sin. He is grieved greatly.





                         Lamentations 1 Questions


1.  Who is Lamentations a funeral for?
2.  Who is Lamentations by?
3.  This book shows Jeremiah as the ___________ prophet.
4.  What time does this cover?
5.  Who does Jeremiah try to repent for?
6.  What is the city compared to in verse 1?
7.  New Jerusalem is described as a _________.
8.  Who are the "lovers" of verse 2?
9.  _____ was considered the husband of Israel.
10. What is the "ways of Zion" speaking of?
11. _________ had been the center of worship in this area.
12. They had been the head, and now they are the _______.
13. Who had become the head?
14. The beauty of Jerusalem was in her __________.
15. The beauty of the church is in its ____________ with God.
16. What was one thing that set Jerusalem and the Jews apart from
    everyone else?
17. They had taken the temple for granted, until when?
18. Why was Jerusalem removed?
19. What was her sin?
20. What does verse 10 tell us was ravaged?
21. In a time of hunger, people will give all that they have for a
    _________ of _________.
22. To be totally separated from God, is as near as anyone wants to be
    to _______.
23. Why does God allow troubles to come on the Christians?
24. What is sin compared to in verse 14?
25. Quote 1 Peter chapter 5 verse 7.
26. Quote Revelation chapter 14 verse 19.
27. What is Jeremiah weeping for in verse 16?
28. What does "spreadeth forth her hands" speak of?
29. What does Jeremiah admit about the judgement of God on Jerusalem?
30. What physical condition does all this bring on Jeremiah?
31. In verse 21, Jeremiah is grieving, as if he were the _______.
32. What is Jeremiah asking God for in verse 22?