LAMENTATIONS LESSON 5
We will begin this lesson in Lamentations 4:1 "How is the gold
become dim! [how] is the most fine gold changed! the stones of the
sanctuary are poured out in the top of every street."
Jeremiah is heartsick over the destruction of the temple. We know
from our lessons in Jeremiah, that the temple was ravaged and burned.
The precious metal, and everything they could take loose, they took to
Babylon. This cry of Jeremiah may not be accurate in every detail, but
is what has happened to the temple in his heart. The fullest statement
is, "The precious temple with all of its beauty is gone"
Lamentations 4:2 "The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine
gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands
of the potter!"
God's people are thought of as precious sons. This is speaking of
not just the priests and high priest, but of all of God's children.
This was the greatest loss of all. Those who are fit for God's kingdom
are spoken of as being like fine gold, tried in the fire, and made
pure. They have been poured out on the street here. There are dead
everywhere. These children are God's creation. He is the potter, they
are the clay. They had been a beautiful vessel to honor, now they are
crushed by their terrible fall into spiritual adultery.
Lamentations 4:3 "Even the sea monsters draw out the breast, they
give suck to their young ones: the daughter of my people [is become]
cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness."
This speaks vividly of the extent of the famine in the land. It
is natural for a mother to feed a baby, whether it is a sea monster,
or any other being. This is not a natural thing that is going on in
Jerusalem. These had been God's children. We must remember that God
did not cause this, their sin caused this calamity.
Lamentations 4:4 "The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the
roof of his mouth for thirst: the young children ask bread, [and] no
man breaketh [it] unto them."
Children suffer the most in a famine. Throughout history famine
has been one way God has dealt with those who worship false gods. If
there is no bread, there is no way to give the children bread.
Lamentations 4:5 "They that did feed delicately are desolate in
the streets: they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills."
The Israelites had lived prosperous lives, and had plenty of all
the foodstuff to eat. They had eaten delicate food, because there was
an abundance of food. Now, they are out in the street with no food at
all. "Scarlet" was a very expensive material. This just shows that
they lived above their neighbors. This was a land of plenty.
Lamentations 4:6 "For the punishment of the iniquity of the
daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of
Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on
her."
There are worse things than instant death. Sodom had been
destroyed with fire and brimstone falling from heaven. It was totally
destroyed in one day. The punishment for Jerusalem and Judah went on
for years. The actual fighting in Jerusalem took about 18 months. The
famine was a slower death, which took the lives of even the innocent
babies. Judah was in captivity 70 years. God's anger was not soon
cooled. They had grieved Him greatly with their false gods.
Lamentations 4:7 "Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were
whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their
polishing [was] of sapphire:"
Nazarites were those who separated themselves out and prayed.
They were supposed to be closer to the will of God because of these
vows they took. They would let their hair grow long, until the vow was
over, and then cut it and sacrifice it in the temple. White symbolizes
righteousness. To be as white as this speaks of, would mean they were
holy before the LORD. The "sapphire" is a brilliant stone and the
"ruby" is, as well. This is, probably, speaking of the light of God
that shone forth from them.
Lamentations 4:8 "Their visage is blacker than a coal; they are
not known in the streets: their skin cleaveth to their bones; it is
withered, it is become like a stick."
Visage, in this particular place, is speaking of their beauty, or
figure of appearance. This just means their purity and beauty in God
is gone. They are black. It appears, they are among the starving. They
have become so thin, they look like a stick.
Lamentations 4:9 "[They that be] slain with the sword are better
than [they that be] slain with hunger: for these pine away, stricken
through for [want of] the fruits of the field."
At least, a death with the sword comes quickly. Those who die
from lack of food suffer for months, before they finally die. The
worst part of this famine is the fact that the fields had been so
fruitful before. The memory is almost as bad as the actual starvation.
Lamentations 4:10 "The hands of the pitiful women have sodden
their own children: they were their meat in the destruction of the
daughter of my people."
The natural thing for a mother to do was to protect her children
in the face of every danger. It is hard for me to understand them
eating their own children, but this is what this verse says. This is
morally wrong, as well as being so unnatural to the flesh.
Lamentations 4:11 "The LORD hath accomplished his fury; he hath
poured out his fierce anger, and hath kindled a fire in Zion, and it
hath devoured the foundations thereof."
This fierce anger of the LORD is much worse than an attack by the
devil. When the devil attacks, you can call out for help from God.
There is no one to cry out to for help in this. God has closed the
door of communication with His people. The temple, the city, and the
country have been totally destroyed by God. Zion was the foundation of
the religion of the world. It is gone. Perhaps, making the way for the
grace of God to take over.
Lamentations 4:12 "The kings of the earth, and all the
inhabitants of the world, would not have believed that the adversary
and the enemy should have entered into the gates of Jerusalem."
Jerusalem had been God's holy city. No one would ever have
believed that God would have allowed the destruction of Jerusalem.
Lamentations 4:13 "For the sins of her prophets, [and] the
iniquities of her priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the
midst of her,"
The greatest blame for all of this must be laid at the feet of
the false prophets and the priests. Instead of them being above sin
and bringing the people out of false worship, they were involved in it
themselves. They were the leaders. When the leaders are blind, the
whole country falls into the ditch with them. We must carefully choose
who we will follow. Christians need to learn the Word of God for
themselves, so they can try the spirits, and see whether they be of
God, or not. There are many false prophets in our land today. Those
who do not lead wholesome lives, should not be leading others.
Lamentations 4:14 "They have wandered [as] blind [men] in the
streets, they have polluted themselves with blood, so that men could
not touch their garments."
I believe this is speaking of the prophets and the priests being
spiritually blind. To know the Word of God, as they should have, and
still be blind, is hard to understand. The truth is that many times
leaders, such as these, get too involved in the technical side of
ministry, and do not spend enough time in God's Word. These priests
and prophets had shed innocent blood. That is why they are polluted
with it. They had abused the office of priest and prophet.
Lamentations 4:15 "They cried unto them, Depart ye; [it is]
unclean; depart, depart, touch not: when they fled away and wandered,
they said among the heathen, They shall no more sojourn [there]."
The people are crying out of the uncleanness of these prophets
and priests. They had prophesied lies. Their sins were like leprosy.
The person, who touched them, might be infected with their sins. This
is why the cry went out. They were no more welcome in Jerusalem.
Lamentations 4:16 "The anger of the LORD hath divided them; he
will no more regard them: they respected not the persons of the
priests, they favoured not the elders."
This is speaking of some being killed, some taken captive to
Babylon, and some remaining behind. Showing no respect has to do with
a rebellious people.
Lamentations 4:17 "As for us, our eyes as yet failed for our vain
help: in our watching we have watched for a nation [that] could not
save [us]."
God had warned His people not to look for the world {Egypt} for
help. Their help was in the Lord. The arm of flesh is not a help. The
Right Hand of God is their very present help. They had abandoned God
for the world.
Lamentations 4:18 "They hunt our steps, that we cannot go in our
streets: our end is near, our days are fulfilled; for our end is
come."
This is explaining that there is no way to hide from this
destruction. All hope is gone. They believe death is near.
Lamentations 4:19 "Our persecutors are swifter than the eagles of
the heaven: they pursued us upon the mountains, they laid wait for us
in the wilderness."
It did not help to run, as the king found out. The enemy pursued,
and caught them in the open field, and on the mountains. {Be sure your
sin will find you out}. You cannot run from sin. You must repent, and
be cleansed from it. The one thing all of this happened for, was to
get them to repent.
Lamentations 4:20 "The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of
the LORD, was taken in their pits, of whom we said, Under his shadow
we shall live among the heathen."
Breath and life are interchangeable. They mean the same thing.
They are speaking of God's family, when they speak of the anointed of
the LORD. It could, also, be meaning their king, Zedekiah. They
thought, perhaps, the king of Babylon would let them have one of their
own leaders in Babylon.
Lamentations 4:21 "Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, that
dwellest in the land of Uz; the cup also shall pass through unto thee:
thou shalt be drunken, and shalt make thyself naked."
This is a sarcastic remark to Edom. They better enjoy the defeat
of Judah while they can. Soon they will be attacked too, and left
naked.
Lamentations 4:22 "The punishment of thine iniquity is
accomplished, O daughter of Zion; he will no more carry thee away into
captivity: he will visit thine iniquity, O daughter of Edom; he will
discover thy sins."
It appears from this, the punishment of Judah and Jerusalem is
over. God will no longer carry her into captivity. Edom will soon be
judged of God for her iniquities, and will suffer as did their
neighbor, Judah. We said before, that Judgement begins at the house of
God, but it does not overlook the sins of others. They will feel the
judgement of God, as did God's own people.
Our world today is guilty of many of the sins mentioned here.
Church, God begins with us. We must repent and turn to God today,
while we still can. Just as God's wrath came down on the people here,
there is a day of wrath waiting in the wings now. We must open our ear
of our spirit, and learn from these people's mistakes. God is love,
but He is, also, Judge.
Lamentations 5 Questions
1. What was Jeremiah heartsick about?
2. What happened to the temple?
3. Who are the precious sons of Zion?
4. Those who are fit for God's kingdom are spoken of, as being like
_______ _______.
5. They had been a beautiful vessel of ________.
6. Now, they are crushed by their terrible ______.
7. What is verse 3 speaking vividly of?
8. Who caused this calamity?
9. Who suffer the most in a famine?
10. How had the Israelites eaten before this famine started?
11. What does the "scarlet" show us?
12. The punishment of Jerusalem was greater, than the punishment of
________.
13. What was the difference?
14. How many years was Judah in captivity?
15. Who were Nazarites?
16. What do the "sapphire" and "ruby" mentioned in verse 7, mean?
17. What does "visage" mean?
18. They have become so thin, they look like a _______.
19. They that be slain with the sword are better, than they that be
slain with _________.
20. What terrible thing is verse 10 telling of?
21. Why is an attack from God worse than an attack from the devil?
22. Who should bear the greatest blame?
23. The priests and prophets were called as _______ men in verse 14.
24. What had divided them?
25. Who had Judah looked to for help, instead of God?
26. Breath and _______ are interchangeable.
27. Who rejoiced in Judah's destruction?
28. What lesson can we receive from this?
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