Jeremiah Lamentations 49 Remember O Lord Lamentations 4

Jeremiah & Lamentations #49 – Remember, O Lord Lamentations 4 -5

Lamentations 4 What has happened to Jerusalem? Who is responsible? What is the hope, if any?

I. Then and Now (4: 1 -11) • Contrasting past and present in Zion: • • • Gold contaminated; precious gems thrown away (1) Sons of Zion ( > gold) are like clay pots (2) Women now cruel, neglecting their young (3 -4) Royal children lying in the streets (5) Fair-skinned nobles are shriveled and starving (7 -9) Compassionate women boil their own children (10) • Why? • Iniquity worse than Sodom (7 -9) • God accomplishing His wrath (11)

II. Punishment of Iniquity (4: 12 -22) • Fall of Jerusalem a wonder to kings. (12) • Who’s responsible? Priests and prophets. • They’ve shed the blood of the innocent. (13) • They are lost and unclean. (14 -15) • They are rejected and scattered. (15 -16) • People left helpless—other nations and God’s anointed king could not protect them from the pursuing enemy. (17 -20) • Edom rejoices, but Zion’s exile will end; Edom will be exposed & punished. (21 -22)

The Book of Lamentations Chapter 1 22 verse acrostic, one verse for each Hebrew letter Chapter 2 22 verse acrostic, one verse for each Hebrew letter Chapter 3 66 verse acrostic, three verses for each letter Chapter 4 22 verse acrostic, one verse for each Hebrew letter Chapter 5 22 verse poem, no acrostic pattern

Lamentations 5 Can you feel the pain of the people? How should we interpret this final poem in light of the other four?

III. Look and See (5: 1 -18) • Call to God: Remember! Look and see! (1) • They are outcasts, orphans, widows, slaves, and fugitives in their own land. (2 -10) • This is the burden of generational sin. (2 -10) • Everyone suffers; all joy is shattered. (11 -16) • They confess: We have sinned! And as a result, life is wasting away. (16 -18)

IV. Why Do You Forget Us? (5: 1922) A final plea: • Jehovah, you reign forever. (19) • Why do you forget, forsake us forever? (20) • Restore us to You! (21) • Unless you’ve rejected us completely. (22)

Jeremiah & Lamentations #49 – Remember, O Lord Next up: Review – The Big One

Historical Context of Jeremiah (Review) Jereboa m Ahab Assyrian Israel (Northern) Captivity Israel (United Kingdom) Judah (Southern) Saul David Solomon Hezekia h Josiah = Jeremiah Return Babylonia n Captivity

King Josiah and sons (Review) Last good king. Goes out to stop Pharaoh, gets killed. Josiah (640 – 609 BC) Jehoaha z (609 BC) Removed Jehoiakim (609 – 598 BC) by Pharaoh Instated by Pharaoh *First wave of captives* Nebuchadnezzar besieges. Zedekiah (597 – 586 BC) wave/ *Third destruction* Jehoiachi n (597 BC) Lineage of Christ

• “forsaken me, the Fountai _____ of living waters, and hewed n Cistern out for themselves broken _____. ” (2: 13) s • Lightly “They have healed the wound of my people ______, “Peace, saying, __________, when there is no peace. ” Peace!” (6: 14) • restancient yourwalk soul for paths, “Look for the in the good way, and you s will find ______ _______. ” (6: 16) • Den of house, Robbers “Has this which is called by my name, become a ___________ in your sight? ” (7: 12)

• trusts “Blessed is the man who _____ in the Lord. . . He will Tree planted by the water be like a ________________. ” (17: 7 -8) • deceitful The heart is more ______ than all else and is sick desperately ____. ” (17: 9) • Branc I will raise up for David a _____ ; He will reign as h righteousnes king and act wisely and justice do ______ & s ________ (23: 5) • sevent This whole land will be a desolation and a horror, and y these nations will serve the king of Babylon _____

• wrath Take this cup of wine of ____ from my hand causenations all the ______ where I send you to drink it. (25: 15) • welfare hope I know the plans I have for you, plans for _____ and not for calamity to give you a future and a ____. restore (29: 11) fortunes • Behold, days are coming, when I will _______ the covenan ________ of my people Israel and Judah. ” (30: 3) t covenant • Behold, days are coming, when I will make a new

What is the prophet’s purpose? • Interpret history. • Enforce covenants. • Declare future events.

Themes in the Prophets Rebellion Repentanc e Retribution = Jeremiah Restoration