Old Testament Survey
Lesson 27Lamentations
We continue our survey of the Old Testament by taking a look at the book of Lamentations, written by Jeremiah, the "weeping prophet". During the last days of the Southern Kingdom, just prior to the fall of that kingdom in 586 BC, Jeremiah warned of the coming judgment previously foretold by the Prophet Isaiah. Now Jeremiah mourns the fall of Jerusalem and the effects of sin on the people of Israel, as God’s judgment is carried out.
As we learned in Lesson 5 of our study, siege warfare was long and brutal, as the attacking army surrounds the city walls and cuts off its source of water and supplies until the population within the city either dies of starvation or becomes completely incapable of defending itself. As we noted in the previous lesson, Jeremiah witnessed this firsthand, as the Babylonian army laid siege to Jerusalem for thirty months until the city and the kingdom fell in October of 586 BC.
In this lesson, rather than look at the effects of that siege and God’s judgment on the people of Israel, I would like us to take a more contemporary look at this book as it relates to us as followers of Christ. What does it tell us about our need to repent of our sins and to hold our country accountable to God’s standards—or face judgment? What can we learn about our own lives and the country we live in today through the lessons that God’s chosen people learned back then? Let’s pray that God will open our eyes and hearts during our study of this powerful and insightful book.
Read the five chapters of Lamentations. As you read through the book, try reading the word "Christ" in the place of the word "Jehovah" or "LORD", and see if this enables you to understand the ways in which these passages would apply to us today. Then consider the following:
- Read Chapter 5, and list some of the effects that a nation and a people who live a life of sin, injustice, and rebellion against God bring on themselves.
- In Chapter 5, who does Jeremiah call out as the only hope of the fallen? (see Lam. 5:21)
- In accordance with the instructions above, what would our "contemporary" reading of Lamentations 3:22 tell us today? What does it tell us about Christ?
- We have hope in the Lord, even in great times of trial. What does Jeremiah tell us in Chapter 3 regarding this hope? (see Lam. 3:21-26)
Let’s pray this week for God to show us the sin in our lives that we need to repent of. Additionally, let’s begin to pray in a mighty way for the leadership in our church and in our nation, praying that in all that we and they do, we follow God.
When we adopt a lifestyle of self-dependence, of reliance on other gods and sources of strength apart from God, we sin greatly. We can easily slide into a lifestyle and way of thinking that runs counter to God’s will; one that fools us into thinking we do not need God, or that He is somehow not aware of our actions. Clearly, however, God is always aware. He sees and knows all that we do and think; and we as individuals, and as a nation, will be judged for it.
Finally, let’s commit this week to "wait quietly" for the salvation of the Lord, and not to become dependent on ourselves or others for our salvation. God is very much on His throne, and seated to his right is Christ Jesus, the coming Messiah. Surely, He is worthy of our commitment to put all of our hope and faith in Him, as our one-and-only true Savior.
Thanks for studying with us. Have a great week everyone!
In Christ,
Wes
[2021]