LAMENTATIONS—NOTE ON LAMENTATIONS 5:1 Restore Us to Yourself, O Lord. This concluding chapter is the community’s plea for restoration. It includes an opening petition (v. Lamentations 5:1), a description of the problems the people have faced (vv. Lamentations 5:2), and an urgent plea for a restored... [ Continue Reading ]
LAMENTATIONS—NOTE ON LAMENTATIONS 5:2 OUR INHERITANCE. The Promised Land, which was the physical evidence of Israel’s relationship with God (Deuteronomy 4:21, Deuteronomy 4:38). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
LAMENTATIONS—NOTE ON LAMENTATIONS 5:5 PURSUERS. Probably persons to whom they owe money, or the foreign officers who rule over them. ARE AT OUR NECKS. Always desiring either payment or more work. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
LAMENTATIONS—NOTE ON LAMENTATIONS 5:7 Past mistakes (v. Lamentations 5:6) have led to terrible present realities. Though the Lord does not condemn people for others’ sins (see Jeremiah 31:29; Ezekiel 18:2), they can certainly suffer because of what others have done. It is also sadly possible to sin... [ Continue Reading ]
LAMENTATIONS—NOTE ON LAMENTATIONS 5:9 SWORD. A metaphor for thieves (2 Kings 13:20) or famine (Deuteronomy 28:22). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
LAMENTATIONS—NOTE ON LAMENTATIONS 5:12 PRINCES. Or “officials.” HUNG UP BY THEIR HANDS. Most likely for execution (see Genesis 40:19; Esther 2:23), perhaps by Babylon’s servants to discourage rebellion. ELDERS. See Lamentations 1:19; Lamentations 2:10;... [ Continue Reading ]
LAMENTATIONS—NOTE ON LAMENTATIONS 5:14 OLD MEN. Civic leaders. HAVE LEFT THE CITY GATE. They no longer sat where decisions were made and business was conducted. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
LAMENTATIONS—NOTE ON LAMENTATIONS 5:16 THE CROWN HAS FALLEN. The Davidic king (Lamentations 4:20) and Jerusalem were considered crowning glories (see Jeremiah 13:18). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
LAMENTATIONS—NOTE ON LAMENTATIONS 5:19 The book closes with a plea for renewal. The people confess God’s eternal nature and kingship (v. Lamentations 5:19), regret their ongoing suffering (v. Lamentations 5:20), ask for renewal (v. Lamentations 5:21), and wonder when renewal will come, given God’s u... [ Continue Reading ]
LAMENTATIONS—NOTE ON LAMENTATIONS 5:21 RESTORE US. Restoration depends on a right relationship with God (Jeremiah 31:18), and only God can do the restoring. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]