LAMENTATIONS
The Introduction
The Book of Lamentations is a mournful post-script to The Book of Jeremiah. The author grieved over the fate of Jerusalem because of her sin.
The Authorship
The author remains unknown; but, The Septuagint, The Aramaic Targum of Jonathan, The Babylonian Talmud, The Peshitta, and The Latin Vulgate all attribute the works to Jeremiah.
The Date
Assuming that Jeremiah was the author of the book, the book itself must have been composed within a narrow period of time. Jeremiah would have penned the poetic dirges after Jerusalem fell to Babylon in 586 B.C.
Lamentations: Relationship to Deuteronomy 28
A crucial, though often overlooked, characteristic of Lamentations is the relationship to Deuteronomy 28.
“The author of The Book of Lamentations was attempting to show the fulfillment of the curses presented in Deuteronomy 28” (John A. Martin, “The Contribution of The Book of Lamentations to Salvation History”, Dallas Theological Seminary, 1975, pg. 44)
“The author of The Book of Lamentations was attempting to show the fulfillment of the curses presented in Deuteronomy 28” (John A. Martin, “The Contribution of The Book of Lamentations to Salvation History”, Dallas Theological Seminary, 1975, pg. 44)
Structure / Style
1.) Lament pattern – a funeral poem or song written and recited for someone who had just died.
2.) Acrostic arrangement – a composition in which the first word of each sentence or line, when taken in order, forms a word, a connected group of words, or the regular sequence of the letters of the alphabet.
3.) Structural balance – Chapters 1 and 2 / 4 and 5 parallel each other and are arranged in a chiasm pattern
2.) Acrostic arrangement – a composition in which the first word of each sentence or line, when taken in order, forms a word, a connected group of words, or the regular sequence of the letters of the alphabet.
3.) Structural balance – Chapters 1 and 2 / 4 and 5 parallel each other and are arranged in a chiasm pattern
The Outline (Bible Knowledge Commentary on The Old Testament - Walvoord, Zuck, Cook)
Pt 1: 1st Dirge – Jerusalem’s Desolation because of Her Sin (Lam. 1)
A) Jeremiah’s Lament over Jerusalem’s Desolation (1:1 – 11)
B) Jerusalem’s plea for mercy (1:12 – 22)
Pt 2: 2nd Dirge – God’s Punishment of Jerusalem’s Sin (Lam. 2)
A) God’s anger (2:1 – 10)
B) Jeremiah’s grief (2:11 – 19)
C) Jerusalem’s plea (2:20 – 22)
Pt 3: 3rd Dirge – Jeremiah’s Response (Lam. 3)
A) Jeremiah’s afflictions (3:1 – 18)
B) Jeremiah’s hope (3:19 – 40)
C) Jeremiah’s prayer (3:41 – 66)
Pt 4: 4th Dirge – The Lord’s Anger (Lam. 4)
A) Contrast before and after the siege (4:1 – 11)
B) Causes for the siege (4:12 – 20)
C) Call for vindication (4:21 – 22)
Pt 5: 5th Dirge – The Remnant’s Response (Lam. 5)
A) The Remnant’s prayer for remembrance (5:1 – 18)
B) The Remnant’s prayer for restoration (5:19 – 22)
A) Jeremiah’s Lament over Jerusalem’s Desolation (1:1 – 11)
B) Jerusalem’s plea for mercy (1:12 – 22)
Pt 2: 2nd Dirge – God’s Punishment of Jerusalem’s Sin (Lam. 2)
A) God’s anger (2:1 – 10)
B) Jeremiah’s grief (2:11 – 19)
C) Jerusalem’s plea (2:20 – 22)
Pt 3: 3rd Dirge – Jeremiah’s Response (Lam. 3)
A) Jeremiah’s afflictions (3:1 – 18)
B) Jeremiah’s hope (3:19 – 40)
C) Jeremiah’s prayer (3:41 – 66)
Pt 4: 4th Dirge – The Lord’s Anger (Lam. 4)
A) Contrast before and after the siege (4:1 – 11)
B) Causes for the siege (4:12 – 20)
C) Call for vindication (4:21 – 22)
Pt 5: 5th Dirge – The Remnant’s Response (Lam. 5)
A) The Remnant’s prayer for remembrance (5:1 – 18)
B) The Remnant’s prayer for restoration (5:19 – 22)