The Book as a
Whole
Introduction
Acts 14:22 is a profound lesson which believers of all ages
must learn:
"We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of
God."
Nowhere is this tribulation more evident than in this book of
sorrows: Jeremiah's Lamentations.
"In the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month, which is the nineteenth
year of King Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, came Nebuzaradan, captain of the
guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, unto Jerusalem: And he burnt the house
of the LORD, and the king's house, and all the houses of Jerusalem, and every
great man's house burnt he with fire. And all the army of the Chaldees, that
were with the captain of the guard, brake down the walls of Jerusalem round
about. Now the rest of the people that were left in the city, and the fugitives
that fell away to the king of Babylon, with the remnant of the multitude, did
Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carry away. But the captain of the guard
left of the poor of the land to be vinedressers and husbandmen" (2Ki
25:8-12).
In this excerpt from Kings are presented the facts
regarding the captivity and complete overthrow of the "kingdom of God over
Israel (Judah)"; in Lamentations we are presented with the significance of these
facts. We see not only the extremes of physical anguish and mental frustration,
but the spiritual significance of the fall of God's city -- for in a
sense, we are presented with cause and effect. The sins of the people,
nationally, bring about the fall of the city and the nation. The city itself,
once "the perfection of beauty" (Psa 50:2) and "the joy of the whole earth" (Psa
48:2), is fallen -- from being full of people to being solitary; from princess
to tributary; from greatness to widowhood. Gone are the walls and towers,
symbols of God's protection. Gone are the priests, and with them the festive and
solemn worship. Gone are the prophets and with them the visions and the living
word of God -- all are in captivity. The land suffers the "sabbath", or
cessation, of the glory of God in full Temple manifestation.
The book of Lamentations is the expression of an almost
inexpressible grief. It is portrayed in a first person manner, perhaps initially
for the benefit of the survivors. Men live on best after a calamity, not by
avoiding the circumstance or repressing their shock or grief, but by facing
reality, and learning from the experience. This book contains tremendous sadness
and grief, but also it offers hope from lessons learned; hope and dependence on
Him Who will save; hope in affliction.
In this book we see confession. "If we confess our sins, He is
faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness" (1Jo 1:9). Jeremiah does not record excuses for his nation or
to evade responsibility for the consequences he witnessed because he is not
recording his own feelings but is recording by inspiration what the Spirit
wanted. Yahweh had consumed Israel because Israel had turned from Him,
disregarding the warnings of those He had sent to turn them from their
destructive course.
In the very center of this book is an expression of hope. Not
speedy hope; not hope based upon any right of Israel; not encouragement based
upon the past -- it is rather a conditional hope. In the central chapter
is seen an unnamed individual, a sufferer who has survived. True, it is
God who brings about the affliction -- but His motive is a righteous one. God
has done this for the ultimate greater good of the individual and of the
righteous remnant. The godly survivors understand and appreciate this
motive:
"For the Lord will not cast off for ever: But though He cause grief, yet will
He have compassion according to the multitude of His mercies. For He doth not
afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men... Let us search and try our
ways, and turn again to the LORD" (Lam 3:31-33, 40).
With this in mind let us turn to the book of the "man of
affliction."