Daily reading
Today’s reading is: Lam. 1-4
Video
Lamentations Chapter One
- Chapter 1 is an acrostic poem, 22 verses long, each verse beginning with successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The alphabetical order matches Ps. 119 & Prov. 31
- Jeremiah describes fallen Jerusalem in the 3rd person (Lam. 1:1-11).
- Jeremiah speaks as fallen Jerusalem in the 1st person (Lam. 1:12-22).
- Six times in this chapter the word “adversary” occurs (Lam. 1:5x2,7x2,10,17). צַר tsar #6862.
- Five times in this chapter the verb “to comfort” occurs (Lam. 1:2,9,16,17,21). נָחַם nācham #5162.
- Chapter 1 has lamentations without any positive note of encouragement.
Lamentations Chapter Two
- Chapter 2 is an acrostic poem, 22 verses long, each verse beginning with successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The alphabetical order is the Aramaic order which transposes ע & פּ.
- Chapter 2 highlights the work of the Lord in destroying Jerusalem. It wasn’t Babylon who did this—it was the Lord Himself.
- Jeremiah endured the destruction of Jerusalem like Jesus Christ endured the suffering of the cross (Lam. 2:11; Jn. 12:27).
- Chapter 2 has lamentations without any positive note of encouragement. The closest Jeremiah comes to praising the Lord is to declare the Lord’s unwavering commitment to His own Word (Lam. 2:17).
Lamentations Chapter Three
- Chapter 3 is an acrostic poem, 66 verses long, 3 verses each beginning with successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The alphabetical order is the Aramaic order which transposes ע & פּ.
- Chapter 3 is “all about me.” Jeremiah describes all the awful things the Lord has done to him personally.
- Jeremiah surpassed even Job to become the most persecuted believer in the history of the world up to this point (Lam. 3:1-18(א,בּ,גּ,דּ,ה,ו)).
- Even as his lamentations reached a crescendo, the Word of God in Jeremiah’s heart placed everything back into proper perspective (Lam. 3:19-39(ז,ח,ט,י,כּ,ל,מ)).
- A foundation in the Word of God is vital for the believer to have Doctrine available for use in testing (vv.19-21).
- The Lord’s lovingkindnesses חֲסָדִים chasādiym #2617 and compassions רַחֲמִים rachamiym #7356 are infinitely expressed towards His children (v.22).
- Every morning the believer wakes up and testifies to the Lord’s faithfulness אֱמוּנָה ’emuwnāh #530.
- The Lord is good to those who wait for Him (Lam. 3:25-26; Nah. 1:7; Rom. 8:28).
- All living mortals must place their own worthlessness on the scales when they begin to think that the Lord is being unfair towards them (v.39).
- With God’s perspective, a believer learns to examine himself during times of undeserved suffering and/or divine discipline (Lam. 3:40-48 (נ,ס,פּ)).
6. With God’s perspective, a believer learns to grieve, but not as the rest who have no hope (Lam. 3:49-66 (ע,צ,ק,ר,שׁ,תּ); 1st Thess. 4:13).
Lamentations Chapter Four
- Chapter 4 is an acrostic poem, 22 verses long, each verse beginning with successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The alphabetical order is the Aramaic order which transposes ע & פּ.
- Chapter 4 focuses on the contrast between then and now. Believers cannot dwell on what used to be, but must observe what is, and what will be in the Lord’s faithfulness (Lam. 4:1-10).
- Believers will be an example for unbelievers to learn from: either a positive example of blessing for obedience, or a negative example of divine discipline for disobedience (Lam. 4:11-20).
- The fall of a believer into sin and judgment will be a time of rejoicing for the unbeliever, but that unbeliever (represented by Edom) better beware (Lam. 4:21-22).