Text: Lamentations 5 (NKJV)
1 Remember, O LORD, what has come upon us;
Look, and behold our reproach!
2 Our inheritance has been turned over to aliens,
And our houses to foreigners.
3 We have become orphans and waifs,
Our mothers are like widows.
4 We pay for the water we drink,
And our wood comes at a price.
5 They pursue at our heels;
We labor and have no rest.
6 We have given our hand to the Egyptians
And the Assyrians, to be satisfied with bread.
7 Our fathers sinned and are no more,
But we bear their iniquities.
8 Servants rule over us;
There is none to deliver us from their hand.
9 We get our bread at the risk of our lives,
Because of the sword in the wilderness.
10 Our skin is hot as an oven,
Because of the fever of famine.
11 They ravished the women in Zion,
The maidens in the cities of Judah.
12 Princes were hung up by their hands,
And elders were not respected.
13 Young men ground at the millstones;
Boys staggered under loads of wood.
14 The elders have ceased gathering at the gate,
And the young men from their music.
15 The joy of our heart has ceased;
Our dance has turned into mourning.
16 The crown has fallen from our head.
Woe to us, for we have sinned!
17 Because of this our heart is faint;
Because of these things our eyes grow dim;
18 Because of Mount Zion which is desolate,
With foxes walking about on it.
19 You, O LORD, remain forever;
Your throne from generation to generation.
20 Why do You forget us forever,
And forsake us for so long a time?
21 Turn us back to You, O LORD, and we will be restored;
Renew our days as of old,
22 Unless You have utterly rejected us,
And are very angry with us!
Devotional Thoughts and Commentary:
These 22 verses differ in meter and style from the previous sections of poetry. This is a prayer of the prophet, Jeremiah, to the Lord. As we consider that, we must remember that, at its core, prayer both teaches and has its basis in dependence on God. One of the most important things about prayer and reasons why God commands it for us (c.f. 1 Thessalonians 5:17) is that it is an act of total helplessness. When we call to God for help, we acknowledge that we need it. When we thank Him for who He is and what He has done, we acknowledge that He is God and alone is worthy of our prayers. Jeremiah here reflects the helplessness of man, specifically of the people of Judah / Jerusalem, with this prayer for mercy from God and His deliverance.
Considering the terms Jeremiah introduced the inhabitants of Jerusalem with at the start of the book ("great" and "princess"), we see just how far she has fallen. Now only a collection of slaves, they have lost everything. Hopelessness has caused them to turn to God for restoration. Verses 1 through the first half of 16 remind the people of their dire straits; however, a hopeful tone comes back to finish out the book in the latter half of verse 16.
By acknowledging their sin (verse 16), Judah shifts their paradigm. No longer are they living the high life on their own strength and that of their political allies; rather, they are broken before God. My mind turns to the well known story of the "Prodigal Son" in the New Testament. The story in Luke 15:11-32 tells of a privileged son who takes his inheritance while his father is healthy (I have always been amazed by the incredible lack of respect that shows, though the practice was not unheard of in that culture and time), spends it on a life of wanton partying, becomes slave to a pig farmer (pigs were an unclean animal to the Jews, so this is even worse than it sounds), remembers his father and home, returns home humbly, and his father restores him fully back into his role as son. Sound familiar? While the point of that parable was not identifying the nation of Israel with the prodigal son (in fact, the opposite), the principle from there was in full effect here- God wants to see His children restored to their right relationship with Him. He takes great joy in seeing them restored, and He completely forgets their past transgressions.
Jeremiah concludes the entire book of lamenting with a plea to God to forgive and restore His people. We know from history, that this prayer was answered.
What can we learn about praying to God from this passage? Anytime we see a prayer preserved in Scripture, we should not just learn from the content but also from the attitude and form. Jeremiah reflects on life's circumstances (verses 1-16), confesses sin guilt (verse 16), praises God (verse 19), and makes a straightforward request (verses 20-22).
Applications:
Take some time in prayer like Jeremiah:
- Talk about your life with God.Thank Him for what He has done and is doing in your Life. He already knows way more about your life than you do, yes; however, He is our Father and friend. He wants to share communication with you.
- Confess your sins. Confess specific sins. Generally admit that you are a sinner and have failed to meet His perfect standard (Romans 3:23).
- Praise God. Praise His character (who He is) and His acts (what He does).
- Make your requests be made known to God (Philippians 4:6).
Other Studies from Lamentations
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