Introduction To Lamentations
Jeremiah 1
The name of this book is pretty telling of what you will read about; lamenting and grief. How we approach this book reveals how we approach our own grief. Do we confront the realities of what used to be or hasn’t been yet? Do we lean into the emotions that grief carries, or instead, do we run away from them? Jeremiah, the writer of Lamentations, had a lot of emotions and realities he was confronted with in his grief, and we get to see all of them expressed in this book. His grief revealed compassion, anger, a desire for justice, and a deep need for God’s presence.
In today’s DT, I have us reading the beginning of Jeremiah’s book to understand better who Jeremiah is. He was just a young boy when he heard from God and the promises He gave. Jeremiah didn’t know what was coming at his young age, but God assured him that He would deliver him.
In Lamentations, Jeremiah writes about how Jerusalem and the Kingdom of Judah have been taken over, which is not pretty. Immense destruction, death, and desolation have overcome a once thriving and beautiful city. This book is a collection of 5 poems of mourning—four of the five listed as acrostic poems in the Hebrew alphabet.
“The use of the alphabet symbolizes that the completeness—‘the A to Z’—of grief is being expressed.” (H.L. Ellison)
Even though grief is being fully expressed, there are a few moments of joy and relief. Lamentations reveal the hopes of those in grief while also expressing its realities. Grief is not linear, and if you are expecting each chapter to get better and better, you are going to be disappointed. Although, you can have moments of joy that uplift your spirits and remind you of the comfort of God.
I pray while reading this book; you are confronted with your own grief. I pray you become more comfortable with lamenting. Jeremiah’s lament should remind us that nothing is too much for God. You no longer have to hold back your grief, sadness, or pain. There is a God who knows it and experiences it with you. As you read this book, remind yourself that God meets you in whatever your surroundings look like, His mercies are new, and His righteousness came in the form of His son on your behalf.
