Lamentations 1
A. Lament 1: A City Deserted.
B. Lament 2: A City Rejected.
C. Lament 3: Complaint and Consolation.
D. Lament 4: Zion, Past and Present.
E. Lament 5: An Appeal to the Lord.
LAMENT1
1–4 Following the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians, the author, in poetic form, laments the destruction of his city. In verses 1–11, the author is the main speaker; he speaks of Jerusalem as if the city were a woman—a widow, a slave (verse 1). Jerusalem—also called ZION (verses 4,17)—was once a queen; she was once held in special favor by the King, the Lord Almighty. Jerusalem was the chosen site of God’s throne, God’s temple. But now she is deserted, desolate.1 Her lovers (pagan nations and their gods) have betrayed her (verse 2). Even the roads to Zion mourn (verse 4); worshipers no longer come to her appointed feasts2 (see Exodus 23:14–17).
5–7 In verse 5, the author acknowledges that this grief has come upon Jerusalem because of her many sins. Because of those SINS, the splendor has departed from the Daughter of Zion (Jerusalem and her inhabitants), and she is laughed at by her enemies (verses 6–7).
8–11 In these verses, the author continues his description of Jerusalem’s fallen state. Because of the sins of her people, she has become ritually and morally unclean (verse 8). Added to her suffering is the fact that her enemies gloat over her. Jerusalem herself cries out, saying that the enemy has triumphed (verse 9); at the end of verse 11, she laments that she is despised.
12–17 In the rest of this lament (except verse 17), Jerusalem herself is the speaker. She (Jerusalem) describes how God’s JUDGMENT has descended on her like fire (verse 13); her sins have been placed on her neck like a yoke3 (verse 14). She—the Virgin Daughter of Judah—has been trampled in the Lord’s winepress4 (verse 15). In verse 17, the author adds his own comment that Zion (Jerusalem) has no one to comfort her; all the former “comforters” of Jacob (Israel) have now become foes.
18–22 Lady Jerusalem continues her lament. Those who venture outside the city are slain by the sword; those who remain inside the city die of starvation (verse 20). Because Jerusalem’s enemies rejoice at what God has done to her, she asks God to bring judgment on them also: May you bring the day (of judgment) you have announced (verse 21)—the “day” announced through the PROPHET Jeremiah5 (Jeremiah 25:15–32). Again Jerusalem says there is no one to comfort her, and she is correct: her one true Comforter, God, has withdrawn His presence from her.
