Click Arrow To Start Audio

LAMENTATIONS – LESSON THREE

I. LAMENTATIONS FOUR AND FIVE (Chapters 4-5)  

A. Jehovah’s wrath defended (4:1-22)

1. Sorrowful contrasts between the Zion that was and the City after destruction (v. 1-11) .

2. Thoughts and actions of Gentile nations looking at the destruction of the city of Jerusalem (v. 12-22)

a. Nations in disbelief over God’s judgment of sin (v. 12-16)

b. Nations are of no help in God’s judgment of sin (v. 17-20)

c. Rejoicing Edom will face the consequence of sin like Jerusalem (v. 21-22).

B. Jerusalem’s prayer (5:1-22)

1. Plea: Zion is stricken- asks God to remember her condition (v. 1-18).

a. Lost inheritance (v. 1-3)

b. Scarce provisions (v. 4)

c. Growing tired of enemy’s tightening pressure (v. 5)

d. Old foes (Egypt and Assyria) are only ones to give bread (v. 6)

e. Following in the steps of sinning fathers – suffering same consequences

    (v. 7)

f. Conquered and ruled by servants (v. 8)

g.  In danger going to wilderness to get bread due to the sword of the enemy

    (v. 9)

h. Suffering the burning heat of hunger (v. 10)

i. Women ravished (v. 11)

j. Princes hanged up by their hands – no honor (v. 12)

k. Young men and children fall under harsh labor (v.13)

l. Sad desolate state due to Jerusalem’s sin (v. 14-18)

2. Plea: Jehovah can renew His people (v. 19-22)

a. God abides forever – plea to not forget forever (v. 19-20)

b. God is the source of renewal – but now He has rejected in anger His people (v. 21-22).

QUESTIONS:

1. Match the CONTRASTING thought from the numbered choices listed below:

a. Precious sons of Zion comparable to fine gold, now _______________________

b. Those who feed delicately, dressed in scarlet _____________________________

c. Healthy and ruddy bodies of nobles are now _____________________________

Choices:  (1) precious stones are in the street.  (2) esteemed as earthen pitchers. (3) cruel like ostriches. (4) desolate in the streets embracing dunghills. (5) unrecognizable with skin cleaving to the bones. (6) slain with the sword.

2. How had the gold of the temple become dim?

3. What were the people in Jerusalem having to do that made them look like ostriches, and

    not even as good as jackals?

4. Why was the iniquity of the daughter of Zion, greater than the sin of Sodom?

5. Women full of pity boiled their own children for food during the Chaldean’s siege  on Jerusalem.  (T)  (F)

6. How extensive was God’s fire upon Jerusalem

7. Why were adversaries  allowed to enter and conquer Jerusalem?

8. What was accomplished for the daughter of Zion? Why was this important for Edom to know?

9. In the prayer of Jerusalem in chapter 5, what principle do you learn that can help you in your approach unto God in prayer?

10. The besieged people in Jerusalem had “drunken their water for ________________.”  Why?

11. Explain how in verse 7, Jerusalem had borne the iniquities of their fathers?

12. Why had the crown fallen off the head of Jerusalem?                                                                                 

13. What two characteristics of God is recognized in plea for renewal from God?