2:6King Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem represented God's presence with the people (1 Kings 8:1-11). The Temple was the central place of worship. Many in Jeremiah’s day assumed that God woutd never allow his Temple to be harmed. Its destruction symbolized God's rejection of his people—that he no longer lived among them.
Life Application Study BibleLamentationsChapter 2
Lamentations 2
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 1296, 1297, 1298, 1299
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2Lamentations 2
1the LORD has shown no mercy even to his Temple.*
2Without mercy the LORD has destroyedevery home in Israel.*In his anger he has broken downthe fortress walls of beautiful Jerusalem.*He has brought them to the ground,dishonoring the kingdom and its rulers.
3All the strength of Israelvanishes beneath his fierce anger.The LORD has withdrawn his protectionas the enemy attacks.He consumes the whole land of Israellike a raging fire.
4He bends his bow against his people,as though he were their enemy.His strength is used against themto kill their finest youth.His fury is poured out like fireon beautiful Jerusalem.*
5Yes, the LORD has vanquished Israellike an enemy.He has destroyed her palacesand demolished her fortresses.He has brought unending sorrow and tearsupon beautiful Jerusalem.
8He has broken down his Templeas though it were merely a garden shelter.
The LORD has blotted out all memoryof the holy festivals and Sabbath days.Kings and priests fall togetherbefore his fierce anger.7 The LORD has rejected his own altar;he despises his own sanctuary.He has given Jerusalem’s palacesto her enemies.They shout in the LORD’s Templeas though it were a day of celebration.8 The LORD was determinedto destroy the walls of beautiful Jerusalem.He made careful plans for their destruction,then did what he had planned.Therefore, the ramparts and wallshave fallen down before him.
9Jerusalem's gates have sunk into the ground.He has smashed their locks and bars.Her kings and princes have been exiled to distant Iher law has ceased to exist.Her prophets receiveno more visions from the LORD.
10The leaders of beautiful Jerusalemsit on the ground in silence.They are clothed in burlapand throw dust on their heads.The young women of Jerusalernhang their heads in shame.
11Thave cried until the tears no longer come;my heart is broken.My spirit is poured out in agonyas I see the desperate plight of my people.Little children and tiny babiesare fainting and dying in the streets.
12They cry out to their mothers,“We need food and drink!”Their lives ebb away in the streetslike the life of a warrior wounded in battle.They gasp for lifeas they collapse in their mothers’ arms.
13What can I say about you?Who has ever seen such sorrow?O daughter of Jerusalem,to what can I compare your anguish?O virgin daughter of Zion,how can I comfort you?For your wound is as deep as the sea.Who can heal you?
14Your prophets have saidso many foolish things, false to the core.They did not save you from exileby pointing out your sins.Instead, they painted false pictures,filling you with false hope.
15All who pass by jeer at you.They scoff and insult beautiful Jerusalem,* saying,“Is this the city called ‘Most Beautiful in All the World’and Joy of Ali the Earth’?”
16All your enemies mock you.They scoff and snarl and say,“We have destroyed her at last!We have long waited for this day,and it is finally here!”
17But it is the LORD who did just as he planned.He has fulfilled the promises of disasterhe made long ago.He has destroyed Jerusalem without mercy.He has caused her enemies to gloat over herand has given them power over her.
18Cry aloud* before the LORD,O walls of beautiful Jerusalem!Let your tears flow like a riverday and night.Give yourselves no rest;give your eyes no relief.
19Rise during the night and cry out.Pour out your hearts like water to the LORD.Lift up your hands to him in prayer,pleading for your children,for in every streetthey are faint with hunger.
20“O LORD, think about this! 2:20Exod 32:11Should you treat your own people this way? Deut 9:262:15 Hebrew the daughter of Jerusalem. 2:18 Hebrew Their heart cried. pores aeSwrongs against God (3:40-42). The people had much to cryabout. Because of their stubborn rebellion against God, they hadbrought great suffering to all, especially to the innocent. Was thissuffering God's fault? No, it was the fault of the wayward people.Sinful people brought destruction on themselves, but tragically,sin’s consequences affected everyone—-good and evil alike.
Should mothers eat their own children,those they once bounced on their knees?Should priests and prophets be killedwithin the LORD’s Temple?
21“See them lying in the streets—young and oid,boys and girls,killed by the swords of the enemy.You have killed them in your anger,slaughtering them without mercy.
22“You have invited terrors from all around,as though you were calling them to a day of feasting.In the day of the LORD’s anger,no one has escaped or survived.The enemy has killed all the childrenwhom I carried and raised.”
3. Hope in the midst of affliction
3 1I am the one who has seen the afflictions
Textual footnotes
- See note on 1:17.
- to the LORD, weeping for forgiveness. Only when our prideful,
- independent hearts are broken over sin can God come to our
- rescue. Just feeling sorry about experiencing sin’s consequences
- does not bring forgiveness. But if we cry out to God in repen-
- tance, he will forgive us.
- 2:1a Hebrew the daughter of Zion; also in 2:8, 10,18.
- 2:1b Hebrew his footstool.
- 2:2a Hebrew Jacob; also in 2:3b,
- 2:2b Hebrew the daughter of Judah; also in 2:5.
- 2:4 Hebrew on the tent of the daughter of Zion.
- 2:19 The people’s suffering and sin should have brought them
Life Application Notes 7 notes
2:7Qur place of worship is not as important to God as our priorities in worship. A church building may be beautiful, but if its people don't sincerely follow God, the church will decay from within. The people of Judah, despite their stunning Temple, had rejected in their daily lives what they proclaimed in their worship rituals. Thus, their worship had turned into a mocking lie. When you worship, are you saying words you don't really mean? Do you pray for help you don't really believe will come? Oo you express love for God you don’t really have? Earnestly seek God and catch a fresh vision of his love and care. Then worship him wholeheartedly.
2:9Four powerful symbols and sources of security were lost: the protection of the gates, the leadership of the kings and Princes, the guidance of the /aw, and the vision of the prophets. With those four factors present, the people were lulled into a false sense of security and felt comfortable with their sins. But after each was removed, the people were confronted with the choice of repenting and returning to God or continuing on this path of suffering. Don’t substitute symbols, even good ones, for the reality of a living, personal relationship with God himself.
2:11Jeremiah’s tears were sincere and full of compassion. Sorrow does not mean that we!ack faith or strength. There is nothing wrong with crying—Jesus himself felt sorrow and even wept (John 11:35). How do we react to the tearing down of our society and to moral degradation? This may not be as obvious as an invading enemy army, but the destruction is just as certain. We, too, should be deeply moved when we see the moral decay that surrounds us.
2:14False prophets were everywhere in Jeremiah’s day. They gave counterfeit and misleading messages. While Jeremiah warned the people of coming destruction and lengthy captivity. the false prophets said that all was well so the people need not fear. All of Jeremiah’s words came true because he was a true prophet of God (Jeremiah 14:14-16).
2:19Chapter 1 describes Jerusalem's desolation and calls for God's revenge on his enemies. Chapter 2 includes a call for God's people to pour out their hearts in the LORD’s presence. The people must turn from their sins; they must sincerely mourn over their
2:21,22This horrible scene could have been avoided. Jeremiah had warned the people for years that this day of destruction would come, and it broke his heart to see it fulfilled. We are always shocked when we hear of tragedy striking the innocent. But often innocent by-standers are victims of judgment on a Nation. Sin has a way of causing great sorrow and devastation to many. . S:1ff In Jeremiah’s darkest moment, his hope was strengthened “with this assurance: God had been faithful and would continue to be faithful. Jeremiah saw both God’s judgment and God’s steadfast love. In the time of judgment, Jeremiah could still cling to Gad’s love, just as in times of prosperity he had warned of God's judgment.
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