God's People In Exile: The Book Of Lamentations
Kathryn Vargas
Period 3
12-09-16
P1: Bible Project
God’s People In Exile The book of Lamentations is a part of the Prophetic books of the Old Testament. This section of the Bible is the period in time when God chose certain people to spread and foretell his message; people who would be his voice on earth. The prophets were sent to preach the word of God and tell all the people of the coming of the Messiah. Not only were the prophecies messianic, in fact little of them were, but they were more about the future of Israel and Judah. The book of Lamentations is a collection of 5 poems that tell of the exile and destruction in Jerusalem.
The book of Lamentations is about the suffering and anguish the Israelite people experienced …show more content…
during the Babylonian exile in 587 B.C. These poems were a way for the people to speak their minds and concentrate their confusion into a form of art. The poems talk about “ ...should priest and prophet be killed in the sanctuary of the Lord?” ( Lam. 2:20). The Temple had been destroyed and the people were in complete chaos. There are scenes in which the imagery of children crying for food, or corpses in the street almost seem like something normal at that point. The language used gives us a sense that the people feel betrayed by God; the Israelites feel that because of their sin and their disbelief and doubt in God the Babylonians now control them as once did the Egyptians. Jeremiah had previously predicted this destruction of Jerusalem, and now was reflecting sadly upon it with the people of God.
In the first chapter, the city is describes as a widow; once a princess, now a slave. The city is being personified to further make clear the meaning and pain of this exile to the Israelites. The second chapter concerns the wrath that God took out on the Israelites. This chapter most clearly portrays the resentfulness and the confusement that the people experienced, showing both attack and submission towards God. In the third chapter, there is a very vivid detail of the anger as one might call it, that God has let out. This chapter perceives God as if he has left his people forgotten and unattended. The fourth chapter concentrates on the behavior of the people; no longer are they faithful and selfless as they once were oe attempted to be. The people are now selfish and unhelping. Also, the city is experiencing hunger, as made clear all throughout this chapter. Finally, chapter five is the change of heart of all the people. Instead of blaming and resenting God, they plead for mercy and this is the lament and crying out to God.
Lamentations was written during the exile.
The date is around 570, for that is the time that the exile occurred, The book of Lamentations is most often attributed to the prophet Jeremiah, as he had predicted, like before mentioned, that Jerusalem would be destroyed. The book was written to release the pain of the Israelites. Through poetry and imagery they were able to capture the essence of the emotion, and made art of what hurt them the most. The last chapter was written as a prayer to God, a plead for mercy. Although in the fifth chapter we see a bit of repentance, the Israelites are still writing about their insecurity and doubt in God, “unless you have utterly rejected us, and are angry with us beyond measure,” (Lam. …show more content…
5;22).
The book conveys very strong themes and lessons even though it is a fairly short one.
“Her foes have become the masters, her enemies prosper, because the Lord has made her suffer for the multitude of her transgressions…”(Lam. 1:5). This quote is important because it helps us to understand the cause of this exile, the reason for its occurrence. As one might have predicted, it's because of sin; the people choosing to disobey God and choosing themselves over others, as has been seen from the outset of Genesis up until this point. Another important quote is as follows:”He has made my flesh and my skin waste away, and broken my bones” (Lam. 3:4). This quote is a vivid representation on the feeling of God’s wrath. This anger is portrayed more as justice; it is seen as something the people deserved for not having obeyed God’s commands. The last quote from the book is, “But you, O Lord, reign forever; for your throne endures to all generations,” (Lam. 5:19). This is the verse with the most direct repentance and acceptance of Almighty God as omnipotent; the Israelites had finally realized that no matter what happened in their worldly actions, God would always outrule
evil.
This book of the Bible can be interpreted as both allegorical and moral. Allegorical in the sense that the prophets predicted a destruction of the Temple: how I see it, this temple was Jesus. Also, the literal Temple was destroyed. The chaos and disorder in which the world was during the exile is like the chaos during the Roman rule in Palestine before our Savior came. The book can also be interpreted morally; the author very well exposes the acts and the mistakes of the people, and shows the consequence. Through those mistakes we are taught that if we want good and if we want reward we must earn it by being good in the eyes of the Lord.
The confusion and pain going on in the world today is only a repetition of the destruction of Jerusalem. People have been corrupt by thoughts and money that we have forgotten to love our neighbor as we love ourselves; humanity has forgotten that it is in giving that we receive, in loving that we are loved, and forgiving that we are forgiven. The most outstanding lesson that i have learned from this book is that you get what you deserve; you get what you give. We are so used to being able to claim things just because it's the way we have been raised. This, however, is not a good way to live one’s life. We must give no less than what we expect, and put all our faith and trust in God and in each other to accomplish what we want.
Works Cited
Catholic Youth Bible: New Revised Standard Version: St Mary’s Press, 2004. Print.
"Scripture." Scripture. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2016. http://www.usccb.org/bible/lamentations/0
Jointhebibleproject. YouTube. YouTube, 2016. Web. 09 Dec. 2016 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8GDFPdaQZQ
Period 3
12-09-16
P1: Bible Project
God’s People In Exile The book of Lamentations is a part of the Prophetic books of the Old Testament. This section of the Bible is the period in time when God chose certain people to spread and foretell his message; people who would be his voice on earth. The prophets were sent to preach the word of God and tell all the people of the coming of the Messiah. Not only were the prophecies messianic, in fact little of them were, but they were more about the future of Israel and Judah. The book of Lamentations is a collection of 5 poems that tell of the exile and destruction in Jerusalem.
The book of Lamentations is about the suffering and anguish the Israelite people experienced …show more content…
during the Babylonian exile in 587 B.C. These poems were a way for the people to speak their minds and concentrate their confusion into a form of art. The poems talk about “ ...should priest and prophet be killed in the sanctuary of the Lord?” ( Lam. 2:20). The Temple had been destroyed and the people were in complete chaos. There are scenes in which the imagery of children crying for food, or corpses in the street almost seem like something normal at that point. The language used gives us a sense that the people feel betrayed by God; the Israelites feel that because of their sin and their disbelief and doubt in God the Babylonians now control them as once did the Egyptians. Jeremiah had previously predicted this destruction of Jerusalem, and now was reflecting sadly upon it with the people of God.
In the first chapter, the city is describes as a widow; once a princess, now a slave. The city is being personified to further make clear the meaning and pain of this exile to the Israelites. The second chapter concerns the wrath that God took out on the Israelites. This chapter most clearly portrays the resentfulness and the confusement that the people experienced, showing both attack and submission towards God. In the third chapter, there is a very vivid detail of the anger as one might call it, that God has let out. This chapter perceives God as if he has left his people forgotten and unattended. The fourth chapter concentrates on the behavior of the people; no longer are they faithful and selfless as they once were oe attempted to be. The people are now selfish and unhelping. Also, the city is experiencing hunger, as made clear all throughout this chapter. Finally, chapter five is the change of heart of all the people. Instead of blaming and resenting God, they plead for mercy and this is the lament and crying out to God.
Lamentations was written during the exile.
The date is around 570, for that is the time that the exile occurred, The book of Lamentations is most often attributed to the prophet Jeremiah, as he had predicted, like before mentioned, that Jerusalem would be destroyed. The book was written to release the pain of the Israelites. Through poetry and imagery they were able to capture the essence of the emotion, and made art of what hurt them the most. The last chapter was written as a prayer to God, a plead for mercy. Although in the fifth chapter we see a bit of repentance, the Israelites are still writing about their insecurity and doubt in God, “unless you have utterly rejected us, and are angry with us beyond measure,” (Lam. …show more content…
5;22).
The book conveys very strong themes and lessons even though it is a fairly short one.
“Her foes have become the masters, her enemies prosper, because the Lord has made her suffer for the multitude of her transgressions…”(Lam. 1:5). This quote is important because it helps us to understand the cause of this exile, the reason for its occurrence. As one might have predicted, it's because of sin; the people choosing to disobey God and choosing themselves over others, as has been seen from the outset of Genesis up until this point. Another important quote is as follows:”He has made my flesh and my skin waste away, and broken my bones” (Lam. 3:4). This quote is a vivid representation on the feeling of God’s wrath. This anger is portrayed more as justice; it is seen as something the people deserved for not having obeyed God’s commands. The last quote from the book is, “But you, O Lord, reign forever; for your throne endures to all generations,” (Lam. 5:19). This is the verse with the most direct repentance and acceptance of Almighty God as omnipotent; the Israelites had finally realized that no matter what happened in their worldly actions, God would always outrule
evil.
This book of the Bible can be interpreted as both allegorical and moral. Allegorical in the sense that the prophets predicted a destruction of the Temple: how I see it, this temple was Jesus. Also, the literal Temple was destroyed. The chaos and disorder in which the world was during the exile is like the chaos during the Roman rule in Palestine before our Savior came. The book can also be interpreted morally; the author very well exposes the acts and the mistakes of the people, and shows the consequence. Through those mistakes we are taught that if we want good and if we want reward we must earn it by being good in the eyes of the Lord.
The confusion and pain going on in the world today is only a repetition of the destruction of Jerusalem. People have been corrupt by thoughts and money that we have forgotten to love our neighbor as we love ourselves; humanity has forgotten that it is in giving that we receive, in loving that we are loved, and forgiving that we are forgiven. The most outstanding lesson that i have learned from this book is that you get what you deserve; you get what you give. We are so used to being able to claim things just because it's the way we have been raised. This, however, is not a good way to live one’s life. We must give no less than what we expect, and put all our faith and trust in God and in each other to accomplish what we want.
Works Cited
Catholic Youth Bible: New Revised Standard Version: St Mary’s Press, 2004. Print.
"Scripture." Scripture. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2016. http://www.usccb.org/bible/lamentations/0
Jointhebibleproject. YouTube. YouTube, 2016. Web. 09 Dec. 2016 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8GDFPdaQZQ