Lamentations 5

1 "Remember, O LORD, what has happened to us. Take a look at our disgrace!

2 "The land we inherited has been turned over to strangers. Our homes have been turned over to foreigners.

3 We are orphans without a father. Our mothers are like widows.

4 We have to pay to drink our own water. We have to pay to chop our own wood.

5 [Our enemies] are breathing down our necks. We are worn out [and] not permitted to rest.

6 We had to beg Egypt and Assyria for food.

7 Our ancestors sinned. Now they are gone, [but] we have to take the punishment for their wickedness.

8 Slaves rule us. There is no one to rescue us from them.

9 To get our food, we have to risk our lives in the heat of the desert.

10 Our skin is as hot as an oven from the burning heat of starvation.

11 Women in Zion are raped, so are the girls in the cities of Judah.

12 [Our] leaders are hung by their hands. [Our] older leaders are shown no respect.

13 [Our] young men work at the mill, and [our] boys stagger under loads of wood.

14 [Our] older leaders have stopped meeting at the city gate, and [our] young men no longer play their music.

15 There is no joy left in our hearts. Our dancing has turned into mourning.

16 The crown has fallen from our head. Because we have sinned, it has been disastrous for us.

17 This is why we feel sick. This is why our eyes see less and less.

18 Foxes roam around on Mount Zion, which lies in ruins.

19 "But you, O LORD, sit enthroned forever, and your reign continues throughout every generation.

20 Why have you completely forgotten us? Why have you abandoned us for such a long time?

21 O LORD, bring us back to you, and we'll come back. Give us back the life we had long ago,

22 unless you have completely rejected us [and] are very angry with us."

Lamentations 5 Commentary

Chapter 5

The Jewish nation supplicating the Divine favour.

Verses 1-16 Is any afflicted? Let him pray; and let him in prayer pour out his complaint to God. The people of God do so here; they complain not of evils feared, but of evils felt. If penitent and patient under what we suffer for the sins of our fathers, we may expect that He who punishes, will return in mercy to us. They acknowledge, Woe unto us that we have sinned! All our woes are owing to our own sin and folly. Though our sins and God's just displeasure cause our sufferings, we may hope in his pardoning mercy, his sanctifying grace, and his kind providence. But the sins of a man's whole life will be punished with vengeance at last, unless he obtains an interest in Him who bare our sins in his own body on the tree.

Verses 17-22 The people of God express deep concern for the ruins of the temple, more than for any other of their calamities. But whatever changes there are on earth, God is still the same, and remains for ever wise and holy, just and good; with Him there is no variableness nor shadow of turning. They earnestly pray to God for mercy and grace; Turn us to thee, O Lord. God never leaves any till they first leave him; if he turns them to him in a way of duty, no doubt he will quickly return to them in a way of mercy. If God by his grace renew our hearts, he will by his favour renew our days. Troubles may cause our hearts to be faint, and our eyes to be dim, but the way to the mercy-seat of our reconciled God is open. Let us, in all our trials, put our whole trust and confidence in his mercy; let us confess our sins, and pour out our hearts before him. Let us watch against repinings and despondency; for we surely know, that it shall be well in the end with all that trust in, fear, love, and serve the Lord. Are not the Lord's judgments in the earth the same as in Jeremiah's days? Let Zion then be remembered by us in our prayers, and her welfare be sought above every earthly joy. Spare, Lord, spare thy people, and give not thine heritage to reproach, for the heathen to rule over them.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO LAMENTATIONS 5

In this chapter are reckoned up the various calamities and distresses of the Jews in Babylon, which the Lord is desired to remember and consider, La 5:1-16; their great concern for the desolation of the temple in particular is expressed, La 5:17,18; and the chapter is concluded with a prayer that God would show favour to them, and turn them to him, and renew their prosperity as of old, though he had rejected them, and been wroth with them, La 5:19-22.