Lamentations 5

1 "Remember, God, all we've been through. Study our plight, the black mark we've made in history.

2 Our precious land has been given to outsiders, our homes to strangers.

3 Orphans we are, not a father in sight, and our mothers no better than widows.

4 We have to pay to drink our own water. Even our firewood comes at a price.

5 We're nothing but slaves, bullied and bowed, worn out and without any rest.

6 We sold ourselves to Assyria and Egypt just to get something to eat.

7 Our parents sinned and are no more, and now we're paying for the wrongs they did.

8 Slaves rule over us; there's no escape from their grip.

9 We risk our lives to gather food in the bandit-infested desert.

10 Our skin has turned black as an oven, dried out like old leather from the famine.

11 Our wives were raped in the streets in Zion, and our virgins in the cities of Judah.

12 They hanged our princes by their hands, dishonored our elders.

13 Strapping young men were put to women's work, mere boys forced to do men's work.

14 The city gate is empty of wise elders. Music from the young is heard no more.

15 All the joy is gone from our hearts. Our dances have turned into dirges.

16 The crown of glory has toppled from our head. Woe! Woe! Would that we'd never sinned!

17 Because of all this we're heartsick; we can't see through the tears.

18 On Mount Zion, wrecked and ruined, jackals pace and prowl.

19 And yet, God, you're sovereign still, your throne intact and eternal.

20 So why do you keep forgetting us? Why dump us and leave us like this?

21 Bring us back to you, God - we're ready to come back. Give us a fresh start.

22 As it is, you've cruelly disowned us. You've been so 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.