Lamentations 5
Lamentations 5 serves as a communal prayer of lament, where the people of Jerusalem cry out to God amid the devastation of their city. This chapter portrays the suffering and hardship they face after the Babylonian invasion, including loss of freedom, lack of resources, and the scorn from surrounding nations. The people recognize their sinfulness and call on God for mercy and restoration, expressing hope that He will not forget or abandon them forever.
Lamentations 5:1-10 (NKJV)
1 Remember, O Lord, what has come upon us; look, and behold our reproach!
2 Our inheritance has been turned over to aliens, and our houses to foreigners.
3 We have become orphans and waifs, our mothers are like widows.
4 We pay for the water we drink, and our wood comes at a price.
5 They pursue at our heels; we labor and have no rest.
6 We have given our hand to the Egyptians and the Assyrians, to be satisfied with bread.
7 Our fathers sinned and are no more, but we bear their iniquities.
8 Servants rule over us; there is none to deliver us from their hand.
9 We get our bread at the risk of our lives, because of the sword in the wilderness.
10 Our skin is hot as an oven, because of the fever of famine.
The people ask God to remember their suffering and to see the humiliation they endure. They have lost their land and homes to foreign invaders, and their families are scattered, symbolizing the brokenness of their nation. They are forced to buy basic resources like water and wood, and they are pursued by enemies, leaving them exhausted with no rest. They have made alliances with foreign powers, yet remain hungry and oppressed. This lament acknowledges the weight of past generations’ sins, which they now bear. They face great risk to survive, and the fever of famine overtakes them, intensifying their suffering and desperation.
Lamentations 5:11-16 (NKJV)
11 They ravished the women in Zion, the maidens in the cities of Judah.
12 Princes were hung up by their hands, and elders were not respected.
13 Young men ground at the millstones; boys staggered under loads of wood.
14 The elders have ceased gathering at the gate, and the young men from their music.
15 The joy of our heart has ceased; our dance has turned into mourning.
16 The crown has fallen from our head. Woe to us, for we have sinned!
In their oppression, the people of Jerusalem have faced atrocities, including violence against women and dishonor of leaders. Princes are humiliated, elders disregarded, and young men endure hard labor. The elders, who once provided wisdom at the gate, are now absent, and the young, who once made music, are silenced. The joy and vibrancy of life have faded, replaced by mourning and sorrow. They acknowledge their downfall and recognize that their suffering is a result of their sins, understanding that the “crown” of their former glory has fallen due to their unfaithfulness.
Lamentations 5:17-22 (NKJV)
17 Because of this our heart is faint; because of these things our eyes grow dim;
18 Because of Mount Zion which is desolate, with foxes walking about on it.
19 You, O Lord, remain forever; Your throne from generation to generation.
20 Why do You forget us forever, and forsake us for so long a time?
21 Turn us back to You, O Lord, and we will be restored; renew our days as of old,
22 Unless You have utterly rejected us, and are very angry with us!
The people feel overwhelmed and broken-hearted as they see their sacred Mount Zion in ruins, with wild animals roaming freely. Despite their pain, they acknowledge that God’s reign is eternal, transcending generations. They plead with God not to forsake them permanently and ask for His intervention to restore them to their former state. They recognize that only God can truly turn their hearts back to Him and renew their days. The chapter ends on a note of uncertainty, wondering if God has completely rejected them, yet still hoping for His mercy and renewal.