LAMENTATIONS INTRODUCTION
A
Bible Study - Commentary by Jim Melough
Copyright
2003 James Melough
The book is the record of Jeremiah’s lament or dirge over the destruction of
Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BC, and the deportation of the people to a
seventy year captivity in Babylon; yet the bitterness of his sorrow is
tempered to some degree by the expectation of ultimate restoration.
Everything about the book points to the prophet Jeremiah as its author, the
date of writing being generally accepted as 586 or 585 BC; and while it might
have been expected that he would have rejoiced at his vindication as a true
prophet whose words had been fulfilled in his own lifetime, his godly
character is clearly revealed in that he wept rather over the execution of his
foretold doom of Jerusalem and the people.
The parallel between Lamentations and Deuteronomy 28 has been noted by
virtually all commentators. As foretold in Deuteronomy, God had executed His
fierce judgment upon Israel’s disobedience, but in that same book He had
promised deliverance in response to repentance, and it was in response to that
promise that the people prayed, “Turn us unto thee, O Lord, and we shall be
turned; renew our days as of old,” La 5:21. God’s judgments are designed to
produce repentance.
[Lamentations
1]