The Book of Lamentations was written by the prophet Jeremiah after the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple by the Babylonians in 587 BC, see Prophet Jeremiah.
The five chapters of this book have the following symmetrical structure:
- Focus on the people.
- Focus on God.
- Jeremiah's response to suffering.
- Focus on God.
- Focus on the people.
The poetic style is based on the Hebrew alphabet which has 22 letters.
- Chapters 1, 2, and 4 are alphabetical acrostics that begin each verse.
Every verse begins with the next consecutive letter of the alphabet.
Each chapter has 22 verses because the alphabet has 22 letters. - Chapter 3 is an alphabetical acrostic that begins each stanza. Each stanza is three verses long, with each stanza beginning with the
next letter of the alphabet. It has (3 x 22 =) 66 verses. - Chapter 5 isn't arranged acrostically, but it has 22 verses.
God had told the people in Deu (5 Mos) 28:15–68 what would happen if they turned away from the Lord. God had given them about 470 years to turn from their evil ways and repent, but they didn't. God sent several prophets to warn the people but they didn't listen.
God doesn't like to give suffering or sorrow to anyone (Lam 3:33). The Book of
Lamentations shows what their disobedience to the Lord led to, not obeying and following the Old Covenant that the Jews had with the Lord. God became like an enemy to the people (Lam 2:5a). God isn't an enemy, but the people had put themselves in a situation where God was working against them. Sin carries consequences, see God has wrath in God's Attributes. The consequences can be horrible and must be avoided by not living in sin, see Sanctification.
Lamentations shows what their disobedience to the Lord led to, not obeying and following the Old Covenant that the Jews had with the Lord. God became like an enemy to the people (Lam 2:5a). God isn't an enemy, but the people had put themselves in a situation where God was working against them. Sin carries consequences, see God has wrath in God's Attributes. The consequences can be horrible and must be avoided by not living in sin, see Sanctification.
See also The Prophet Books in the Old Testament.
