Lamentations is no shallow read. Written in response to the fall of Jerusalem and the exploitation of her people, the author (thought to be Jeremiah) expressed frustration and pain. The book starts with a deserted city and ends in rejection and anger.

It’s best to read the book in one setting, to gain a full appreciation of the arc of Jeremiah’s laments. He grieves as he pours out to the Lord, my groans are many and my heart is faint. When only silence echos back he accuses, you have covered yourself with a cloud so that no prayer can get through.

Lamentations delves deeply into the ways of the Lord, his hatred of sin, and the punishment of his people who turn their backs on him. The writing disturbs—why the lash from a loving God? The arguments clarify the holiness of our Lord and the danger of flaunting his patience.

But in the middle of the mess Jeremiah discovers hope. Because of his great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”

Confidence swells. Jeremiah looks to the heavens and writes, The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

Amen and amen. Even in the depths of our despair we can trust in the goodness of the Lord, as we wait, and wait, and still wait, for his compassion and salvation.

Lamentations 3 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by Samuel Ferrara