Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

Jeremiah wrote this book, and in the modern bible it is located just after the book of Jeremiah. But in the original order, it was placed with the other poetical Writings. It is believed to have been written between 586 and 575 B.C., shortly after the fall of Jerusalem. It is made up of five poems that mourn this destruction. It stands on the righteousness of God and His RIGHTNESS in destroying Jerusalem because of the people who had despised Him and turned away. Yet it is a book of taking hope in God and turning to trust Him who had compassion even on these unfaithful people.

Chapters one, two, and four have twenty-two verses each, one for every letter of the Hebrew alphabet (acrostic poems). It is designed to show the totality of the destruction that had come upon Jerusalem. Chapter three is also acrostic, but there are three verses per letter, not one. Chapter five is the outlier and isn’t acrostic at all. This has led some scholars to believe the original book only had four chapters. It is read today all over the world during the Jewish fast day of Tisha B’Av – the day commemorating the destruction of the Temple. Traditionally, you sit on the floor and mourn as you read by candlelight. There was also a tradition that the Messiah would be born on Tisha B’Av, the ultimate hope coming during the day of ultimate mourning.

Chapter one is about the sorrows Jerusalem had experienced. Not just the sorrows of the siege and destruction, but also the sorrows of their apostacy. Jeremiah had been in Jerusalem during this time and was an eyewitness of what had occurred. The people had been warned by God again and again and again, but they had refused to listen. They brought it on themselves.

Chapter two is about God’s thoughts about it all. About His anger and sorrow. He had called them to repentance. He had called them to turn back to the right way, His Way. They had refused and because of their embracing Sin (personal as well as rejecting Him period), they had turned Him to an enemy. His anger against Sin came upon them and struck – but not as hard as they deserved. Even in anger, God was merciful.

Chapter three is Jeremiah’s feelings about it all. His anguish over what had happened. His anguish over the people’s sins. His anguish over the loss of the Temple. His anguish for the lost. Also his anguish for the personal suffering he endured during the siege. There is also hope. Hope for the remnant which the Lord was preserving. Hope for the return of the people. Hope for their salvation. Hope for a rebuilt Temple – restoration of relationship between God and His people.

Chapter four is about the punishment of Jerusalem. The punishment of people who had turned away from God. Once they were like golden vessels. Now they were cracked clay pots. Wild animals were better off than these people. The rich were destitute. Everything was dust and ashes. All because they thought they knew better than God. That their way was the best way. Now they could see their foolishness. Now they could see their sin’s harvest.

Chapter five is a prayer for restoration. It is Jeremiah’s plea for the Lord to remember His children. He totally acknowledged the judgment was just, but he was pleading for an end. He pleaded that the people would return to the Lord and be restored as in the old days. He pleaded that the Lord would not forget them forever. God answered this prayer. God’s heart is always for restoration between humanity and Himself (John 3:16-18).

Summary

Key Players: God, Jeremiah.

Key Verse(s): Lamentations 1:7-9; 2:1-5; 3:1-12; 4:1-9; 5:19-22