Reading for December 8th

Read Lamentations 3.52-66. In 3.52-66: A psalm of praise. As in 3.1-14, the individual cataogues his complaints generally and metaphorically: like a bird, v. 52; pit, vv. 53,55 (Ps 7.15; 9.10). As in a psalm (Ps 31), God is reported to have answered the prayer. In verse 52: Without cause: strinkingly different from the assumption of guilt (vv. 22-39). In verses 59=66: Complaint about enemies. Although the preceding verses suggest that God has already responded to the individual's plea, the speaker explicitly call for God to punish enemies (1.21-22). Comments or Questions..

Reading for December 7th

Read Lamentations 3.25-51. In 25-41: A teaching on God's goodness I an jarring shift, this section at the center of the book offers beautiful statements of God's mercy faithfulness, and compassion (vv. 22-23) and teaches silence in the face of suffering. Because some passages appear to contradict material that comes before and after ( v. 39; why should anyone complain?), these verses are often considered a later addition to the book. They function, however, to balance the community's expression of suffering with the book's insistent theme that God is justifiably punishing Judah for its sins. In verse 40-41: because God acted justly, Judah must examine its own wrongs. In verses 42-51: A communal lament. While beginning with recognition of gult, the section also complains that God has refused to forgove (vv. 42, 44). Further complaints follow. The shame of defeat and enemy taunts, mentioned earlier in the book, is repeated. In verse 48: While the speaker shifts to "I" the theme remains the fate of the city. Comments or Questions..

Reading for December 6th

Read Lamentations 3.1-24. In 3.1-66: Multiple responses to suffering. Spakers and moods shift throughout this chapter, making a neat outline difficult. Has the material been adjusted to fit the acrostic pattern? Does the jarring style mimic the dissociation of trauma? In verses 1-24: An individual lament. Like other individual laments (Ps 38; 22), this section includes nonspecific complaints of suffering (vv. 1-19) and a statement of confidence in God (vv. 21-24). Identified neither with the poet who has spoken previously nor with Woman Zion, the speaker is an individual male (Heb., "geber"). He expilictly blames God for his troubles, comparing God to a wild animal (v. 10) and an enemy warrior (vv. 12-13). His troubles are not outlined but are compared to heavy chains (v. 7) and gravel to the teeth (v. 16). In verse 15: Wormwood (also v. 19) is a bitter-tasting plant (Jer 9.14). In verse 19: Gall: Bile. In verse 21-24: Statements of confidence, a feature of the individual lament. Comments or Questions..

Reading for December 5th

Read Lamentations 2.20-22. In 2.20-22: Jerusalem petitions God. The stark picture of women eating their own children and the death of the young raises this question: has God punished too severly? Comments or Questions..

Reading for December 4th

Raed Lamentations 2.11-19: In 2.11-19: The poet continues his lament. In verse 11: Both the stomach (aslo 1.20) and bile refer to the seat of emotions (Jer 4.19); bile in addition means "bitterness" (from the taste of the digestive substance secreted from the gallbladder). In verse 14: Unwarrented messages of comfort (jer 14.13-16). In verses 15-16: Jerusalem suffers not only the famine of children but also the taunts of enemies (Jer 19.8). In verse 17: As He ordained long agao may refer to the teaching of the pre-exilic prophets, for whom destruction of the nation as punishment for sin was a common motif. In verse 18-19: The poet urges Jerusalem to petition God. comments or Questions..

Reading for December 3rd

Read Lamentations 2.1-10. In 2.1-10: The poet on God's great anger The poet describes the severity of God's punishment: Jerusalem is destroyed and humilated. In verse 1: Footstool: the Temple (Ps 99,5). In verse 2: Without mercy: without restraint. In a series of reversals, the great are brought down to the ground. In verses 3-5: God's right hand, his weapon hand, does not defend Israel but draws a bow against her like an enemy (Ex 15.6-12). In verses 6-7: Booth, tabernacle: The temple, which along with a festival, king, and priest embodies the religious core of the nation, centered in Jerusalem and linked with the monarchy (2 Sam 7). In verse 8-10: Stretched a line: Apparently a step in destroying a building (2 Kings 21.13). God has broken down the very fetaures intended to protect Jersualem: wall, gates, and ramparts (used for defense during military attacks). The listing of groups within the city undrescores the totally of the destruction. Dust and sackcloth (v. 10) are typical gestures of mourning. Comments or Questions..

Reading for December 2nd

Read Lamentations 1.11b-22 In 1.11b-22: Jerusalem herself speaks. The speaker changes at the end of v. 11, as the woman Jerusalem speaks in the first person. She repeats themes of the first speaker: She is shamed, and the devastation is punishment from God. In verses 13-15: Net, fire: Punishments are described generically (ps10.9;Isa 63.3). The weight of Israel's sin is compared to a yoke worn by captives of war (Isa 9.4). In verse 16: The lack of a comforter is a repeated theme of the book. In verse 17: The voice shifts back to third person briefly. Zion (the mountain on which Jerusalem is set ), Jacob the ancestor of the Israelites), and Jerusalem are used as synonyms. Fifthy things is the menstrual uncleanness of 1.9. In verse 18: The voice of Jerusalem returns, acknowledging her sin yet lamenting the pain she has experienced. In verse 20: Jerusalem's lament resembles that of Jeremiah (Jer 8.18-9.1). In verses 21-22: Again concerned with being shamed in the face of others, Jerusalem asks they they, too, be treated according to their deeds. Day you have announced refers to the day of the Lord, envisioned as a day of vindication against enemies (Isa 13.6-16). Comments or Questions..