Major Prophets · Old Testament
The Book of Lamentations
Grief over Jerusalem's destruction leads to hope in God's unfailing mercy.
- Author
- Traditionally attributed to Jeremiah
- Date
- c. 586 BC, soon after Jerusalem's fall
- Chapters
- 5
- Genre
- Major Prophets
Summary
Lamentations is a series of five poems mourning the destruction of Jerusalem by Babylon. They describe the city's suffering in raw detail and acknowledge that the disaster came because of the people's sin.
In the middle of the grief stands one of Scripture's great confessions of hope: "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning." The book shows that lament itself can be an act of faith.
Outline
- Chapter 1 — Jerusalem's desolation
- Chapter 2 — The Lord's anger
- Chapter 3 — Hope in God's faithfulness
- Chapter 4 — The siege remembered
- Chapter 5 — A prayer for restoration
Key Themes
LamentJudgmentGod's faithfulnessHopeRepentance
Key Verses
Start reading LamentationsBecause of the Lord ’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.