Lamentations

1
Lamentations
Chapter 5 A prayer for Gods mercy
2
BACKGROUND TO LAMENTATIONS 930 BC following
King David and King Solomon, Israel becomes two
kingdoms The Northern Kingdom of Israel The
Southern Kingdom of Judah 722 BC The northern
Kingdom of Israel falls to the Assyrians. The
Southern Kingdom continues for another 136 years.
3
640 BC - Reign of Josiah 609 BC - Reign of
Jehoahaz 609 597 BC - Reign of Jehoiakim 605 BC
First attack by Nebuchadnezzar on Jerusalem 597
BC - Reign of Jehoiachin (3 months) 597 BC
Second attack by Nebuchadnezzar on Jerusalem 597
586 BC Reign of Zedekiah
4
588 586 BC - Third attack by Nebuchadnezzar on
Jerusalem. Siege last over 18 months and ends
with Jerusalem and its temple being destroyed
Read about these events in 2 Kings 23-25 and 2
Chronicles 34-36
5
Unspeakable, unimaginable destruction,
desperation and desolation. Death is all around,
bodies lay in the street, parents eat their dead
children to survive.
6

• Five chapters of Lamentations
• The catastrophe - the city is destroyed (She)
• 2. The cause - Gods pours out his anger (He)
• 3. The cure God spares them (I)
• 4. The consequences sin is punished (They)
• 5. The cry a plea for Gods mercy (We)

7

• A Pattern for Prayer (From Ch 5)
• Tell God how it is!
• Remind him that your joy has gone.
• iii) Ask for his restoration.
• iv) Remind God of his promises (Ch 3)

8
Because of the Lord's great love we are not
consumed, for his compassions never fail. They
are new every morning great is your
faithfulness. Lamentation 322-23