Lamentations 1—2: Mourning Over Sin
"SIN WOULD HAVE few takers if its consequences occurred immediately," said W. T. Purkiser. The history of the Jewish people certainly illustrates this saying. They sinned for years before experiencing the consequences of exile and destruction of their holy city, Jerusalem, as the author described in Lamentations.
Warming Up to God
How do you react when you suffer consequences of your sins? Talk to God about your reactions and ask him to show you what he wants to teach you.
Read Lamentations 1—2. »
Discovering the Word
- What words and images describe Jerusalem's misery in chapter 1?
- How did the author describe God's judgments on the nation (2:1-10)?
- What various emotions is the author feeling as he writes this (2:11-22)?
- How did the author view God in this situation (1:5, 18; 2:17)?
- What do you learn about the cause and effect of sin from these chapters?
Applying the Word
- Recalling your own experiences with the aftermath of sin, in what ways can you identify with the description of Jerusalem's misery in chapter 1?
- In what ways, if any, has Christ made your experience with sin different from what is described here?
- When have you felt like the author in regard to the sins of those around you?
Responding in Prayer
Ask God to give you a desire to obey him in one area you are struggling with right now.
For Further Study
Jeremiah & Lamentations by R. K. Harrison