01/30/2024 – The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3: 22-23) / Halley Lamentations commentary attached
To repeat an old story for me from decades past: At the end of a men’s bible study of the “prophet” books in the Old Testament, a brother asked the group; “If God placed an ad for a prophet, would you answer it.” After a long pause, it was met with unanimous negative responses. Here are some excerpts from Halley’s Lamentations commentary, a book written by Jeremiah:
A Funeral Dirge Over the Desolation of Jerusalem
“Jeremiah’s Sorrow over the city he had down his best to save; not without faith that the city would rise again from its rui9ns (3:21, 31, 32). Jerusalem did rise, and gave its name to the capital of a Redeemed World of Eternal Glory (Hebrews 12:22; Revelation 21:2),”
An Appendage to Jeremiah
“The last chapter of Jeremiah should be read as an introduction to this book. The Septuagint gives this prefix: ‘And it shall come to pass, after Israel was led into captivity and Jerusalem was laid waste, that Jeremiah sat weeping, and lamented this lamentation over Jerusalem, and said:’
However as in the Hebrew Old Testament this book does not follow Jeremiah, as in our Bible, but is in the group called ‘Hagiographa,’ or ‘Writings’: Song, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther. There were on separate rolls, because they were read at different feasts. This book of Lamentations, to this day, throughout the world, wherever there are Jews, is read in the synagogs, on the 9th day of the 4th month (Jeremiah 52:6).”
“Jeremiah’s Grotto”
“In the name of the place, just outside the north wall of Jerusalem, where tradition says, Jeremiah wept bitter tears and composed this sorrowful elegy. This grotto is under the knoll that is now called ‘Golgotha,’ the self-same hill on which the cross of Jesus stood. Thus the suffering prophet wept where later the suffering Saviour died.”
Chapter 3. Jeremiah’s Grief
In this chapter Jeremiah seems to be complaining that God had ignored him and his prayers (8); God ‘had covered himself with a cloud that no prayer could pass through’ (44). Though complaining, he justifies God, acknowledging that they deserved worse (22). The high point of the book is 21-39.”
So, how does Jeremiah’s prayer of praise , in the context of his suffering and grief, give us hope? Could we be walking in Jeremiah’s shoes before we leave this earth?
Soli Deo Gloria!