L A M E N T A T I O N S Dr. Rick Griffith, Singapore Bible College

Noahic Covenant Adam rules with God (Gen. 1:26, 28; 2:19) Satan rules as god of this world (Gen. 3:15; 2 Cor. 4:4) Satan rules as god of this world (Gen. 3:15; 2 Cor. 4:4) Abrahamic Covenant Land Covenant Davidic Covenant New Covenant Mosaic Covenant God covenants with Abraham to reestablish man's rule via Israel as a "kingdom of priests" (Gen. 12:1-3; Exod. 19:6) Kingdom Teaching... Fall of Man (Gen. 3) Israel's failure to witness to nations as a kingdom of priests is judged via exile under foreign rule Jeremiah 31:31-34 promises: Forgiveness Indwelling Spirit New heart, nature, mind Reunification of Israel and Judah No need for evangelism Jeremiah 31:31-34 promises: Forgiveness Indwelling Spirit New heart, nature, mind Reunification of Israel and Judah No need for evangelism 2 Samuel 7:12-16 promises perpetual: Sons ("house" never wiped out) Kingdom (political dynasty) Throne (right to rule by descendants) Temple (son to build it) 2 Samuel 7:12-16 promises perpetual: Sons ("house" never wiped out) Kingdom (political dynasty) Throne (right to rule by descendants) Temple (son to build it) Genesis 15:18 (cf. Deut. 30:1-10) promises: Land from Wadi of Egypt to Euphrates River (Isa. 27:12) Eternal possession of land (Gen. 17:8) after exile/restoration Whole world blessed via the land (Isa. 14:1-2) Genesis 15:18 (cf. Deut. 30:1-10) promises: Land from Wadi of Egypt to Euphrates River (Isa. 27:12) Eternal possession of land (Gen. 17:8) after exile/restoration Whole world blessed via the land (Isa. 14:1-2) Jesus extends His kingdom in mystery form to the Church (Matt. 13) Israel rejects Messiah's offer of kingdom (Matt. 12:41-42; 23:37- 39) Christ subdues Israel's enemies and nation believes (Rom. 11:26-27) Israel judged for rejecting Messiah by dispersion away from land for 19 centuries ( AD 70– AD 1948) but now partially restored (Ezek. 37:1-7) Israel judged for rejecting Messiah by dispersion away from land for 19 centuries ( AD 70– AD 1948) but now partially restored (Ezek. 37:1-7) Christ is Head over His Church, which is a spiritual temple (Eph. 2:19-22; 2 Cor. 6:16) Mosaic Law replaced with first three elements of the New Covenant (Luke 22:20; 2 Cor. 3:6) MESSIANIC KINGDOM Millennial Eternal Full restoration (Ezek. 37:8-28) Jerusalem world capital (Isa. 2:1-5) Full restoration (Ezek. 37:8-28) Jerusalem world capital (Isa. 2:1-5) New Jerusalem (Rev. 21– 22) New Jerusalem (Rev. 21– 22) Christ reigns over the world (Isa. 11) with saints (Rev. 5:10; 20:4-6) Christ reigns over the world (Isa. 11) with saints (Rev. 5:10; 20:4-6) Christ rules over everything with saints (Eph. 1:9- 10; Rev. 20:1-6; 22:5b) land seed blessing Genesis 12:1-3 Christ hands kingdom over to Father (1 Cor. 15:24) Christ hands kingdom over to Father (1 Cor. 15:24) Scripture has a dual kingdom-covenant emphasis. Israel's role from Abraham to Christ expands to include the Church (continuity) yet the Church never replaces the nation as the "new Israel" (discontinuity). Israel will again enjoy world prominence after trusting in Christ at His second coming. ISRAEL CHURCH (National Focus) The "New Man" (Eph. 2:15) Sixth Edition 15 June 2012 Sixth Edition 15 June 2012 All 5 elements fulfilled in national restoration (Zech. 8) All things made new! (Rev. 21:5) All things made new! (Rev. 21:5) Temporary (Gal. 3:19) and conditional (Deut. 28) to reveal sin (Rom. 7:7) and regulate Israel (Gal. 3:23-25) Law abolished, fulfilled, and replaced at the cross (Rom. 7:1- 6;1 Cor. 9:19-21; Heb. 8:13) Genesis 6:18; 9:8-17 9g 22 & & 337

Chronology of Jeremiah

Habakkuk Joel Jeremiah Lamentations Ezekiel Daniel Jerusalem's Fall Key Dates

Two 70-Year Exiles People Exile Temple Exile

Newsflash 2 Kings 25:8-12 On the seventh day of the fifth month, in the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard, an official of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. He set fire to the temple of the LORD, the royal palace and all the houses of Jerusalem. Every important building he burned down. The whole Babylonian army, under the commander of the imperial guard, broke down the walls around Jerusalem. Nebuzaradan the commander of the guard carried into exile the people who remained in the city, along with the rest of the populace and those who had gone over to the king of Babylon. But the commander left behind some of the poorest people of the land to work the vineyards and fields.

L A M E N T A T I O N S

Genre 495 Kings  Concrete details  Facts Lamentations  vivid sensory imagery  dates and names lacking  no sequential ordering  verse not prose  no names for the slain  no private grief shown

Walk Through The Bible ©1989 "Tears" "Lamb- entations"

Name and Place Feast Read: 9 th of Ab Pentecost Tabernacles Passover Purim Hebrew Title Heb: "eka" Eng: "How terrible! Alas!" Five Scrolls 1.Lamentations 2.Ruth 3.Ecclesiastes 4.Song of Songs 5.Esther

Traditional Use 9th of Ab (586 BC & AD 70) Bar Kochba defeated at Betar (AD 135) Jews expelled from Spain (AD 1492) "Wailing" (Western) Wall Catholic liturgy

Historical Background  Directly after Jerusalem's destruction in 586 BC  Davidic King – the Lord's anointed – deposed and exiled  All but poorest exiled  Temple desecrated and burned  Perspective needed 494

United Kingdom United Kingdom Divided Kingdom Divided Kingdom Solitary Kingdom Solitary Kingdom Exile Post- Exile Post- Exile Jeremiah B. C Timeline

Author Jeremiah based on…  Style and Vocabulary  Tradition & Testimony  Eyewitness Account  LXX Jeremiah based on…  Style and Vocabulary  Tradition & Testimony  Eyewitness Account  LXX 494

Author Unknown?  MT  Modern scholars  Solidarity  Permits Wider Audience? Unknown?  MT  Modern scholars  Solidarity  Permits Wider Audience?

Purpose Expression of grief Confession of sin Remembrance of causes of judgment & God's faithfulness 497

Structure Options HillersNIVSBGriffith Is there any pain like my pain? Jerusalem's Misery and Desolation Fall Described The Lord has become like an enemy The Lord's Anger Against His People Judgment Acknowledged Every manJudah's Complaint – and the Basis for Consolation Jeremiah's Feelings The limit of suffering Contrast between Zion's past and Present Trusting Leaders PrayerJudah's Appeal for God's Forgiveness Prayer

Structure Multiple Acrostics & Chiastic in Structure: Chapters 1–2 and 4–5 have 22 verses each Chapters 1–4 are all acrostics Chapter 3 is a triple acrostic of 66 verses. 495

VersesVerses ABCABC ABCABC ABCABC ABCABC AAA BBB CCC DDD EEE FFF GGG HHH III AAA BBB CCC DDD EEE FFF GGG HHH III Acrostic Structure ABCABC ABCABC

Remnant Response The Lord's Anger Jeremiah's Response God's Judgment Jerusalem's Desolation Focal Point 495 Chiastic Structure

Great is Thy Faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23)

Great is Thy faithfulness 2/6 Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see! All I have needed Thy hand hath provided; Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me! Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see! All I have needed Thy hand hath provided; Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Great is Thy faithfulness 3/6 Summer and winter and springtime and harvest, Sun, moon and stars in their courses above Join with all nature in manifold witness To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love Summer and winter and springtime and harvest, Sun, moon and stars in their courses above Join with all nature in manifold witness To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love

Great is Thy faithfulness 4/6 Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see! All I have needed Thy hand hath provided; Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me! Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see! All I have needed Thy hand hath provided; Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Great is Thy faithfulness 5/6 Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth; Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide. Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow; Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside! Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth; Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide. Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow; Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Great is Thy faithfulness 6/6 Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see! All I have needed Thy hand hath provided; Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me! Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see! All I have needed Thy hand hath provided; Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Structure

Theology 1.The Inviolability of Jerusalem 2.The Day of YHWH 3.Realized Wrath 4.Results of Sin 5.The Lord as "Enemy" 6.YHWH's Transcendence 7.Universalization 8.Job vs. Lamentations

Theology JobJerusalem UndeservedDeserved No Historical SettingDefinite Historical Setting Severity of Attack Prompts a question as to God's apparent lack of mercy. Explicit (Job 9:22-25) Severity of Attack Prompts a question as to God's apparent lack of mercy. Implicit (2:2,17,21; 3:43) 8. Job vs. Lamentations

Theology 1.The Inviolability of Jerusalem 2.The Day of YHWH 3.Realized Wrath 4.Results of Sin 5.The Lord as "Enemy" 6.YHWH's Transcendence 7.Universalization 8.Job and Lamentations 9.Faith Rises from Ashes of Disaster 10.God is Just, not Irrational

Canonical Context Realisation & Retribution "Restore us to yourself, O L ORD, that we may return; renew our days as of old" (5:21)

493

his holy mountain. It is beautiful in its loftiness, the joy of the whole earth. the joy of the whole earth. Great is the L ORD, and most worthy of praise, in the city of our God, Psalm 48:1-2 (NIV)

Psalm 102:14 (NIV)

Psalm 137:5-6 (NIV)

Lamentations 2:15 (NIV)

The Twin Towers

The Statue of Liberty

The Pentagon

The Dust Aftermath

Remaining Firefighters

The Street

The Clean-up

Black