Lamentations

Scripture: II Kings 25:1-12

C.I.: Jeremiah's First Dirge over Jerusalem, (Chapter 1)

Today we are beginning a new series of lessons from the Book of Lamentations (I have never preached/taught it).
It deals with Jerusalem and I people after they are defeated in war by the Babylonians & are being deported.
The application for us: View from the standpoint of our nation, our congregation, or our own life!!!

I. Desolation Caused by Bad Choices

A. Lament over the City's Desolation, (vs. 1-11) (Standing on the outside looking in!)

1. Bad choices affected their personal life , (v. 1)
a. Socially: once many friends, now … “How lonely sits the city that was full of people!”
b. Economically: once great power, now… “– She has become like a widow.”
c. Positionally: once great status, “She who was a princess … has become a slave.”
d. Socially, economically, politically powerful – now??? Would we repent, Rom. 15:4; 6:23a .

2. Bad choices affected their relationships , (v. 2)
a. “She weeps bitterly in the night, her tears are on her cheeks; she has none to comfort her –
among all her lovers. – All her friends have dealt treacherously with her;- they have become
her enemies.”
1) Jerusalem had turned to other nations (instead of God) to protect & defend her.
2) How often today do nations/churches/people turn to others instead of God?

3. Bad choices affected their future , (vs. 3-7)
a. Jerusalem was once a place of joy – now…, “Judah has gone into exile under affliction.”
b. Jerusalem was once a place of worship, now… “The roads to Zion are in mourning –
because no one comes to the feasts. – All her gates are desolate.”
c. What she believed she controlled now controls her, “Her adversaries have become her master
1) ( II Pt. 2:19b ), “…for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved.”
2) Drugs, alcohol, pornography – all these sins destroy relationships, jobs, homes, souls!
d. He anguish was not just physical but also mental– “In the days of her affliction – Jerusalem
remembers all her precious things – that were from days of old.”
e. Now her “precious things” i.e., her freedoms, spouse, $$, etc., are now going to another!

4. The bad choices which led to all this were sinful , (vs. 8-11)
a. “Jerusalem sinned greatly, she has become an unclean thing.”
1) What has become on the “one nation under God”? (stats) – Pro. 14:34 , “R. exalts….”
2) What has become of the Lord's people – ( Lk. 18:8 ), “When the Son of Man comes..”
3) Where are we personally? – ( I Cor. 10:12 ), “Let him who stands, take heed lest he..”

II. The City's Plea for Mercy, (vs. 12-22)

A. “Look at what my actions have brought upon me!” (vs. 12-13)
1. “Is it nothing to you who pass this way? Look and see if there is any pain like my pain – which was
severely dealt out to me, - which the Lord inflicted on the day of His fierce anger.”
a. Jerusalem's suffering is not a coincidence – but is a result of God's judgment.
b. We can either take His warnings seriously – or suffer consequences, ( Rom. 2:4-5 ).

B. Four Pictures of God's Judgment & Sin (vs. 14-15)

1. First, God's judgment is like “ FIRE ”
a. “From on high He sent fire into my bones, and it prevailed over them.”
1) All of us who have experienced God's temporary judgments- know the spiritual,
emotional, and sometimes even the physical pain involved.
2) These, however, are nothing compared to the eternal pain which may come!!
3) God's judgment begins & ends in fire, ( II Thess. 1:7-8; Rev. 20:15 ).

2. Second, God's judgment is like a “ NET ”
a. “He has spread a net for my feet; He has turned me back, He has made me desolate.”
1) Nets can only entangle those animals who don't watch where they are going.
2) When we become entangled by sin – the same thing happens to us, ( Heb. 12:1-2 ).
3) Yet if the learns from the net – they will never again become ensnared!

3. Third, God's judgment is like a “ YOKE ”
a. “The yoke of my transgressions is bound … they have come upon my neck' He has made my
strength to fail.”
1) A yoke joined two animals together to be able to pull heavy loads.
2) Sin's burden is heavy (God's judgment makes it so) – so come to Him, Mt. 11:28-30 .

4. Fourth, God's judgment is like a “ WINEPRESS ”
a. “The Lord has trodden as in a winepress – the virgin daughter of Judah.”
1) A winepress was used to crush grapes – and extract from them their juices.
2) God's judgment will also crush all who rebel against Him – ( Rev. 14:19 ), “… [God]
gathered clusters from the vine of the earth, and threw them into the great winepress
of the wrath of God.”
3) “Virgin daughter” = Jerusalem (Lam. Was written to, about & for God's people!)

C. The Conclusion of the First Dirge, (vs. 16-22)

1. “For these things I weep; my eyes run down with water … Zion stretches out her hands; there is no
one to comfort her.” – The pleasures of sin are now passed, ( quote Heb. 11:24-25 !

a. “The Lord is righteous; for I have rebelled against His command.”
1) God is right – I AM WRONG!!!
2) Those I trusted are all liars!- … I called to my lovers but they deceived me.”
2) ( Jn. 8:44 ), “Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature; for he is a….”

2. “Let all their wickedness come before You; deal with them as You have dealt with me.” (vs. 20-22)
a. God's judgment on Jerusalem will ultimately fall upon the whole earth, II Thess. 1:8; Mark
16:15-16… “…dealing out retributions to those…” – “Go into all….”