October 6, 2013 – 20 Pentecost
Lamentations 1:1-6
The Deserted City
Background: The book of Lamentation
has been described as “a work of art produced in response to a historical disaster.”
This book has also been characterized as a text that encompasses the sorrows of
the world. The text was most likely written in response to the destruction of
Jerusalem and deportation to Babylon in 586 BCE. Often ascribed to Jeremiah,
this text is anonymous as recorded in Hebrew Scripture. The book of
Lamentations is written in the form of an Acrostic Poem, with each strophe (verse
or trio of verses) starting with successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
Theme: This passage
describes, in fairly graphic detail, the appearance of the deserted city of
Jerusalem. Chapter 1 provides a moving description of Jerusalem as seen by the
narrator (Vv 1-11b) and “Daughter Zion” (Vv 11c-22).
Questions to Ponder:
* Read Lamentations 1:1-6. Skim the remainder of Chapter 1 for context.
* What do you think
a Lamentation, as delivered in the Bible, is?
* Given the frequency of
appearance (the book of Job, many Psalms, and the book of Lamentations to name
a few), for what reason do you think the Lamentations are important, especially
in Hebrew Scripture?
* Scholars claim the
Lament can be found helpful in providing hope to a person or group of people
who are under stress or oppression. Why might they make that claim?
* In verse 4, why might
the author’s description of the roads to Zion be one of mourning because no one
is on them?
* Why might this text be
important to the Israelites who had been exiled to Babylon by King
Nebuchadnezzar?
* How do we make this
text relevant to our society?
* What challenges do you
find in this text?
* How do this text and
the premise of the Lament match your experience?
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