04/30/21 The Lord’s Anger With His People #1 — Lamentations 2:1-22 (ESV)

[My notes from a recent message] I don’t think I’ve ever heard a series of sermons from Lamentations. But that’s what our pastor is doing. And I’m filling in for him tonight. Somebody once said that a preacher’s job is to Comfort the Afflicted AND to AFFLICT the COMFORTABLE! Isaiah 55 says Proclaiming God’s Word ALWAYS accomplishes God’s purpose! So here goes… WARNING: There is NO GOOD NEWS in this chapter!

Each of chapters 1, 2, 4, and 5 of Lamentations is a 22-Verse Acrostic based on the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. In chapter 2, watch for God’s Attitudes & Actions, and the Reactions of the Hebrews & Jeremiah.

I. Their PREDICAMENT (2:1-17)

Repeatedly in the OT, the Jews scoffed at their enemies, “We’re God’s People in His Country in His City with His Temple! You can’t hurt us!” They refused even to consider that their troubles might be God’s punishment on them.

A. God Is Casting Off His People and Sanctuary (2:1-9)

v.1 How the Lord in his ANGER has set the daughter of Zion under a cloud! He has cast down from heaven to earth the splendor of Israel; he has not remembered his footstool in the day of his ANGER.

Ch.1: DESOLATION; Ch.2: UTTER DESTRUCTION / Total Annihilation! God’s anger (2X) is like a dangerous storm cloud; cast down: active; not remembered: passive; splendor ≈ temple; footstool ≈ dwelling

v.2 The Lord has swallowed up WITHOUT MERCY all the habitations of Jacob; in his WRATH he has broken down the strongholds of the daughter of Judah; he has brought down to the ground in dishonor the kingdom and its rulers.

Swallow up: destroy, devour, eat; NO Mercy; habitations: house, pasture; wrath: outburst of rage; broken down: demolished; strongholds: fortified cities; kingdom… and rulers: nation(al identity) and individuals; Judah (Southern kingdom) as well as Jacob / Israel (Northern kingdom). STAY TUNED…