Five Essential Life Lessons from Lamentations

Lamentations is a book of tears! There was great weeping when Jerusalem was burned and the people of Judah taking captive to Babylon. It was a time of suffering and pain. It was a time of chastisement for the ongoing sin of the people. Jeremiah wrote these inspired words out of the anguish of his heart.

Out of this great anguish, this book rises. And with it, profound truth to help us follow Jesus.

Lessons from Lamentations

Actions have consequences

How lonely sits the city

that was full of people!

       How like a widow has she become,

she who was great among the nations!

       She who was a princess among the provinces

has become a slave.

  She weeps bitterly in the night,

with tears on her cheeks;

       among all her lovers

she has none to comfort her;

       all her friends have dealt treacherously with her;

they have become her enemies.

Lamentations 1:1–2 (ESV)

In Leviticus 26:27, 33 we read these words: “But if in spite of this you will not listen to me, but walk contrary to me… I will scatter you among the nations, and I will unsheathe the sword after you, and your land shall be a desolation, and your cities shall be a waste.”

The people had abandoned God, they left the covenant behind and served false gods and idols. What God promised when he gave the law, he fulfilled in this generation. Which leads us to the second lesson.

Disobedience leads to desolation

God promised his people great blessing if they would continue in obedience.  We, too, claim this promise. Although the blessings God gives us may be different, we know that we are blessed with his presence and power and spiritual vitality when we continue in the way he has prepared for us.  

However, when we are disobedient, we walk away from the blessings. This leads to personal emptiness and a seeking after something that is missing. It is a vain search without the blessing of God. While we may not suffer physical desolations like the ancient Israelites, we can and will suffer spiritual desolations when we choose disobedience.

We need correction

Your prophets have seen for you

false and deceptive visions;

       they have not exposed your iniquity

to restore your fortunes,

       but have seen for you oracles

that are false and misleading.  

Lamentations 2:14 (ESV)

We like nice and encouraging words, however they are not what we always need. Sometimes, we need good counsel that includes rebuke and correction. We must be wise enough to listen to these words and repent and change our ways.

It is foolish just to embrace the good words and ignore the corrective words!

There is a way back

But this I call to mind,

and therefore I have hope:

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;

his mercies never come to an end;

they are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,

“therefore I will hope in him.”

The Lord is good to those who wait for him,

to the soul who seeks him.

It is good that one should wait quietly

for the salvation of the Lord. 

Lamentations 3:21–26 (ESV)

We have no argument that can win us back into God’s favor, but his mercy and love are always available. When we seek him and put our hope in him, he is there. When we sincerely repent and long for the ways of the Lord, we can trust in his salvation and be renewed. He is faithful and he will do it!

God is our only hope

He is sovereign. He is the master of the universe and the author of life. When we seek him and ask him for his touch and help, we will find assurance in him.

But you, O Lord, reign forever;

your throne endures to all generations.

Why do you forget us forever,

why do you forsake us for so many days?

Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may be restored!

Renew our days as of old—

unless you have utterly rejected us,

 and you remain exceedingly angry with us.

Lamentations 5:19–22 (ESV)

Your Turn

Be assured today that God is there for you. Even if you have gone through a season of disobedience and sin, he is faithful and you can turn to him in repentance and find new life and new hope.