Keith Essex
Lamentations

Keith Essex's correlating video lecture(s) from The Master's Seminary:

• Lecture 27: Lamentations.

13. Lamentations [MSB, 1116-7; ESVSB, 1475-8; HSB, 1333-6; DOTWPW, 399-10]
    1. Introduction
       1. Title
          1. Hebrew: "How"
          2. Talmud: "Lamentations"
          3. LXX & Vulgate: "Tears"
       2. Date: 586 BC
       3. Canonical Connection: between Ecclesiastes and Esther [MT] or between Ruth and Ecclesiastes
    2. Major Themes [see NIDOTTE, 4:884-93]
       1. The Pain of Yahweh's Servant (Lam 1:2, 16, 18, 20-21; 2:11; 3:1, 4, 12, 48; 5:15)
       2. The Judgment from Yahweh (Lam 1:5, 14-15, 17; 2:1-8, 17; 3:37-38, 43-44; 4:11)
          1. The Anger of Yahweh (Lam 1:12; 2:1-4, 21-22; 3:43; 4:11)
          2. The Righteousness of Yahweh (Lam 1:18)
          3. The Compassion of Yahweh (Lam 3:22, 32)
       3. The Sin of Yahweh's People (Lam 1:5, 8-9, 18; 4:6, 13; 5:7)
       4. The Arrogance of the Enemy (Lam 1:21-22; 2:15-17; 3:60-66; 4:21-22)
       5. The Hope of Restoration (Lam 3:19-36; 5:21)
    3. Purpose: Yahweh's servant lamented Jerusalem's great destruction caused by her sin and he gave a statement of repentance with a hope of restoration.
    4. The Literary Structure
       The First Lament:
       The Devastation of Jerusalem

       The Second Lament:
       The Lord's Punishment of Jerusalem's Sin

       The Third Lament:
       The Grief of Jeremiah Expressed

       The Fourth Lament:
       The Lord's Wrath Detailed

       The Final Poem:
       The Prayer of the Remnant

       "How" (Lam 1:1)

       "How" (Lam 2:1)

       "I am the man" (Lam 3:1)

       "How" (Lam 4:1)

       "Remember" (Lam 5:1)

       Lam 1:1 1:22

       Lam 2:1 2:22

       Lam 3:1 3:66

       Lam 4:1 4:22

       Lam 5:1 5:22
       The First Lament:
       The Devastation of Jerusalem

       "How” (Lam 1:1)

       Lam 1:1-22

       The Second Lament:
       The Lord's Punishment of Jerusalem's Sin

       “How” (Lam 2:1)

       Lam 2:1-22

       The Third Lament:
       The Grief of Jeremiah Expressed

       “I am the man” (Lam 3:1)

       Lam 3:1-66

       The Fourth Lament:
       The Lord's Wrath Detailed

       “How” (Lam 4:1)

       Lam 4:1-22

       The Final Poem:
       The Prayer of the Remnant

       “Remember” (Lam 5:1)

       Lam 5:1-22

       Lamentations

       A

       The Desolation of Jerusalem (Lam 1:1-22)

       B

       The Punishment of Jerusalem’s Sin by the Lord (Lam 2:1-22)

       C

       The Response of Jeremiah (Lam 3:1-66)

       B'

       The Wrath of the Lord Detailed (Lam 4:1-22)

       A'

       The Prayer of the Remnant for Restoration (Lam 5:1-22)
    5. Bibliography
       1. Exegetical:
          • Garrett/House, Song of Songs / Lamentations (WBC).
       2. English Interpretation:
          • Harrison, Jeremiah & Lamentations (TOTC).
          • Huey, Jr., Jeremiah, Lamentations (NAC).
       3. Expositional:
          • none
    6. Selected Interpretive Problem [see DOTWPW, 414-9]
       1. The Author(s) of Lamentations [MSB, 1139; HSB, 1334]
          1. Jeremiah [Huey; BKC; KD]
          2. An Anonymous Writer [House; Harrison]
          3. An Anonymous Group of Writers [EBC (chapter 3 from Jeremiah)]
    7. Preaching Lamentations

Used with permission by Dr. Keith Essex. Redistribution without express permission from Dr. Keith Essex is prohibited.