Lamentations

Lamentations 4: Zion's punishment comes to an end

Begin in prayer

Before we read how the gold of Jerusalem grew dim, please bow your heads before the Lord. Ask Him to show us that no one else can save, and that He told Zion her punishment was done.

Give us help against the enemy, for the help of man is vain.

Psalm 108:12

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that You judge sin justly and that only You can save, and help us to turn from sin and trust Jesus. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

The fourth song begins with gold that has gone dim, and the stones of the holy place lying scattered at the head of every street. The city's precious sons, once like fine gold, are now treated like clay pots, and the hunger of the siege has fallen on the children. The song says the city's sin was greater than Sodom's, and that her prophets and priests brought it on her (verses 6 and 13). The people watched for help from a nation that could not save, and their pursuers chased them on the mountains and in the wilderness. Even the anointed of the LORD, the king they thought would shelter them, was taken in their pits. Edom, the neighbour who rejoiced, is told that the cup will pass to her as well. The last verse says that Zion's punishment is accomplished and that the LORD will no more carry her away into captivity.

As you read Lamentations 4, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD judged Jerusalem's sin, and He says her punishment will end.

Gold was the most precious thing a city could have, and the song says the pure gold has gone dim (verse 1). Verse 13 names the sins of her prophets and priests, who should have led the people to the LORD. Verse 6 says the city's iniquity was greater than the sin of Sodom, which God overthrew in a moment. The people watched in vain for a nation to rescue them (verse 17). They also trusted in their king, the anointed of the LORD, and he was caught in the pits of their enemies (verse 20). The last king of Judah, Zedekiah, fled and was caught on the plains of Jericho (Jeremiah 52 verses 7 to 9). No king and no nation could shelter them from the LORD, because it was His anger that had come (verse 11). Yet the song ends with a promise, that the punishment of Zion's iniquity is accomplished (verse 22). Christ means the Anointed One, and Jesus is the King who bore His people's punishment to the end (John 19 verse 30).

How does Lamentations 4 show us that the LORD judged Jerusalem's sin, and that He says her punishment will end?

The LORD judged sin, even in His own city.

Verse 11 says the LORD accomplished His wrath, and verse 6 says her iniquity was greater than the sin of Sodom. Verse 13 names the sins of the prophets and the priests. Being the holy city did not shield her from His justice.

No nation or king could save Jerusalem.

They watched for help from a nation that could not save (verse 17). Even the anointed of the LORD, their king, was caught (verse 20). Jeremiah 52 tells how the last king, Zedekiah, was caught on the plains of Jericho (verses 7 to 9). Only the LORD could have saved them, and they had turned from Him.

The LORD says the punishment of Zion is done.

Verse 22 says the punishment of her iniquity is accomplished and He will no more carry her away. The LORD ended it, and no king or nation could. God can end the punishment of His people because Christ put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself (Hebrews 9 verse 26).

Memorise

The punishment of your iniquity is accomplished, daughter of Zion; he will no more carry you away into captivity

Lamentations 4:22

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, am I trusting in anything but Jesus to save me from my sin?

The gold grew dim, and the people watched for “a nation that could not save”. The king under whose shadow they hoped to live was caught in the pits of their enemies. No man and no nation could save them from the LORD's judgment on sin.

Only One could save, and He came. Jesus is the Anointed One, the King of His people. At the cross He bore the sins of His people in His own body (1 Peter 2 verse 24). On the third day He rose. The price is paid in full, so no other help is needed.

So do not look to a king, a nation or yourself. Turn from your sin and trust Jesus. Whoever puts their trust in Him has forgiveness, and He keeps that person safe.

Parent's note

Tell your children that no one else can save, and that Jesus bore the punishment His people deserved. Parents, please explain verses 8, 10 and 21 yourself, since they tell of famine, mothers who ate their children, and shame. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that only He can save and that Jesus bore His people's punishment, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray a short prayer if they want to.

“Speak comfortably to Jerusalem; and call out to her that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received of Yahweh’s hand double for all her sins.”

Isaiah 40:2

Lord God, thank You that You alone can save. Thank You for sending Jesus, who suffered and rose again. Please turn our hearts from sin to Jesus, and keep us from trusting in anything else. Amen.