Lamentations

Lamentations 5: The LORD remains and turns hearts

Begin in prayer

Before we read the last prayer of Lamentations, please stop and come to the Lord together. Ask Him to show us that He reigns forever, and that only He can turn a heart back to Himself.

But you, Yahweh, will remain forever; your renown endures to all generations.

Psalm 102:12

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that You reign forever, and turn our hearts to You and to 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 last song is a prayer, and it begins, “Remember, Yahweh, what has come on us”. The people list their losses. Their land is in the hands of strangers, they are like orphans, and they must pay for their own water and wood. Servants rule over them, food is found at the risk of their lives, and the young carry heavy loads. Joy has stopped, and they say, “for we have sinned”. Then the prayer lifts its eyes to the LORD, who remains forever, whose throne lasts from generation to generation. It asks Him to turn them to Himself, and the book ends with the people still waiting on Him in prayer.

As you read Lamentations 5, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD reigns forever, and only He can turn His people back to Himself.

Lamentations 5 is a prayer of the people, and it begins by asking the LORD to remember and to look (verse 1). The people list what they have lost, their land, their freedom, their food and their joy (verses 2 to 15). Verse 7 says their fathers sinned and they bear the results, yet verse 16 says, “for we have sinned”. Then the prayer turns upward, because Zion lies in ruins and only the LORD does not pass away (verse 19). His throne lasts from generation to generation, so the fall of Jerusalem did not remove Him from His throne. In verse 21 they ask Him to turn them to Himself, because they cannot turn themselves. God turns sinners to Himself, and the new heart is His gift. The last verse is dark, and the book ends with the prayer still being prayed and the answer still to come. Jesus said that He will not throw out anyone who comes to Him (John 6 verse 37).

How does Lamentations 5 show us that the LORD reigns forever, and that only He can turn His people back to Himself?

The people ask the LORD to look at their need.

They begin, “Remember, Yahweh, what has come on us”. They bring Him their losses and their shame. They say, “for we have sinned”, so they do not argue with Him.

The LORD remains forever on His throne.

Everything the people trusted had fallen, and Zion lay desolate (verse 18). Verse 19 says the LORD remains forever and His throne lasts from generation to generation. A kingdom that falls cannot hold their hope, but a throne that lasts can. The angel told Mary that Jesus will reign forever (Luke 1 verses 32 and 33).

Only the LORD can turn His people back to Himself.

They pray, “Turn us to yourself, Yahweh, and we shall be turned”. A people who rebelled cannot make themselves return. God must turn them. Peter said that God lifted Jesus up to give repentance (Acts 5 verse 31).

Memorise

Turn us to yourself, Yahweh, and we shall be turned. Renew our days as of old.

Lamentations 5:21

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, will I ask the LORD to turn me from my sin to Himself?

The people are in ruins, and their prayer ends in the dark. Yet in the middle of it they say, “You, Yahweh, remain forever”, and they ask, “Turn us to yourself, Yahweh, and we shall be turned”. They cannot turn themselves, and neither can any sinner.

Jesus bore the wrath that sin deserves, and He gave His life for His people. He rose again, and He lives forever. All His people need is found in Him. Peter said that God lifted Him up to give repentance and forgiveness of sins (Acts 5 verse 31).

So pray as they prayed. Ask the LORD to turn you to Himself, and turn from your sin and trust Jesus. He has said that He will not turn away anyone who comes to Him.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the LORD reigns forever, and that only He can turn a heart from sin to Himself. Parents, please explain verses 11 to 13 yourself, since they tell of women cruelly abused by enemies and of leaders hanged. 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 He reigns forever and can turn hearts to Himself, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray a short prayer if they want to.

But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe, and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.

Luke 15:22

Lord, You remain forever, and Your throne never falls. Thank You for sending Jesus to bring His people home. Please turn each of us from sin to You, and help us trust Him. Amen.