Lam 5:19-22 | KingComments | STEP | The book ends with the prayer of these verses. We do not hear the LORD speak in this book, but we hear the God-fearing one speak to the LORD in a prayer of hope. The LORD will rebuild His temple. Although faith knows and trusts that it will happen and that the LORD will do it, it still begs that it will happen. The faith of the remnant turns its eye away from the ruins and looks upward. The remnant knows: the “LORD rules forever” ( ), His throne is not destroyed, but is unassailable and unshakable. We see in the throne the Lord Jesus. He remains forever ( ). Everything may change, He does not. World empires alternate. Only God’s power remains and is exalted above that of all earthly rulers. He remains in complete control over everything. The remnant firmly believes this, and so they continue to hope that He will once show His power for good to them for their deliverance. The remnant clings to the promises of the LORD ( ). They express it as a demand that the LORD will not forget them forever after all, even if He must forsake them for so long because of their sins. Faith sees that true conversion is only possible when it comes from the LORD ( ; ). There is conversion here in a double sense: literally, physically, back to the land, but also spiritually, back to the LORD. This can and will happen by virtue of Christ’s work on the cross. When He returns, it will take place. Then there will be a total renewal, outward and inward. With the prayer ends and so does the book. This does not express despair, but hope. It is the conviction that the LORD will not let His people go, that He will not undo His election. In this cry to the LORD lies the firm confidence that He remembers His people according to His promises. He does not reject them completely. A remnant will remain. Nor does His anger last forever, for when there is repentance and conversion, His anger ceases. The remnant will experience this in an impressive way. When they have come to repentance and conversion, they will sing: “For His lovingkindness is everlasting” ( ).

‏ Lamentations 5:19-22

Supplication for Restoration

The book ends with the prayer of these verses. We do not hear the LORD speak in this book, but we hear the God-fearing one speak to the LORD in a prayer of hope. The LORD will rebuild His temple. Although faith knows and trusts that it will happen and that the LORD will do it, it still begs that it will happen.

The faith of the remnant turns its eye away from the ruins and looks upward. The remnant knows: the “LORD rules forever” (Lam 5:19), His throne is not destroyed, but is unassailable and unshakable. We see in the throne the Lord Jesus. He remains forever (Psa 45:6 ; Psa 102:12). Everything may change, He does not. World empires alternate. Only God’s power remains and is exalted above that of all earthly rulers. He remains in complete control over everything. The remnant firmly believes this, and so they continue to hope that He will once show His power for good to them for their deliverance.

The remnant clings to the promises of the LORD (Lam 5:20). They express it as a demand that the LORD will not forget them forever after all, even if He must forsake them for so long because of their sins.

Faith sees that true conversion is only possible when it comes from the LORD (Jer 31:18c ; 33-34; Eze 36:25-27). There is conversion here in a double sense: literally, physically, back to the land, but also spiritually, back to the LORD. This can and will happen by virtue of Christ’s work on the cross. When He returns, it will take place. Then there will be a total renewal, outward and inward.

With Lam 5:22 the prayer ends and so does the book. This does not express despair, but hope. It is the conviction that the LORD will not let His people go, that He will not undo His election. In this cry to the LORD lies the firm confidence that He remembers His people according to His promises.

He does not reject them completely. A remnant will remain. Nor does His anger last forever, for when there is repentance and conversion, His anger ceases. The remnant will experience this in an impressive way. When they have come to repentance and conversion, they will sing: “For His lovingkindness is everlasting” (Psa 136:1-3).