Lam 5 | MHM | STEP | An Appeal to God; Complicated Sorrows This section is a prayer from the people of Jerusalem after their city has been destroyed. They are suffering from shame, loss, poverty, and humiliation. The people remember their past sins and the sins of their ancestors, and confess that their suffering is deserved. They describe the many troubles they face, including slavery, hunger, injustice, and dishonor. Even though they are in deep distress, they turn to God for help and ask Him to remember their pain and have mercy on them. v. 1 : The people ask God to remember what has happened to them and to see their disgrace. They feel that their troubles are so great that they can only hope God will look on their suffering and care about their pain ( Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach ,.

‏ Lamentations 5

An Appeal to God; Complicated Sorrows

This section is a prayer from the people of Jerusalem after their city has been destroyed. They are suffering from shame, loss, poverty, and humiliation. The people remember their past sins and the sins of their ancestors, and confess that their suffering is deserved. They describe the many troubles they face, including slavery, hunger, injustice, and dishonor. Even though they are in deep distress, they turn to God for help and ask Him to remember their pain and have mercy on them.

v. 1: The people ask God to remember what has happened to them and to see their disgrace. They feel that their troubles are so great that they can only hope God will look on their suffering and care about their pain (Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach,.

v. 2: They tell God that their inheritance—the land God gave them—has been taken by strangers, and their homes have been given to foreigners. What once belonged to them is now lost, and they feel like outsiders in their own country.

v. 3: They are now like orphans without a father and widows without a protector. They have no one to defend or care for them, which makes their suffering even worse.

v. 4: Even the basic things, like water and wood, must be bought with money or work. They used to have these things freely, but now their enemies make them pay for everything.

v. 5: They are forced to work hard without rest, and their oppressors make their lives difficult, like animals carrying a heavy yoke. They have no relief from their hard labor.

v. 6: Some people tried to make deals with Egypt and Assyria just to get bread to survive. They were so desperate that they became servants to foreign nations to get food.

v. 7: The people confess that their ancestors sinned and are now gone, but the present generation still suffers for those sins. They know that they are also guilty and accept that God is just in punishing them (Our fathers have sinned, and are not; and we have borne their iniquities,.

v. 8: Even servants and lowly people rule over them now, and there is no one to rescue them from these humiliations.

v. 9: Getting food is dangerous—they risk their lives just to find bread, because of the violence and attacks outside the city.

v. 10: Hunger is so severe that their skin is dark and burned, showing the effects of terrible famine.

v. 11: Women, even in holy places like Zion, are violated. There is no safety or respect for anyone, not even the most vulnerable.

v. 12: Important leaders and elders are killed and dishonored. The people who once guided and protected the city are now gone, and there is no respect for age or authority.

v. 13: Young men are forced to do hard labor, like grinding at the mill, and boys must carry heavy loads of wood until they collapse from exhaustion.

v. 14: There is no more joy or music. The elders no longer judge at the city gate, and the young people no longer play music or dance. The city’s happiness and community life have ended.

v. 15: The people say that their hearts are no longer joyful; all their gladness has disappeared, and their dancing has turned into mourning.

v. 16: They admit that they have lost their honor and their crown has fallen. They blame themselves for their suffering, saying, “Woe unto us that we have sinned!”

Unchangeableness of God; Prayer for Mercy and Grace

In these verses, the people show how much they care about the temple and the worship of God. Their deepest sadness is not just for their personal troubles, but for the ruin of God’s house. They find comfort in remembering that God never changes and that His rule lasts forever. Even as they question why God seems so far away, they end with a humble prayer—asking God to forgive, restore, and renew them. Their hope is that God’s mercy will return, just as it has in the past.

v. 17: The people say their hearts are faint and their eyes grow dim. For this our heart is faint, for these things our eyes are dim . Their hearts are sick and weak because of all the trouble, and their eyes are dim with sorrow—they feel hopeless and overwhelmed. The greatest pain comes from seeing the ruined temple, not just their own suffering.

v. 18: They are especially sad because the holy mountain of Zion is empty and wild animals walk there. Because of the mountain of Zion, which is desolate, the foxes walk upon it . Mount Zion, the most sacred place, is now desolate and deserted, showing how completely the city has been destroyed. Even wild animals like foxes live there, symbolizing the total devastation (Psalm 63:10; Ezekiel 13:4 ^a).

v. 19: But they remember that God is eternal. But thou, O Lord, remainest for ever; thy throne from generation to generation . Still, the people remember that God rules forever. Even if kings and nations fall, God’s throne is never shaken (Psalm 102:27-28 ^b). He rules forever for the good of His people, and they call on Him as the eternal King.

v. 20: The people ask God why He seems to have left them for so long. Wherefore dost thou forget us for ever, and forsake us so long time? . They feel like God has turned away and delayed their deliverance, though they still trust He is the same God who rules in heaven. They beg Him not to leave them forever, expressing their longing for His presence and mercy.

v. 21: They pray for God to change their hearts and restore them. Turn thou us unto thee, O Lord, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old . They know that only God's grace can bring them back to Him and give them hope again. They ask to be restored to the happiness and closeness they once had with God (Psalm 80:3; Isaiah 1:26 ^c).

v. 22: They end with a humble question, fearing God’s anger might last forever. But thou hast utterly rejected us; thou art very wroth against us (Lamentations 5:22 ^d). They wonder if God will always reject them, but their prayer shows hope that He will have mercy and remember His people again (Jeremiah 12:1 ^e). They do not want their suffering to be the end, but long for God’s forgiveness and restoration.