In this discussion we take on Jeremiah’s lament
over the conditions which unfolded before his eyes concerning the state of his people and the events they were facing. The problem presents itself because of rebellion and sin against God. Having turned away from adherence to the covenant, the wrath of God was upon them. Heartbroken, Jeremiah expresses anguish and sorrow in his lamentation while trying to offer reason and hope for a restored future. Also, we move into the prophecies of Ezekiel
and the restoration of Israel. Written during the exile of the Jews in Babylon; his book offers hope while under the subjection of king Nebuchadnezzar.The Book of Lamentations
In the Hebrew canon the book is called 'Eikhah, which means "How,"and is the first word at its start. The rendered name, "Lamentations", (Greek threnoi = Hebrew qinoth) is now in common use, to describe the tone of the author’s mood throughout the work. Although Jeremiah’s name never appears in the body, by tradition he is credited as the writer. He was serving as a court official during the conquest of Nebuchadnezzar
, when the temple was destroyed and Jehoiachin was taken prisoner. However, the style of acrostic poetry followed by four of the five poems is not found in the book of his name.It is known for certain that Jeremiah wrote a lament on the death of Josiah, a fact well known in his time; but clear agreement on this work is in debate.
Lamentations 1:8 (NIV)
Jerusalem has sinned greatly and so has become unclean. All who honored her despise her, for they have seen her nakedness; she herself groans and turns away.
Lamentations is made up of five poems, one for each chapter. Chapters one, two, and four are written as acrostics with each verse beginning with the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
The third chapter is also an acrostic poem but written in an expanded form with three verses given for each of the 22 alphabet letters. The final poem and fifth chapter is not an acrostic but is written with 22 verses as is the first, second, and forth. The many expressions i.e. daughter of, used in both Lamentations and Jeremiah; as well as the sensitive use of rich symbols and metaphors lend credit to the traditional view of Jeremiah being the author.Lamentations 2 (NIV)
How the Lord has covered the Daughter of Zion with the cloud of his anger! He has hurled down the splendor of Israel from heaven to earth; he has not remembered his footstool in the day of his anger.
Jeremiah’s sorrow over the fall of Jerusalem is more than just anguish for a captured city. It expresses the loss of God’s presence among the Israelites. It echo’s the fall into sin and mans loss of fellowship with God. More than just the city of David, Jerusalem
was the focal point and place of God’s work of redemption. In later years it becomes the place of the final work of salvation with the crucifixion of Christ. Lamentations reminds us of the important role Jerusalem plays in God’s plan for the entire world.Lamentations 2:7 (NIV)
The Lord has rejected his altar and abandoned his sanctuary. He has handed over to the enemy the walls of her palaces; they have raised a shout in the house of the LORD as on the day of an appointed feast.
The Book of Ezekiel
The prophet Ezekiel was a priest taken into captivity by Babylon. His writings cover some of the early years of the exile and his message was to the captive people of Judah living in Tel Abib along the River Chebar. His book is separated into three sections, the first two describing judgments, and the latter foretells a future blessing for God’s chosen. Chapter one opens with an amazing vision of God’s might, power, and glory as it was reviled in a vision charging him to proclaim the Lord’s judgments. Because of it’s symbolic use of vivid language the book shares a similarity with that of John’s Revelation.
In the first section, (chaps. 4-24) God’s judgment of Judah
is given due to their widespread idolatry. It’s interesting also that Ezekiel delivers his message to Jerusalem in the city itself, having been transported there by God during one of his visions. (chaps. 8-11) The message is continued in Babylon after being returned. (Ezek. 11:24-25) The final siege of Jerusalem is described in chapter 24. This event is marked in several ways to show God’s wrath against the wayward nation. Ezekiel is instructed to record the date as a memorial of its importance. A symbol of a cooking pot with scum rising from the meat is used as a clear judgment toward Israel from God. On the very same day, to add emphasis to God’s anger, Ezekiel’s wife dies and he is not permitted to morn, just as God can not morn for Israel; the delight of His own eye.Ezekiel 5:8-12 (NIV)
"Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself am against you, Jerusalem, and I will inflict punishment on you in the sight of the nations. Because of all your detestable idols, I will do to you what I have never done before and will never do again. Therefore in your midst fathers will eat their children, and children will eat their fathers. I will inflict punishment on you and will scatter all your survivors to the winds. Therefore as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, because you have defiled my sanctuary with all your vile images and detestable practices, I myself will withdraw my favor; I will not look on you with pity or spare you. A third of your people will die of the plague or perish by famine inside you; a third will fall by the sword outside your walls; and a third I will scatter to the winds and pursue with drawn sword.
The judgment against the surrounding nations of Israel is prophesied in the next section. (chaps. 25-32) Here you find predictions addressing Ammon, Moab, Edom, Philistia, Tyre, Sidon, and Egypt. These nations, all persecutors of Israel, incurring the wrath of God for their arrogance and pride would come to an end.
Ezekiel 26:20-21 (NIV)
then I will bring you down with those who go down to the pit, to the people of long ago. I will make you dwell in the earth below, as in ancient ruins, with those who go down to the pit, and you will not return or take your place in the land of the living. I will bring you to a horrible end and you will be no more. You will be sought, but you will never again be found, declares the Sovereign LORD."
The final section relates the vision of future restoration for Israel. (chaps.33-48) Contained here is the famous “Valley of the Dry Bones” depiction. (Ezek.37) Ezekiel speaks to the bones at God’s command and they rise. God makes the declaration that He will put His spirit in them and they will live. (Ezek.37:14) This is a clear promise of restoration which is carried forward in chapters 40-48, with the renewing of the temple and the return of sacrifices and worship.
Ezekiel brings forward the idea of individual responsibility. The book teaches that every person is responsible for his own sin. (See Ezek. 18:20) The people of his time had fallen into a covenant group mentality. Often they would overlook the need for individual adherence to God’s Will, thinking they were covered as a group chosen by God. The book stresses the need for each one of us to make a personal decision to follow the Lord. It also points to the time when, through a descendant of David, God would establish His universal rule; a reference to the Messiah. (See Ezek.37:24-25) A prophecy fulfilled with the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, about 500 yrs later.
Ezekiel 43:6-9 (NIV)
While the man was standing beside me, I heard someone speaking to me from inside the temple. He said: "Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place for the soles of my feet. This is where I will live among the Israelites forever. The house of Israel will never again defile my holy name—neither they nor their kings—by their prostitution and the lifeless idols of their kings at their high places. When they placed their threshold next to my threshold and their doorposts beside my doorposts, with only a wall between me and them, they defiled my holy name by their detestable practices. So I destroyed them in my anger. Now let them put away from me their prostitution and the lifeless idols of their kings, and I will live among them forever.
This Week
As you already know these reviews are running behind. By now you should be well into the New Testament and looking to wrap up the reading within two weeks. I will be cranking out my reviews as quickly as I can manage with the schedule I’m following. The next discussion should cover the rest of the prophets and put me into the gospels. I look forward to that very important part of scripture… the life and times of Christ. Please continue your quest to finish in “90 Days” , and be encouraged… you are not alone.
Reminders
The Daily Readings are posted here… BibleGateway
The Alternate Reading plan for this week
August – Tenth Week:
Day 64 – Ezekiel – 46 –- Daniel - 9
Day 65 – Daniel – 10 –- Joel -3
Day 66 – Amos – 1 – Nahum 2
Day 67 – Nahum – 3 –- Zechariah - 12
Day 68 – Zechariah – 13 –- Matthew 9
Day 69 – Matthew - 10 – 18
Day 70 – Matthew -19 – 26
Ezekiel 37:26-27 (NIV)
I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant. I will establish them and increase their numbers, and I will put my sanctuary among them forever. My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people.
Blessings,
Matt.
This section is divided into two groupings… the “Major Prophets” and the “Minor Prophets.” The designation is more associated with the length of the work as opposed to the significance of the particular prophet himself. The word prophet comes from the Greek word: Prophets; pro-, before; and phetes- speaker, which literally means to speak before. Prophets in the Biblical sense were those who were given the Word of God concerning events before their occurrence. In Deuteronomy, it clearly says that the test of a prophet is found in his message… what he says is God’s Word must come true. 
He points out that by idolatry, acts of injustice and cruelty, the things which oppose God's law; they have broken the covenant. 
