August 11, 2022: Day 171 – Lamentations 1-5

We find the weeping prophet recounting the atrocities that are taking place as Babylon sieges Jerusalem in this book of Lamentations.  That weeping prophet would be our friend Jeremiah.  He is thought to have written this book.  The siege has the women of Jerusalem doing the following:  “With their own hands compassionate women have cooked their own children, who became their food when my people were destroyed.”  Yeah, that’s pretty extreme and pretty gross.  But that is what happens when people are hungry, I guess I should say starving.

Mixed in these chapters of destruction and destitution we find periodic verses of hope that the author includes to make sure that we are not left with nothing at all.  The scenes that are played out in these verses, aside from women eating their children, are scenes of utter depravity that is taking over the city.  Chapter 5 ends with the words: “You, O Lord, reign forever; your throne endures from generation to generation.”  That is a good way to end.