Outline of Lamentations1
I. LAMENTATIONS 1
A. Complaint made to God and request for his mercy 1:1-11
B. Complaint made to friends 1:12-17
C. Appeal to God 1:18-22
II. LAMENTATIONS 2
A. Anger of God as the cause 2:1-9
B. Sorrow of Zion's children 2: 10-19
C. Complaint is made to God 2: 20-22
III. LAMENTATIONS 3
A. God's displeasure and the fruits of it 3:1-20
B. Words of comfort to God's people 3:21-36
C. Duty prescribed in this afflicted state 3:37-41
D. The complaint renewed 3:42-54
E. Hope in God and to wait for his salvation 3:55-66
IV. LAMENTATIONS 4
A. Injuries and indignities done to those who used to be respected 4:1, 2
B. Effects of the famine by the siege 4:3-10
C. Sacking of Jerusalem 4:11, 12
D. Acknowledges the sins 4:13-16
E. Gives up all as doomed to utter ruin 4:17-20
F. Foretells the destruction of Edomites 4:21, 22
V. LAMENTATIONS 5
A. Representation of the present calamitous state of God's people in their captivity 5:1-16
B. Protestation of their concern for God's sanctuary 5:17, 18
C. Supplication to God and expostulation with him for return of mercy 5:19-22.
Lamentations, written by the prophet Jeremiah, is a poem mourning the passing of Judah by the Babylonians in 586 B.C.E. (Bailey, 82) through siege and battle. Prior to the destruction, Jeremiah had warned or rather prophesized that Judah must change its ways or suffer the consequence of the Lords wrath. Before the Babylonians destroy the city of Jerusalem, Jeremiah warns the people to live by the laws of Babylon and even wrote the warning down to be presented to the people and even to the King. Th ...