LAMENTATIONS OUTLINE
A. Ralph Johnson
Theme: A dirge --Mourning Jerusalem’s destruction by Babylon.
Writer: Jeremiah
Each chapter is a poem.
Four chapters are acrostic, each verse beginning with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet in sequence.
Chapters 1, 2 and 4 each have 22 verses that begin with different letters.
In chapter 3, the verses are in groups of 3, each beginning with the same letter, followed by the next group of 3 with the next letter.
Chapter 5 also has 22 verses, but not begun by letters in sequence.
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CHAPTER & KEY WORDS |
5ch(5) (brief) |
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1: Widow |
I. JERUSALEM—ABANDONED AS A WIDOW (acrostic) (chap. 1) |
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Her desolate state. (1-7) |
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The cause (8-9a) |
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Appeal to Jehovah God (9b-11) |
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Her cry to those who pass by, “Is it nothing to you?” (12-16) |
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Commentary: Zion's predicament. (17) |
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Her confession to those who pass by. (18-19) |
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Her prayer to Jehovah. (20-22)
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2: Wrath |
II. WRATH UPON JERUSALEM (acrostic) (chap. 2) |
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Commentary: Wrath like a cloud upon Jerusalem. (1-10) |
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Jeremiah’s anguish over Jerusalem’s suffering. (11-19) |
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Zion cries to Jehovah for her children. (20-22)
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3: Sorrow |
III. INTERCESSION FOR JERUSALEM (acrostic) (chap. 3) |
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Jeremiah's cry of personal grief and desperation over Jerusalem. (1-18) |
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Jeremiah’s confidence in Jehovah God. (19-39) |
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Jeremiah’s call for repentance before God because of their plight. (40-54) |
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Jeremiah’s call to God for deliverance. (55-66)
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4: Ruin |
IV. ZION’S DESPAIR APART FROM JEHOVAH (acrostic) (chap. 4) |
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Terrible siege in which they even ate their children. (1-10) |
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The cause of Jehovah's wrath—the corrupt priests and prophets. (11-16) |
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Vain hope of deliverance from pursuers. (17-20) |
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Edom to get her dues for pleasure in Zion's fall. (21-22)
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5: Remember |
V. APPEAL TO REMEMBER ZION (chap. 5) |
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Remember us in the terrible reproach that has fallen (1-18) |
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Plea for Jehovah to turn again unto them. (19-22) |