Chapter 4
All the things that once were considered to be valuable and added joy to life have now lost their lustre, be it gold or be it children. The children were going without food. Verse 6 recognises all this as punishment from God. Things were so bad that to have died by the sword was considered a blessing when the only alternative was to die slowly by starvation. Things were so bad that even compassionate women would eat their children! And all this is seen as the wrath of God being poured out on His people.
Was this unjust? No, for the people of Jerusalem had shed the blood of the innocent within her boundaries. “The Lord Himself has scattered them” (4:16). There is never any doubt in Lamentations that this is the action of the Lord. There was no escape nor hope for the people.
3:21 would seem to imply that Edom was rejoicing at Jerusalem’s downfall, but she is warned that judgement would soon come upon her as well. Judgement begins with the house of God, but it does not end there. Jeremiah also sees that, severe as it is, Jerusalem’s punishment will not last forever.
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