Lamentations 4 Commentary
“The LORD himself has scattered them.” Verse 16. Yes, scattered from the Promised Land – land flowing with milky and honey.
The first scattering we encountered was when the LORD scattered Adam from the Garden of Eden. Not too long after, (probably in terms of pages of the scripture rather than years!), Cain was scattered and wandered about away from the presence of the LORD.
Then followed the scattering at Babel. Genesis 11 verse 9.
Reading between the lines in the Book of Isaiah, we suspect there is another major scattering older than Adam’s exile from the Garden of Peace and Tranquility. “How you have fallen from Heaven, morning star, son of the dawn!” Could this be a reference to satan’s exile from Heaven?
The common thread in all the scatterings is pain and suffering; nothingness and meaninglessness. And it always follows wickedness or rebellion against the commandments of the LORD.
These lamentations are special in the sense that they lead us back to the turning point. We sinned hence the punishment. We can return to the LORD hence the hope.
The reference to Edom’s pending punishment is yet another important point for the world. The Holy God won’t let sin go unpunished. The sinner has good reasons to worry. It will always happen! Won’t the thought that someone got the punishment instead of you be infinitely important? Won’t the message that you accept this free gift be even more important?
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