Lamentations
1:1, 7, 16–17
The Jews still read the book of Lamentations today. It’s read on the day when they remember the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem. The day is remembered every year on the ninth day of the Jewish month, Av. It’s usually in July or August on our calendar.
Reading the book of Lamentations helps them remember the sadness and suffering of the past.
1:14
A yoke is a wooden frame that fits around the neck. It helps a person or animal carry or pull something heavy. An ox could pull a heavy wagon. A person could carry buckets of water. Sometimes worries and sins feel like the weight carried by a yoke.
Crafty wants to show you what a yoke feels like. Put a thick stick or a broomstick on your shoulders. Hang bottles filled with water on both sides of the stick. See how many bottles you can carry. Sin is like a heavy load on our shoulders. It weighs us down and makes us sad. Write some of your sins on the bottles.
How can you get rid of your sin? Read 1 John 1:9 to find the answer.
1:14–18
Jeremiah wept over everything that had happened. But he realized that there was a reason that those things had happened. He realized that the people deserved their punishment. Read verse 18. Sin always causes problems in people’s lives. Sin always has consequences.
Arty wants you to draw your hand on a piece of paper. Think about your sins. Then write a prayer on the hand you have drawn. Tell the Lord about the things you have done that were wrong. Tell him that you are sorry. Read the words of 1 John 1:9 again.
3:18–23
Jeremiah felt as if his life was over. It’s as if his thoughts got stuck in his unhappiness. Everything was too much!
But then he noticed one thing that was good. Inny wants you to read verse 22.
What did Jeremiah remember?
Sometimes the bad things that happen are very overwhelming. When this happens, we forget that the Lord loves us and cares about us. But remember verse 23 says the Lord’s love never ends. His love and care are new every single day. So every day gives you a new start. You can face the bad things in your life because the Lord is with you. Ask the Lord to be with you always. Ask the Lord to be with you in a special way today!
3:52–57
Jeremiah’s enemies threw him into a pit. He called to the Lord from the bottom of the pit.
Hearty wonders what Jeremiah thought when he called out to the Lord.
- What were his feelings?
- What did the Lord do?
- What did the Lord tell Jeremiah?
- What do these verses tell you about praying?
Write the words of Jeremiah 3:57 on a card. On the same card, write what you learned from these verses. Keep the card in your Bible.
4:9, 11–22
In chapter 4, Jeremiah wrote for the fourth time about the people’s troubles. He says he wished that the enemy had killed all of them. He wishes this because they were all dying of hunger. It looked as if the Lord had forgotten about them.
But the chapter ends with good news. Read verse 22. The people’s punishment will come to an end. The Lord would bring them back. God still loved them!
5
The last chapter in the book of Lamentations is a prayer. In chapters 1 – 4, Jeremiah spoke about the Israelites’ troubles. Now Jeremiah takes his troubles to the Lord. He tells the Lord all about them.
In verse 19, Jeremiah remembers that the Lord has power over everything.
He will rule forever. Jeremiah knows that he can ask the Lord to help him and his people. The Lord will keep his promises.
5:19–22
The book ends with Jeremiah once again telling the Lord about their troubles. But Jeremiah also knows that the Lord is in control. He knows the Lord’s rule will last forever.
Hearty has mixed feelings about Jeremiah’s words. He is sad because of all the trouble the people experienced. But he feels hope because the Lord is in control.
Look at Hearty’s color chart on page 19. What colors do you think of when you read verse 19? You can always tell the Lord exactly how you feel. He will always listen to you.
