Lamentations

The name gives it away. This book is Jerusalem and her people lamenting over the fall of their city and nation. The things that are happening are terrible. Cannibalism is mentioned twice (2:20; 4:10) and women are being raped in the streets (5:11). That is just a picture of what Jerusalem looks like for the people still there after Babylon overtook them. But this lament about the state of things is always brought back to one thing- God. It is obvious that this is all from Him. Babylon is not the cause of their destruction, God is (1:5,12,14; 2:2,8,17; 4:11,16). And it was their sins that brought on the anger of the Yahweh (1:5; 4:13). There is a ray of hope found in the Yahweh's character in chapter three (v 22-26). Also, one very interesting note is that in 3:33 it says Yahweh "does not willingly afflict or grieve the children of man." This makes it sound like His hands are tied. Like He is forced into wrath by His justice and Israel breaking the covenant. Also note verses 3:38-39. One last thing that I noticed was that at the end of every chapter, they turn their focus to another nation. Since they have suffered for their sins, they want God to be "fair" and cause their enemies to suffer for their own sins.

P.S. You might have noticed that I am writing "Yahweh" in the place of "LORD." The reason is that Lord and LORD mean two different things (according to my ESV footnotes). Any time you see LORD in the Bible it is referring to the name that the Israelites used for Him, Yahweh. I figured I should start clarifying. I think it is important, and it kind of makes God sound more like a being than a thing. Plus it's easier than having to change the font every time to write LORD.