In chapter 3 we see the heart-cry of a chastened people.
In chapter 4 we see the horrors of the siege, and the fall of the city of Jerusalem. Her disaster is described in verses 1-20. The gold and the stone of the Temple had been desecrated.
Chapter 5 records the lament over Judah's misery under Babylon's heel, and the petition for restoration and divine mercy. Throughout the Book of Lamentations, Jeremiah had been dwelling on his sorrows and the sorrows of the people, but now we see him lifting up his eyes to the Lord. God is always faithful in His mercy, when we as Christians turn away from our sins and turn our eyes to Him. His compassion fails not. Even though we have failed Him, and will fail Him in the future, He cannot fail us. As the songwriter says, "Great Is Thy Faithfulness." The prerequisite for God's mercy toward us is that we confess our sins. First John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." He is also faithful to deliver us when we cry out for help in temptations (I Corinthians 10:13); He is faithful to keep us in this life and unto eternal life (I Timothy 1:15; I Thessalonians 5:23,24). We desperately need to commit our souls and lives into the hands of our faithful Creator. Then, and only then, will we have a successful Christian life. God was merciful to the remnant of His people, as He is merciful to us today; but the lesson we should learn from the Book of Lamentations is that God is faithful to His Word. Backsliding and sin by God's people will be chastised. "Be sure your sin will find you out" (Numbers 32:23).
