Remember, Our Father
The survivors speak together and list what remains: buying their own water, slaves ruling them, women violated, elders shamed, dancing turned to mourning. They confess the sin, confess our Father reigns forever, then ask why he forgets them. No answer comes.
5 1Remember, our Father, what has happened to us; look and see our disgrace. 2Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our homes to foreigners. 3We have become orphans, fatherless; our mothers are like widows. 4We pay for our own water to drink; even firewood costs us money. 5Our pursuers are at our necks; we are worn out and given no rest. 6We submitted to Egypt and Assyria just to get enough bread. 7Our ancestors sinned, and are no more; and we bear their punishment. 8Slaves rule over us; there is no one to free us from their grip. 9We risk our lives to get our bread, because of the sword in the wilderness. 10Our skin is hot as an oven, scorched by the burning heat of famine. 11Women are violated in Zion, virgins in the cities of Judah. 12Princes are hung up by their hands; the elders receive no respect. 13Young men toil at the millstones; boys stagger under loads of wood. 14The elders have left the city gate, the young men their music. 15The joy of our hearts has ceased; our dancing has turned to mourning. 16The crown has fallen from our head. Woe to us, for we have sinned! 17Because of this our heart has grown faint; because of these things our eyes have grown dim. 18For Mount Zion lies desolate; jackals prowl over it.
19You, our Father, are enthroned forever; your throne endures from generation to generation. 20Why do you forget us forever, forsake us for so many days? 21Restore us to yourself, our Father, and we will return; renew our days as they once were, a a v21 After every cry of ruin, Lamentations ends by reaching for the one thing that can heal it — being turned back to the Father. The whole book leans toward this: come home. 22unless you have utterly rejected us, and are angry with us beyond measure.
