The book of Lamentations is not the most popular in the Bible study world, and for good reason. It is a book that laments the consequences of sin. On each line of this poetic book, we find corporate grief for what has been lost, and desperation for God to draw near. And, as such, it is a book that gloriously proclaims the grace of God – that he binds up the brokenhearted, cares for their wounds, and draws near to the poor in spirit. Ultimately, the book of Lamentations paints for us a picture of repentance, and the grace of God that readily meets the heart turned toward him in faith.

This study will be working verse-by-verse through the book of Lamentations. I want to be clear: this is not a study on grief, or a practical help for those processing loss. Rather, it is an exegetical study. 

Here’s what you have to look forward to in the ten-week study of Lamentations:

Hebrew grammar: The vocab of lament is incredibly unique. Throughout this study, we will get to do several word studies that will deepen our understanding of the Hebrew language and how particular words are used repeatedly to build out the overall theme of the book.

Book overview: Central to our understanding of this book is the cultural and historical setting. We’ll spend our first week looking at the book as a whole, so that we properly understand the cultural setting, original author and audience, and literary structure and genre.