Lamentations 5:20

Lamentations 5:20 is a poignant cry from a people in deep distress, questioning God's perceived forgetfulness and prolonged absence during their immense suffering.

Context of Lamentations 5:20

The book of Lamentations is a collection of five poetic laments, traditionally attributed to the prophet Jeremiah, mourning the devastating destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple by the Babylonian empire in 586 BC. The city lay in ruins, its people exiled or slaughtered, and the covenant relationship with God seemed shattered. Chapter 5, from which this verse is taken, is a communal prayer, a desperate appeal to God for remembrance and restoration. It details the humiliation, poverty, and suffering endured by the survivors, contrasting their current desolate state with their former glory. This verse captures the profound sense of abandonment felt by the Jewish people.

Key Themes and Messages

• A Cry of Despair: The verse expresses profound anguish and a sense of divine abandonment. "Wherefore dost thou forget us for ever, and forsake us so long time?" is not a question seeking information but an outpouring of raw pain and a plea for God to intervene. It highlights the human struggle to reconcile God's goodness with overwhelming suffering.
• Longing for Divine Remembrance: Implicit in the question is a desperate longing for God to remember His covenant with His people and to end their prolonged agony. Despite the deep despair, the very act of directing the lament to God indicates a lingering hope that He is still present and capable of hearing their plea.
• The Permissibility of Lament: This verse, like much of Lamentations and many Psalms, validates the practice of honest, even challenging, prayer during times of severe trial. It teaches that one can express feelings of being forgotten or forsaken to God without losing faith, as long as it leads back to Him.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase translated "for ever" (נצח - netzach) often denotes eternity or perpetuity. In this context, it emphasizes the *feeling* that their suffering and God's perceived absence are unending. Similarly, "so long time" (לארך ימים - le'orekh yamim, literally "for length of days") underscores the prolonged nature of their distress, highlighting the weariness that accompanies extended periods of hardship.

Related Scriptures

This verse echoes the deep pain felt by many biblical figures. The destruction that prompted this lament is vividly described in historical accounts such as 2 Kings 25:8-10 and Jeremiah 52:12-14. While the people feel forgotten, God's character is one of unfailing remembrance, as promised in verses like Isaiah 49:15, where God states He will not forget His people. Even within Lamentations itself, there is a powerful declaration of God's enduring mercies and faithfulness, particularly in Lamentations 3:22-23, which serves as a counterpoint to the despair and a beacon of hope amidst the suffering.

Practical Application

Lamentations 5:20 offers comfort to those who feel abandoned or forgotten by God during difficult times. It teaches that it is permissible and even healthy to voice our deepest pains and questions to the Almighty. Our faith is not diminished by honest questioning, but rather strengthened when we bring our whole selves, including our doubts and despair, before Him. The very act of crying out is an act of faith, acknowledging God's existence and His ultimate power to intervene, even when His presence feels distant. It encourages perseverance in prayer, trusting that God hears and, in His perfect timing, will respond.