Lamentations 5:21

Context

Lamentations 5:21 is the penultimate verse in the Book of Lamentations, a profound collection of five poetic laments mourning the catastrophic destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonian army in 586 BC and the subsequent exile of the Jewish people. This final chapter shifts from direct lamentation to a collective prayer, a desperate plea from the surviving remnant to God. The verse encapsulates the people's longing for spiritual renewal and a return to their former blessed state, acknowledging their helplessness without divine intervention. It serves as a poignant conclusion to a book filled with sorrow, offering a glimmer of hope rooted in God's power to restore.

Meaning and Key Themes

• Divine Initiative in Repentance: The plea, "Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned," highlights a profound theological truth: genuine repentance is not solely a human effort but is initiated and enabled by God's grace. It acknowledges the human inability to truly turn without divine intervention. This echoes the sentiment found in Jeremiah 31:18, where Ephraim prays, "Turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the LORD my God." It emphasizes that spiritual transformation begins with God's active involvement.
• Plea for Restoration and Renewal: "Renew our days as of old" expresses a deep yearning for a return to a past era of divine favor, prosperity, and covenant faithfulness, before the calamities of exile. It's a prayer for spiritual and national rejuvenation, a desire to experience God's blessings as they did in their prime. This longing for restoration is a recurring theme in prophetic literature, as seen in the promise of God restoring years that the locusts had eaten. It's a hope for a return to peace, justice, and fellowship with God.
• Hope Amidst Despair: Despite the overwhelming despair evident throughout Lamentations, this verse ends on a note of hope, recognizing that God alone possesses the power to transform their circumstances and their hearts. It's a testament to the enduring faith that even in utter desolation, turning to the LORD remains the only path to true renewal.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "turn" (shuv - שׁוּב) is central to this verse. It carries the double meaning of "to return" and "to repent." The passive voice "we shall be turned" (w'nishâvêv) in relation to the active imperative "Turn thou us" (hăshêvênû) beautifully illustrates that while humans are called to repent, the ability and impetus for true repentance ultimately originate from God. It's God who enables the turning, and then humans respond by being turned. This linguistic nuance underscores the divine initiative in genuine spiritual transformation.

Practical Application

This prayer remains highly relevant for individuals, communities, and nations today. It teaches us that when we find ourselves far from God, struggling with sin, spiritual apathy, or facing overwhelming challenges, our first and most effective prayer should be for God to initiate our turning. It reminds us that true spiritual renewal—whether a personal washing of regeneration or a corporate revival—is a divine work, not merely a human endeavor.

The verse encourages persistent prayer for God's transforming grace in our lives and in the world, believing that with God, renewal is always possible, echoing the sentiment of Psalm 51:10, "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." It calls us to humbly acknowledge our dependence on God for true change and to trust in His power to restore "our days as of old," or even better, in His perfect will.