In five laments the author tries to express the utter horror of the fall of Jerusalem. As painful as it is, it's good to relive suffering, pain, and death. When we face the reality of our sins and their devastating effects, we may also discover the reality of Jesus, the Savior.

Key word    LAMENT
 
Key verse    "Come, all you who pass by the way, look and see whether there is any suffering like my suffering, which has been dealt me when the Lord afflicted me on the day of His blazing wrath." —1:12
 
Command verse    "Let us search and examine our ways that we may return to the Lord! Let us reach out our hearts toward God in heaven!" —3:40-41
 
Promise verse    "The favors of the Lord are not exhausted, His mercies are not spent; They are renewed each morning, so great is His faithfulness. My portion is the Lord, says my soul; therefore will I hope in Him. Good is the Lord to one who waits for Him, to the soul that seeks Him; it is good to hope in silence for the saving help of the Lord." —3:22-26
 
Difficult verse    "The hands of compassionate women boiled their own children, to serve them as mourners' food in the downfall of the daughter of My people." —4:10
 
Surprise verse    "You wrapped Yourself in a cloud which prayer could not pierce." —3:44
 
Prayer: "Lead us back to You, O Lord, that we may be restored; give us anew such days as we had of old" (5:21).