Thank you for the question on the Book of Lamentation, “Why was the Book of Lamentations included in the Old Testament? What is the significance of the book of lamentations?”
As I was reading again the Introductions to the Book of Lamentation in the NIV, I found the Introduction very helpful and good reminder of the historical setting for this book.
In the Jewish Canon, the Book of Lamentation is group with the Writings since it is poetic in nature. In the Greek Canon, it is group with the major prophets after the Book of Jeremiah. The placement of Lamentation doesn’t tell us why that book is included in the Canon.
No one can state categorically why Lamentation is included in the Canon of Scriptures. It is likely that the Jewish religious leaders as well as the early Christians accepted the writing as being from the Prophet Jeremiah. The content of the book does not contradict any portion of the Old Testament or New Testament but rather confirms it. Thus perhaps its authorship and content were perceived as being from God and worthy of being in the Canon. In Luke 24, Jesus cites the categories of the Old Testament which shows his acceptance of those books as Scripture.
Luke 24 says this, “He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.”
Luke 24 says this, “44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” Bible citations are from the New International Version.
Granted that the Book of Lamentation is not listed since Jesus intention was not to list the Books of the Old Testament but to explain to his disciples what the Scriptures had to say about himself starting with Moses through the Psalms or the Writings.
The significance of Lamentation is the response of the godly people to the Fall of Jerusalem. The false prophets have been proclaiming the Jerusalem will not fall but be preserved. Jeremiah preached the fall of Jerusalem and he suffered under the false prophets. Jeremiah’s prophesy came true but what was the response of the people. The Book of Lamentation speaks of the Fall of Jerusalem and the hope of the nation. Will God reject his people and his covenant to them?
Lamentations 5 says this, “You, LORD, reign forever; your throne endures from generation to generation. 20 Why do you always forget us? Why do you forsake us so long? 21 Restore us to yourself, LORD, that we may return;
renew our days as of old 22 unless you have utterly rejected us and are angry with us beyond measure” (NIV).
Jeremiah prophecy of 70 years of captivity for the Jewish people. It will seem like a lifetime and it will be a lifetime for many Jews who will never see their homeland again in the 70 years. Jeremiah gives hope to a hopeless people that God has not utterly rejected his people for he is a covenant keeping God. Their captivity is just for their continual rebellion against God but God has not abandon them as one reads in Daniel and in the post exilic books.
SUMMARY: Lamentations records the tears of the Jewish people, but also gives a future hope for the scattered Jewish people, They will return to the Promised Land after Gods discipline is completed for them.
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