1.
The siege of the city, (4:1-12).
2.
The reasons for the siege, (4:13-20).
3.
The hope for the future, (4:21-22).
E.
The Prayer for Restoration, (5:1-22).
1.
Confession, (5:1-18).
2.
Petition, (5:19-22).
V.
Outline for the Book of Lamentation.
I A.
Chapter One is known as The First Dirge or Funeral Poem and is a vivid, dramatic description of the desolation of Jerusalem and her misery because of Her Sin, Through the voices of the prophet and a personified city, Jerusalem’s desolation is described as being both physical and covenantal because of the sin of the people, but throughout the descriptions are repeated calls for Yahweh to deliver them 1:1-22.
A.
The Prophet’s Description of the Desolate City. Jeremiah laments the fall of Jerusalem from a position of a prominence to one of servitude and covenant cursing, and yet pleads for Yahweh’s deliverance 1:1-11.
1.
The Fall a Prominent City: 1:1-9.
a.
Description of the fall, 1:1-9a.
b.
Refrain - A call for Yahweh to look at their distress, 1:9b.
2.
The Loss of Covenant Blessings, 1:10-11.
a.
Description of the loss, 1:10-11a.
b.
Refrain - A call for Yahweh to look at their distress: 1:11b.
B.
The People’s (Zion’s) Description of the Desolate City. A personified city (Zion) describes her judgment as just from Yahweh, laments that there are no comforters, confesses their guilt in misplaced trust, and cries to Yahweh for deliverance 1:12-22.
1.
A Just Judgment from Yahweh, 1:12-15.
2.
There Are No Comforters, 1:16-17.