Today’s Bible Translation Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 1-5 HCSB New Lifespring! Family Bereans Brother Howie and Sister Ann Podcast Introduction It’s Prophecy Friday, and we’ll read the book of Lamentations.. I’m calling this episode “Alas.” Design: Scott Snider | Photo: Raychel Sanner on Unsplash Comments on Lamentations Introduction to Lamentations First, let’s talk about the name: Lamentations. In Jewish tradition, the first word of a biblical book is often the name that is used as its title. So the Hebrew title of Lamentations is eikhah, which means “Alas” or “O how.” The Septuagint and other Greek manuscripts refer to it as Thrēnoi, which means “Dirges,” or Thrēnoi Hieremion, which means “Dirges of Jeremiah.” The English translation of thrēnoi is Lamentations.  The book of Lamentations is traditionally held to have been written by the prophet Jeremiah as a sort of appendix to his book of prophetic writings. As David and others wrote many sacred songs of joy, these are sacred songs of lament, or sadness.  Jeremiah is expressing his sadness at seeing his prophecies fulfilled. Though he was ill-treated by his countrymen when he delivered God’s message to them, he is nonetheless heartbroken at the destruction that he sees come upon them.  He wrote these songs, or odes, when he saw the destruction of Judah and Jerusalem by the Chaldean army and the falling apart of the Jewish state…both the government and the body of Jewish believers. This might be referred to as a dirge for Jerusalem. Thoughts on Lamentations You may have noticed that this book ended on a down note: 19You, Lord, are enthroned forever; Your throne endures from generation to generation.  20Why have You forgotten us forever,  abandoned us for our entire lives? 21Lord, restore us to Yourself, so we may return;  renew our days as in former times, 22unless You have completely rejected us and are intensely angry with us. Lamentations 5:19-22 HCSB We’re more used to David in the Psalms. When he wrote of his times of trial, he usually said something like, “But you Lord, are my comfort and st