Jeremiah’s Journal of Woes

Message Summary:

In this comprehensive survey of the book of Lamentations, Chuck Swindoll guides the listener through what he calls a “flyover” of Jeremiah’s five-chapter journal of grief. Delivered during the turbulent events of June 2020, Swindoll draws parallels between the ancient destruction of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. and modern scenes of unrest, pandemic, and societal heartbreak. He portrays Jeremiah not merely as a prophet, but as a heartbroken witness walking through the charred ruins of the city he loved, documenting the devastating consequences of a nation that refused to listen to God.

Swindoll structures the message by identifying a different “speaker” for each chapter of the book to help interpret the poetry. He moves from the City speaking as a desolate widow in Chapter 1, to the Lord speaking in anger in Chapter 2, to the Prophet finding personal hope in Chapter 3. He continues with the Possessions speaking of their lost value in Chapter 4, and concludes with the People praying from captivity in Chapter 5.

Despite the “limping meter” of this funeral dirge, the sermon pivots on the profound hope found in the center of the book. Swindoll emphasizes Jeremiah’s determination to “dare to hope” amidst the darkness, reminding believers that God’s mercies begin afresh every morning, regardless of the chaos in the streets. The message concludes with a sober reminder that “history rhymes,” warning that the way of the transgressor is hard, but that God remains the ultimate authority who does not change.

Message Key Facts:

• The Context of 2020: Swindoll explicitly connects this message to the COVID-19 pandemic and the civil unrest/riots of June 2020. He notes that God led him to Lamentations because the ancient scenes of deserted streets, lack of festivals, and mob violence mirrored the headlines of the day [7–8, 18].
• The “Limping Meter”: Swindoll explains that Chapters 1 through 4 are written in a specific Hebrew poetic rhythm known as a “limping meter.” This is the cadence used for a funeral dirge, fitting for a prophet who feels he is leading a procession through a graveyard.
• Literary Structure (The Acrostics):
  • Chapters 1, 2, and 4 each contain 22 verses, corresponding to the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Each verse begins with a successive letter.
  • Chapter 3 contains 66 verses—a triple acrostic where three verses in a row begin with the same letter.
  • Chapter 5 has 22 verses but is not an acrostic. Swindoll explains this is because it is a spontaneous prayer of a captive people, which flows from the heart rather than a structured form [13–17].
• The Five Voices of Lamentations: Swindoll categorizes the chapters by who is speaking:
  • Chapter 1: The City Speaks. Jerusalem is personified as a widow and a slave, sobbing alone [19–20].
  • Chapter 2: The Lord Speaks. God steps forth in anger because His patience has ended.
  • Chapter 3: The Prophet Speaks. Jeremiah admits his affliction but chooses to “dare to hope” [25–26].
  • Chapter 4: The Possessions Speak. Gold has lost its luster; materialism is exposed as worthless.
  • Chapter 5: The People Speak. The captives finally pray, acknowledging their sin and God’s eternal nature [29–30].
• A Reluctant, Lonely Prophet: Jeremiah is described as a “reluctant prophet” who felt too young and inexperienced. Swindoll highlights his extreme loneliness, noting that God commanded him never to marry or have children (Jeremiah 16:2), leaving him with no domestic comfort while he witnessed his nation’s collapse [9–10].
• The Judgment at Nuremberg Illustration: Swindoll references the film Judgment at Nuremberg, specifically a scene where Spencer Tracy walks through the war-torn ruins of the city, hearing the ghostly echoes of Hitler’s rallies. Swindoll uses this to illustrate the heavy weight of consequences found in Lamentations 2.
• History Rhymes: Quoting Mark Twain, Swindoll notes, “History doesn’t merely repeat itself; it rhymes.” He uses this to warn that the cycle of ignoring God and suffering consequences is repeating in the modern era.
• “I Dare to Hope”: In discussing Lamentations 3:21, Swindoll focuses on the phrase “Yet I still dare to hope.” He encourages listeners not to let the “evening news determine their emotions,” but to actively choose hope based on God’s morning mercies [26–27].

Message References:

• Lamentations 1:1: “Jerusalem, once so full of people, is now deserted… she now sits alone like a widow”.
• Lamentations 3:21–23: The central text of hope: “Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends… his mercies begin afresh each morning”.
• Lamentations 4:1: “How the gold has lost its luster! Even the finest gold has become dull”.
• Lamentations 5:19: “But Lord, you remain the same forever; your throne continues from generation to generation”.
• Proverbs 13:15: “The way of the transgressor is hard” (Cited as the thematic verse for the events of Lamentations).
• Jeremiah 16:2: The command from the Lord to Jeremiah: “You shall not take a wife…”.
• Proverbs 23:5: Referenced regarding riches: “For riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven”.

Message Speaker:

Pastor Chuck Swindoll