Lamentations – Concordia Commentary | R. Reed Lessing

Listen to this episode of The Concordia Publishing House Podcast as author and guest R. Reed Lessing takes a close look at recent interpretations, historical and canonical settings, genres, and more in the book of Lamentations. Lessing provides his perspective on all of these things and more in the newest volume in the Concordia Commentary series that he authored - Lamentations - Concordia Commentary. 

Pre-order the next Concordia Commentary edition on the book of Lamentations on our website today or subscribe to the Concordia Commentary series to save 30% on all new and previously published volumes.

 Show Notes
The book of Lamentations, marked by its tone of mourning, loss, defeat, and heartache, provides neither a pleasant nor an easy read. Nonetheless, it meets us in the valleys of suffering we inevitably face, offering a glimpse of hope in God’s faithfulness. 

In the newest Concordia Commentary volume on Lamentations, Lessing walks readers through this valley, providing insight into the history of interpretations, narratives, and theological context. Listen to the episode as Lessing talks with host Elizabeth Pittman about why Christians should read the book of Lamentations, the destruction of Zion with the temple in Jerusalem and its implications, the Law and Gospel parts included in the book, who he wants to reach with this commentary volume, and more. 

 Questions

• Why should a Christian bother to read the biblical book of Lamentations?
• When we read through the English Bible, why not skip over this short book and go straight from Jeremiah to Ezekiel? 
• Most of the book seems depressing. After all, it is a lament. Shouldn’t Christians rejoice always? What place does a lament have in the Christian life? 
• Should lamenting be part of the corporate worship life of the church? Is Lamentations ever read as part of the lectionary in the church year? When and why?
• Much of the book mourns the destruction of Zion with the temple in Jerusalem. When did this happen in history? What was the prior history of Zion earlier in the Bible? What happens to Zion later in the Bible?
• Does Zion have anything to do with Jesus in the Gospels, or with the Christian hope expressed in the rest of the New Testament?
• Do any Christian hymns feature Zion and the temple? Do hymns include laments?
• Is the book of Lamentations all Law? Is there Gospel hope in it anywhere?
• It seems like the beginning of the book and the end of the book are all about judgment, death, and mourning. Wouldn’t it be better for a biblical book to start out happy and be optimistic at the end? If it has to have sad parts, why not hide them in the middle?
• In English the book is laid out as poetry. Is the Hebrew poetry? What constitutes Hebrew poetry? Does it have rhyme, or other things that mark it as poetry? Lamentations seems to repeat words and ideas in several lines or even a whole stanza. Why the repetition? Why not just say it concisely, once, and move on?
• What’s up with the letters of the Hebrew alphabet that are reproduced in English Bibles? 
• Finally, who do you want to reach with your commentary? 
  
  

About the Guest
Dr. R. Reed Lessing is the The Edwin F. and Esther L. Laatsch Chair of Old Testament Studies at Concordia University, St. Paul, Minnesota. He also serves as the University’s Director for the Center of Biblical Studies and oversees the University’s Pre-Seminary Program. Previously he was Senior Pastor at Saint Michael Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne, Indiana, and before that, Professor of Ex