This book, written by Jeremiah, the weeping and lamenting prophet (Lam. 2:11; 3:48; Jer. 9:1), contains five lamentations expressing Jeremiah’s sorrow and love for the holy city and the holy people of God. Jeremiah had prophesied concerning Israel’s destruction carried out under God’s governmental dealing, and he had also witnessed the destruction, devastation, contamination, capture, and ruin of the entire country, including Jerusalem. By God’s sovereignty Jeremiah was free from captivity (Jer. 40:1-6). According to history Jeremiah sat on a hill overlooking Jerusalem, viewing all the ruins below. He began to weep, and he could not avoid writing down his feelings.

Jeremiah wrote his five lamentations in a very fine way. In Hebrew the first letter of each verse of chs. 1, 2, and 4 follows the order of the twenty-two letters of the Hebrew alphabet. In ch. 3 every three verses form a group that begins with the same Hebrew letter, and the twenty-two groups formed follow the order of the twenty-two letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

Or, miseries.