Lamentations - Ezra

Lamentations ends with a prayer for restoration. Ezra begins with a decree, asking those who would, to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple.

Restoration

Lamentations	Ezra
15 Lamentations 5:21 ²¹Bring us back to you, Yahvah, and we will be restored; renew our days like old.	16 Ezra 1:1-3 ¹Now in the 1st year of Cyrus, king of Persia, that the word of Yahvah by the mouth of Jeremiah the prophet might be fulfilled, Yahvah stirred up the spirit of Cyrus, king of Persia, and he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying: ²Cyrus, king of Persia, says: Yahvah, god of the skies, has given me all the kingdoms of the land, and he has commanded me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which city is in Judah. ³Who is there among you of all his people? His god be with him, let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house to Yahvah the god of Israel, he is the god who is in Jerusalem.

Lamentations

Ezra

15 Lamentations 5:21
²¹Bring us back to you, Yahvah, and we will be restored; renew our days like old.

16 Ezra 1:1-3
¹Now in the 1st year of Cyrus, king of Persia, that the word of Yahvah by the mouth of Jeremiah the prophet might be fulfilled, Yahvah stirred up the spirit of Cyrus, king of Persia, and he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying:
²Cyrus, king of Persia, says: Yahvah, god of the skies, has given me all the kingdoms of the land, and he has commanded me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which city is in Judah.
³Who is there among you of all his people? His god be with him, let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house to Yahvah the god of Israel, he is the god who is in Jerusalem.

This decree to return and rebuild is a direct answer to the prayer for restoration, the prayer to "bring us back" and make things like they were before.

As an aside, the author of Lamentations is revealed in this link of the Book Chain. Ezra says the decree was a fulfillment of Jeremiah's word. The decree is also a fulfillment of prayer given at the end of Lamentations. So the voice behind the prayer is Jeremiah's. Thus Jeremiah is the voice, or author, behind Lamentations.

Reign

Another theme between Lamentations and Ezra is that of reign. Lamentations acknowledges Yahvah's reign and Cyrus agrees, saying unequivocally that Yahvah is in control.

Lamentations	Ezra
15 Lamentations 5:19 ¹⁹But you, Yahvah, endure forever; your throne from generation to generation.	16 Ezra 1:2 ²Cyrus, king of Persia, says: Yahvah, god of the skies, has given me all the kingdoms of the land, and he has commanded me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which city is in Judah.

Interestingly, Cyrus is really clear on Yahvah's reign and is concerned with doing something Yahvah asked of him. It makes me wonder how Yahvah spoke to Cyrus. Did he give him a dream? Did he send a prophet? Did Cyrus have access to scriptures through which the holy spirit spoke to him while reading? Did he send an angel, like with Nebuchadnezer? Whatever the mechanism, Yahvah got this man's attention and in that recognition of Yahvah's reign over his kingdom he diligently seeks to carry out what he's been told. This is no different then those in Hebrews 11 who took action when lead to do something, though often times Cyrus takes a bad rap because he's seen as a "pagan" king.

There's a contrast here with the lackadaisical tone of those represented in the lamentation who, despite knowing Yahvah reigns, did not do what he asked.

By Ryan Eaton
Posted Saturday, Issachar 21, 13002