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Jeremiah and Lamentations: Babylonian Crisis

  1. Lesson One
    The Prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1–6, 26–29, 35–38)
    19 Activities
    |
    4 Assessments
  2. Lesson Two
    Jeremiah: Idolatry and Anguish (Jeremiah 39–51)
    20 Activities
  3. Lesson Three
    Jeremiah: Shame and Dignity (Jeremiah 7–20)
    21 Activities
    |
    1 Assessment
  4. Lesson Four
    Jeremiah: A Future Hope (Jeremiah 21–25, 30–34)
    21 Activities
    |
    2 Assessments
  5. Lesson Five
    Lamentations
    21 Activities
  6. Course Wrap-Up
    Course Completion
    1 Activity
    |
    1 Assessment
Jeremiah and Lamentations: Babylonian Crisis Lamentations In | The Unthinkable Thought, Part 1
Lesson 5, Activity 9

In | The Unthinkable Thought, Part 1

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Lamentations ends with what some have called the “Unthinkable Thought.” After listing so much destruction and the many curses the people have endured, the author asks God, in effect, if He has rejected the people completely and walked away from His eternal covenant: 

Why do you forget us forever,
why do you forsake us for so many days?
Restore us to yourself, O LORD, that we may be restored!
Renew our days as of old—
unless you have utterly rejected us,
and you remain exceedingly angry with us. 
Lamentations 5:20-22 ESV

The possibility that God’s covenant has ended, and the people are no longer His people, is the “Unthinkable Thought.” It’s the end of hope for His people. If God walks away from Judah, they will ultimately be no different than their neighbor Moab:

Moab shall be destroyed and be no longer a people, because he magnified himself against the LORD. 
Jeremiah 48:42 ESV

The long view of what’s happening to Israel in 586 BC comes from Deuteronomy 28, where Moses predicted blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience to the covenant. 

But if you will not obey the voice of the LORD your God or be careful to do all his commandments and his statutes that I command you today, then all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you. 
Deuteronomy 28:15 ESV