RESTORE US, AS IN DAYS OF OLD

Passage: Lamentations 5:1-22

Key verse: 21

NIV

5 Remember, Lord, what has happened to us;
    look, and see our disgrace.(A)
2 Our inheritance(B) has been turned over to strangers,(C)
    our homes(D) to foreigners.(E)
3 We have become fatherless,
    our mothers are widows.(F)
4 We must buy the water we drink;(G)
    our wood can be had only at a price.(H)
5 Those who pursue us are at our heels;
    we are weary(I) and find no rest.(J)
6 We submitted to Egypt and Assyria(K)
    to get enough bread.
7 Our ancestors(L) sinned and are no more,
    and we bear their punishment.(M)
8 Slaves(N) rule over us,
    and there is no one to free us from their hands.(O)
9 We get our bread at the risk of our lives
    because of the sword in the desert.
10 Our skin is hot as an oven,
    feverish from hunger.(P)
11 Women have been violated(Q) in Zion,
    and virgins in the towns of Judah.
12 Princes have been hung up by their hands;
    elders(R) are shown no respect.(S)
13 Young men toil at the millstones;
    boys stagger under loads of wood.
14 The elders are gone from the city gate;
    the young men have stopped their music.(T)
15 Joy is gone from our hearts;
    our dancing has turned to mourning.(U)
16 The crown(V) has fallen from our head.(W)
    Woe to us, for we have sinned!(X)
17 Because of this our hearts(Y) are faint,(Z)
    because of these things our eyes(AA) grow dim(AB)
18 for Mount Zion,(AC) which lies desolate,(AD)
    with jackals prowling over it.

19 You, Lord, reign forever;(AE)
    your throne endures(AF) from generation to generation.
20 Why do you always forget us?(AG)
    Why do you forsake(AH) us so long?
21 Restore(AI) us to yourself, Lord, that we may return;
    renew our days as of old
22 unless you have utterly rejected us(AJ)
    and are angry with us beyond measure.(AK)

Read full chapter
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Restore Us to Yourself, O Lord

5 (A)Remember, O Lord, what has befallen us;
    look, and see (B)our disgrace!
2 (C)Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers,
    our homes to foreigners.
3 We have become orphans, fatherless;
    our mothers are like widows.
4 We must pay for the water we drink;
    the wood we get must be bought.
5 (D)Our pursuers are at our necks;
    we are weary; we are given no rest.
6 We have given the hand to (E)Egypt, and to (F)Assyria,
    to get bread enough.
7 Our fathers sinned, and are no more;
    (G)and we bear their iniquities.
8 (H)Slaves rule over us;
    there is none to deliver us from their hand.
9 (I)We get our bread at the peril of our lives,
    because of the sword in the wilderness.
10 (J)Our skin is hot as an oven
    with (K)the burning heat of famine.
11 Women are raped in Zion,
    young women in the towns of Judah.
12 (L)Princes are hung up by their hands;
    (M)no respect is shown to the elders.
13 Young men are compelled to (N)grind at the mill,
    and boys stagger (O)under loads of wood.
14 (P)The old men have left the city gate,
    the young men (Q)their music.
15 (R)The joy of our hearts has ceased;
    (S)our dancing has been turned to mourning.
16 (T)The crown has fallen from our head;
    woe to us, for we have sinned!
17 For this (U)our heart has become sick,
    for these things (V)our eyes have grown dim,
18 for Mount Zion which lies desolate;
    (W)jackals prowl over it.
19 (X)But you, O Lord, reign forever;
    your throne endures to all generations.
20 (Y)Why do you forget us forever,
    why do you forsake us for so many days?
21 (Z)Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may be restored!
    Renew our days as of old—
22 (AA)unless you have utterly rejected us,
    and you remain exceedingly angry with us.

Read full chapter
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Chapter 5 is unique in this book as it is the only chapter that is not acrostic. But, like chapters 1, 2, and 4 this chapter contains 22 verses and contains similar themes. The first 18 verses here recount all that has happened to God’s people since the invasion of Babylon. It is actually a cry to the Lord for him to remember them in their suffering. Their land had been turned over to strangers. Many of them had become orphans or widows as the men were killed. What food, water, and wood that could be found could only be bought at a very high price. They were being pursued on all sides. All joy had left their hearts. But he recognizes and laments the sin which was the cause of all their suffering.

The book concludes with a cry to the Lord. It is a recognition that the Lord is eternal. His reign is everlasting. He asks the Lord why he always forgets and forsakes his people. And he cries out for the Lord to restore them to him. “Restore us to yourself, Lord, that we may return; renew our days as of old…”

Prayer: Father, have mercy on us sinners, Lord. Do not forsake us but bless us to return to you and restore us as in days of old.

One Word: Restore us, O Lord!