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The Book of Lamentations. Introduction to Lamentations. Initial Impressions Author Date Occasion. The Style of Lamentations. Poetry Lament Confession Brutal Language Multiple Voices One Silent Voice. The Structure of Lamentations. 5 Poems No plot or narrative flow
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Introduction to Lamentations • Initial Impressions • Author • Date • Occasion
The Style of Lamentations • Poetry • Lament • Confession • Brutal Language • Multiple Voices • One Silent Voice...
The Structure of Lamentations • 5 Poems • No plot or narrative flow • Chapter 3 – welcome relief? • Chapter 5 – still nothing from God! • Acrostics...
Why Acrostic? • Poetic Style? • Memory aid? • Symbolic of Completeness? • Recovery of Order? • Restore some Humanity?
The Themes of Lamentations • Sin, Punishment and the Violence of God • Suffering (Theodicy) and Complaint (Anti-Theodicy) • Covenant and Presence • Faith, Hope and Worship • Witness and Advocacy • Suffering, Silence and Salvation...
Early Christians didn’t seek to explain evil and suffering, at least not in the abstract, rationalistic way of theodicists. Instead they chose to frame evil and suffering quite differently. Their response to the problem of evil and the existence of suffering was not to question God’s goodness, love, and power, but rather to develop faithful forms of community within which the impact of evil and suffering could be absorbed, resisted, and transformed as they waited for God’s return. The early Christians did not separate the question of suffering from their calling to be people of faith.John Swinton, Raging with Compassion