Psalm 196 from Beyond Psalm 150
As we move forward in the progression of these five psalms of lament, the fourth poem centers on God’s anger—or the perception of his anger. It’s a heart-wrenching recitation of the outcome of God’s wrath.
How the gold has become dim!
Lamentations 4 (WEB)
The most pure gold has changed!
The stones of the sanctuary are poured out
at the head of every street.
The precious sons of Zion,
comparable to fine gold,
how they are esteemed as earthen pitchers,
the work of the hands of the potter!
Even the jackals offer their breast.
They nurse their young ones.
But the daughter of my people has become cruel,
like the ostriches in the wilderness.
The tongue of the nursing child clings to the roof of his mouth for thirst.
The young children ask bread,
and no one breaks it for them.
Those who ate delicacies are desolate in the streets.
Those who were brought up in purple embrace dunghills.
For the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the sin of Sodom,
which was overthrown as in a moment.
No hands were laid on her.
Her nobles were purer than snow.
They were whiter than milk.
They were more ruddy in body than rubies.
Their polishing was like sapphire.
Their appearance is blacker than a coal.
They are not known in the streets.
Their skin clings to their bones.
It is withered.
It has become like a stick.
Those who are killed with the sword are better than those who are killed with hunger;
For these pine away, stricken through,
for lack of the fruits of the field.
The hands of the pitiful women have boiled their own children.
They were their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people.
Yahweh has accomplished his wrath.
He has poured out his fierce anger.
He has kindled a fire in Zion,
which has devoured its foundations.
The kings of the earth didn’t believe,
neither did all the inhabitants of the world,
that the adversary and the enemy would enter into the gates of Jerusalem.
It is because of the sins of her prophets
and the iniquities of her priests,
that have shed the blood of the just in the middle of her.
They wander as blind men in the streets.
They are polluted with blood,
So that men can’t touch their garments.
“Go away!” they cried to them.
“Unclean! Go away! Go away! Don’t touch!
When they fled away and wandered, men said among the nations,
“They can’t live here any more.”
Yahweh’s anger has scattered them.
He will not pay attention to them any more.
They didn’t respect the persons of the priests.
They didn’t favor the elders.
Our eyes still fail,
looking in vain for our help.
In our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save.
They hunt our steps,
so that we can’t go in our streets.
Our end is near.
Our days are fulfilled,
for our end has come.
Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles of the sky.
They chased us on the mountains.
They set an ambush for us in the wilderness.
The breath of our nostrils,
the anointed of Yahweh,
was taken in their pits;
of whom we said,
under his shadow we will live among the nations.
Rejoice and be glad, daughter of Edom,
who dwells in the land of Uz.
The cup will pass through to you also.
You will be drunken,
and will make yourself naked.
The punishment of your iniquity is accomplished, daughter of Zion.
He will no more carry you away into captivity.
He will visit your iniquity, daughter of Edom.
He will uncover your sins.
Reflections on A Lament of God’s Anger
Again, we must remind ourselves that this lament isn’t a reflection of Yahweh’s character. Instead, it’s Jeremiah’s perception of what he witnessed.
In the middle of this poem, Jeremiah points the blame at sinful prophets and priests. Yes, greater judgment faces those who lead (see James 3:1).
Yet the people who follow these leaders are also culpable for their own sins. That’s why everyone received Yahweh’s punishment. And that’s why everyone will receive his punishment—unless they accept Jesus’s gift of salvation (Ephesians 2:4–9).
Despite this punishment, however, the psalm concludes with a ray of hope. It affirms that God’s punishment has ended.
Do we ever blame our spiritual leaders for our own shortcomings? When we’re going through difficulties, do we trust in Yahweh’s goodness that our trials will one day end?
May we always keep our focus on God, regardless of what we’re going through.
Explore the other psalms—sacred songs of praise, petition, and lament—scattered throughout the Bible in Peter’s book Beyond Psalm 150.
Discover more sacred songs of praise, petition, and lament throughout the Bible.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront a status quo faith and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
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