Tyndale Open Study NotesLamentations 5

This chapter is a sincere prayer asking for restoration (compare Daniel 9:4–19).

There was a famine in Jerusalem during the siege, and the people ran out of food (2 Kings 25:3; Jeremiah 37:21; 38:9; 52:6).

These terrible things happened because the people had sinned (see Isaiah 24:7–12; Jeremiah 7:24; Jeremiah 13:18; Jeremiah 25:10–11; Amos 8:10).

patrolled by foxes: Compare Isaiah 13:22; 34:13; Jeremiah 9:11; 10:22; Malachi 1:3.

unless You have utterly rejected us: The tragedy of the exile caused people to ask whether God would forgive their sin and restore them.

God answered this question through the prophets (Isaiah 40:27–31; 41:8–20). He also answered it by sending Christ, who brought forgiveness and restoration (Matthew 9:2–6; 26:28; Luke 24:47).