Lamentations 2:19 - Arise, cry out in the night, at the beginning of the watches! Pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord. Lift up your hands toward him for the life of your young children, who faint for hunger at the head of every street.
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What does "Lamentations 2:19" mean?
Lamentations 2:19 is a powerful and desperate plea to God in the midst of immense suffering. Let's break down each phrase to understand its meaning:
"Arise, cry out in the night, at the beginning of the watches!": This is a call to action. "Arise" suggests urgency and a rejection of passivity. "Cry out in the night" emphasizes that this is a time of darkness, both literally and metaphorically, representing the despair and hopelessness of the situation. "At the beginning of the watches" refers to the early morning hours, typically a time of vulnerability, quiet, and often seen as a time when God is more receptive to prayer. It highlights the seriousness and persistence required in seeking God's intervention, even when exhaustion sets in. The speaker is urging a person to get up, overcome their weariness, and desperately cry out to God.
"Pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord.": This imagery describes a complete and unreserved expression of grief, pain, and sorrow to God. "Pouring out your heart" means to express everything, holding nothing back. Comparing the heart to "water" suggests abundance and the free-flowing nature of this emotional outpouring. "Before the face of the Lord" emphasizes the directness of the prayer, acknowledging God's presence and power to intervene. It conveys the idea of laying bare one's soul before God, revealing the deepest fears, sorrows, and needs.
"Lift up your hands toward him for the life of your young children, who faint for hunger at the head of every street.": This specifies the primary reason for the plea: the desperate plight of the children. "Lift up your hands" is a gesture of supplication, surrender, and pleading for help. The phrase "for the life of your young children" underlines the severity of the situation and the vulnerability of the children. "Who faint for hunger at the head of every street" paints a vivid and heartbreaking picture of starvation. The children, representing the next generation and the future, are dying of hunger in public view, highlighting the complete breakdown of society and the urgency of the need. "Head of every street" suggests that the starvation is widespread and inescapable, not just isolated.
In summary, the verse is a desperate call to prayer during a time of immense suffering, specifically brought on by the siege and destruction of Jerusalem. It urges the people to:
Actively cry out to God in the darkest hours.
Honestly and openly express their grief, pain, and needs to God.
Specifically plead for the lives of their starving children, highlighting the dire consequences of the current situation.
The verse reflects the themes of lament, confession, and supplication that are central to the Book of Lamentations. It's a raw and emotional portrayal of a community on the brink of collapse, turning to God as their only hope.
Lamentations 2:19 - Arise, cry out in the night, at the beginning of the watches! Pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord. Lift up your hands toward him for the life of your young children, who faint for hunger at the head of every street.
What does "Lamentations 2:19" mean?
Lamentations 2:19 is a powerful and desperate plea to God in the midst of immense suffering. Let's break down each phrase to understand its meaning:
"Arise, cry out in the night, at the beginning of the watches!": This is a call to action. "Arise" suggests urgency and a rejection of passivity. "Cry out in the night" emphasizes that this is a time of darkness, both literally and metaphorically, representing the despair and hopelessness of the situation. "At the beginning of the watches" refers to the early morning hours, typically a time of vulnerability, quiet, and often seen as a time when God is more receptive to prayer. It highlights the seriousness and persistence required in seeking God's intervention, even when exhaustion sets in. The speaker is urging a person to get up, overcome their weariness, and desperately cry out to God.
"Pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord.": This imagery describes a complete and unreserved expression of grief, pain, and sorrow to God. "Pouring out your heart" means to express everything, holding nothing back. Comparing the heart to "water" suggests abundance and the free-flowing nature of this emotional outpouring. "Before the face of the Lord" emphasizes the directness of the prayer, acknowledging God's presence and power to intervene. It conveys the idea of laying bare one's soul before God, revealing the deepest fears, sorrows, and needs.
"Lift up your hands toward him for the life of your young children, who faint for hunger at the head of every street.": This specifies the primary reason for the plea: the desperate plight of the children. "Lift up your hands" is a gesture of supplication, surrender, and pleading for help. The phrase "for the life of your young children" underlines the severity of the situation and the vulnerability of the children. "Who faint for hunger at the head of every street" paints a vivid and heartbreaking picture of starvation. The children, representing the next generation and the future, are dying of hunger in public view, highlighting the complete breakdown of society and the urgency of the need. "Head of every street" suggests that the starvation is widespread and inescapable, not just isolated.
In summary, the verse is a desperate call to prayer during a time of immense suffering, specifically brought on by the siege and destruction of Jerusalem. It urges the people to:
Actively cry out to God in the darkest hours.
Honestly and openly express their grief, pain, and needs to God.
Specifically plead for the lives of their starving children, highlighting the dire consequences of the current situation.
The verse reflects the themes of lament, confession, and supplication that are central to the Book of Lamentations. It's a raw and emotional portrayal of a community on the brink of collapse, turning to God as their only hope.