Lamentations 2:7 - The Lord has cast off his altar. He has abhorred his sanctuary. He has given the walls of her palaces into the hand of the enemy. They have made a noise in Yahweh’s house, as in the day of a solemn assembly.
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What does "Lamentations 2:7" mean?
Lamentations 2:7 is a powerful and tragic lament about the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple by the Babylonians. Let's break down the meaning phrase by phrase:
"The Lord has cast off his altar." This signifies God's abandonment of the sacrificial system that was central to worship in the Temple. "Casting off" implies rejection and dismissal. The altar, where sacrifices were offered to atone for sins and commune with God, is now useless. God no longer accepts or sanctions the rituals performed there.
"He has abhorred his sanctuary." The sanctuary, the holiest part of the temple, the dwelling place of God's presence, is now detested ("abhorred") by God. This is a shocking statement. It suggests that due to the sins of the people, the temple, once sacred, has become repulsive to God. It's a rejection of the people's worship within that space.
"He has given the walls of her palaces into the hand of the enemy." This means that God has allowed the enemies (the Babylonians) to capture and destroy Jerusalem's palaces (symbols of royal power and safety). God, in effect, delivered these strongholds into enemy control. This speaks to the utter vulnerability and defeat of Jerusalem.
"They have made a noise in Yahweh’s house, as in the day of a solemn assembly." This is a stark and painful comparison. "A solemn assembly" was a joyous, sacred occasion filled with singing, praise, and worship directed to God. The "noise" now filling the temple is not of worship, but of the clamor and shouts of a conquering army: the destruction, looting, and sacrilege committed by the invaders. It's a profaning of the sacred space with the sounds of war and conquest instead of the sounds of worship.
Overall Meaning:
The verse expresses the devastating consequences of Judah's unfaithfulness. It describes a complete reversal of God's protection and favor. The core ideas are:
God's Judgment: The destruction is not random; it's a divine judgment upon the sins of the people of Judah. God has withdrawn his presence and protection.
Loss of Sacredness: The places that were once considered holy (altar, sanctuary, temple) are now defiled and abandoned by God.
Humiliation and Defeat: The enemy has conquered Jerusalem, and the sounds of triumph now echo in the very house of God, replacing the sounds of worship.
This verse emphasizes the depth of the tragedy and the loss experienced by the people of Judah. It's a lament over the devastation of their religious and national identity, caused by their own disobedience. The verse sets a somber tone for the rest of the book of Lamentations, which explores the suffering and grief that followed the destruction of Jerusalem.
Lamentations 2:7 - The Lord has cast off his altar. He has abhorred his sanctuary. He has given the walls of her palaces into the hand of the enemy. They have made a noise in Yahweh’s house, as in the day of a solemn assembly.
What does "Lamentations 2:7" mean?
Lamentations 2:7 is a powerful and tragic lament about the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple by the Babylonians. Let's break down the meaning phrase by phrase:
"The Lord has cast off his altar." This signifies God's abandonment of the sacrificial system that was central to worship in the Temple. "Casting off" implies rejection and dismissal. The altar, where sacrifices were offered to atone for sins and commune with God, is now useless. God no longer accepts or sanctions the rituals performed there.
"He has abhorred his sanctuary." The sanctuary, the holiest part of the temple, the dwelling place of God's presence, is now detested ("abhorred") by God. This is a shocking statement. It suggests that due to the sins of the people, the temple, once sacred, has become repulsive to God. It's a rejection of the people's worship within that space.
"He has given the walls of her palaces into the hand of the enemy." This means that God has allowed the enemies (the Babylonians) to capture and destroy Jerusalem's palaces (symbols of royal power and safety). God, in effect, delivered these strongholds into enemy control. This speaks to the utter vulnerability and defeat of Jerusalem.
"They have made a noise in Yahweh’s house, as in the day of a solemn assembly." This is a stark and painful comparison. "A solemn assembly" was a joyous, sacred occasion filled with singing, praise, and worship directed to God. The "noise" now filling the temple is not of worship, but of the clamor and shouts of a conquering army: the destruction, looting, and sacrilege committed by the invaders. It's a profaning of the sacred space with the sounds of war and conquest instead of the sounds of worship.
Overall Meaning:
The verse expresses the devastating consequences of Judah's unfaithfulness. It describes a complete reversal of God's protection and favor. The core ideas are:
God's Judgment: The destruction is not random; it's a divine judgment upon the sins of the people of Judah. God has withdrawn his presence and protection.
Loss of Sacredness: The places that were once considered holy (altar, sanctuary, temple) are now defiled and abandoned by God.
Humiliation and Defeat: The enemy has conquered Jerusalem, and the sounds of triumph now echo in the very house of God, replacing the sounds of worship.
This verse emphasizes the depth of the tragedy and the loss experienced by the people of Judah. It's a lament over the devastation of their religious and national identity, caused by their own disobedience. The verse sets a somber tone for the rest of the book of Lamentations, which explores the suffering and grief that followed the destruction of Jerusalem.