Our Skin Lamentations 5:10

As we remember Jeremiah's setting as he wrote the book of Lamentations, we can imagine him sitting in a cave in what is known as “Jeremiah's Grotto” and overlooking the devastated city of Jerusalem. Tears have flown down his cheeks as he inventories the damage that was done unto them. In Lamentations chapter five and verse ten Jeremiah recounts to the Lord how even their skin was affected by the conquest. He wrote:

Our skin was black like an oven because of the terrible famine.

The verse begins, “Our skin was black like an oven...” Jeremiah employs a simile as he uses the words “like an oven” to give his readers an idea of the level of darkness which appears on those whom he saw. Apparently even the melanin in their skin was affected, and Jeremiah noticed the difference in their overall color as they wandered in the city.

The verse goes on to say, “...because of the terrible famine.” The reason for their skin darkening according to Jeremiah was “the terrible famine” which means “burning heat” and “hunger”. As their skin was dried out from the famine the heat darkened them as they were scorched by the sun. We can only use our imaginations to discover what this sight must have looked like to Jeremiah.

God's protecting hand was upon the people of Judah and Jerusalem at one time, and they forsook Him. When they chose to go their own ways and worshiped other gods than He, God lifted His mighty hand and even their skin was affected by it. If we have not been inspired to align ourselves with God's ways through the motivation of this book, we might not ever be. The answer for avoiding these things was before them all the time, and yet the people of Jerusalem would not yield to the Lord. As we ponder the results of their rebellion, may it inspire us to visit the cross of Jesus Christ once again and hear the Lord beckoning to “come unto” Him and receive His Son Jesus as Savior and Lord over our lives.

Next time we see what happened to the women in Jerusalem, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

 

Until tomorrow...there is more...

 

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