bitter wormwood plant

February 27, 2017

The bitter thoughts (Lam 3:19-3:21)

Zayin

“The thought

Of my affliction

Is wormwood!

The thought

Of my homelessness,

Is gall!

My soul continually

Thinks of it.

My soul is

Bowed down

Within me.

But this I call to mind.

Therefore I have hope.”

This author complained about his bitter thoughts. His affliction was like the sour bitter wormwood plant. His homelessness annoyed or galled him. This is like the prayer of a homeless person. His soul was continually sinking. However, when he thought this out, he still had some hope. These three verses start with the Hebrew consonant letter Zayin in this acrostic poem.

February 26, 2017

The laughing stock (Lam 3:13-3:15)

He

“Yahweh shot

Into my vitals

The arrows

Of his quiver.

I have become

The laughingstock

Of all my people.

I have become

The object

Of their taunt-songs

All day long.

He has filled me

With bitterness.

He has filled me

With wormwood.”

This suffering servant complains that Yahweh has shot an arrow into his vital organs. He has become the laughing stock of his people, as they sing taunting songs to and about him all day long. He has been filled with bitterness and forced to eat the bitter wormwood plant. This is a real unhappy dude. These three verses start with the Hebrew consonant letter He in this acrostic poem.

November 29, 2016

Yahweh’s punishment (Jer 23:15-23:15)

“Therefore thus says Yahweh of hosts

Concerning the prophets.

‘I am going to make them

Eat wormwood.

I give them poisoned water

To drink.

From the prophets of Jerusalem

Ungodliness has spread

Throughout the land.’”

The punishment of these Jerusalem prophets is clear, much like in chapter 9. Yahweh of hosts was going to feed these prophets, instead of his people as in chapter 9, with a bitter wormwood plant. He was going to make them drink poisoned water, since these ungodly prophets had spread evil throughout the whole land.

November 1, 2016

Yahweh’s punishment (Jer 9:15-9:16)

“Therefore thus says Yahweh of hosts.

The God of Israel!

‘I am feeding this people

With wormwood.

I am giving them poisonous water

To drink.

I will scatter them

Among nations

That neither they

Nor their ancestors have known.

I will send the sword after them,

Until I have consumed them.’”

This punishment is clear. Yahweh, the God of Israel, was going to feed his people with a bitter wormwood plant. He was going to make them drink poisoned water. He was going to scatter them among countries that neither they nor their ancestors had known about. Finally, he was going to kill with the sword those who survived, until they were all dead. Wow! This was some tough punishment.