Lamentations

While reading excerpts from "Lamentations" in the Bible, I saw some common themes through the passages. One that stood out me in particular was the idea of comfort and the individuals need and desire for it. The word "comfort" is mentioned several times within the first couple of verses (1.16, 1.17, 1.21). These passages refer to the lack of comfort the people in Jerusalem feel, stating that there is "no one to comfort [them]". The speaker in these passages feels overwhelmed by their situation and feels like there is no one to comfort their suffering since God himself is the one who is causing it. The verses allude to the idea that there is true comfort in no one else but God. When you have abandoned the ways of God and his teachings, then you will soon find that you have no one to turn to for consolement. An individual who has been obedient will find the source of comfort that they are looking for when they need it. I don't know if I necessarily agree with this assertion, but I do think that is one of the underlying messages of these verses.

While reading this excerpt, I also began thinking about our initial discussion of Religion and why we feel the need for it so naturally. One point that I really agreed with was the idea that we as humans want to feel comfortable and in control of our environment. We look for ways to explain the things we can't in order to provide ourselves with this consolement. I think that this relates to the function of "Lamentations" and other books of the bible. The stories told in the Bible give Christians a sense of understanding of the bigger moral picture. It also tells the readers that if they are seeking that sense of comfort in their lives, all they need is to turn to God. God will provide that sense of stability and comfort that you may be looking for. Inversely, I also think that this passage also threatens loss of this comfort against "sinners". If you stray from "the path" of God, you will no longer have this sense of divine comfort that God provides you with.