Lamentations 4 bemoans the reversal of fortune that has occurred throughout Judah: "How the gold has grown dim, how the pure gold is changed! The sacred stones lie scattered at the head of every street" (vs. 1).
Jeremiah notes that many things have undergone a stark change for the worse. Children once precious, are now worthless (vs. 2-4). The rich once wealthy, are now withered (vs. 5-8). Women once compassionate, are now cannibals (vs. 10). Jerusalem, once impregnable, is now exposed (vs. 12).
One of the main ways that the tables have turned is the indictment of the priests and prophets. Jeremiah lays the blame for what has happened to Judah squarely at their feet: "It was for the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests, who shed the blood of the righteous in the midst of her" (vs. 13). Those who had once been sanctified are now unclean. Those who had once been spiritual leaders of Judah are now wandering blindly among the nations. Those who had once dashed the blood of purification against the altar are themselves now defiled with it (vs. 14). Jeremiah concludes about them: "The Lord himself has scattered them, he will regard them no more; no honor was shown to the priests, no favor to the elders" (vs. 16).
While the Bible speaks in many places of the reversal that comes (the humble exalted, the proud brought low, etc.), Lamentations reveals in heartbreaking detail what it looks like when the mighty are indeed fallen. It's horrible. The pain and suffering inflicted upon a once pampered and indulgent society should give all of us modern Westerners pause.
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