Lamentations 2:7
The Lord hath cast off his altar, he hath abhorred his sanctuary, he hath given up into the hand of the enemy the walls of her palaces; they have made a noise in the house of the LORD, as in the day of a solemn feast.
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
The altar and sanctuary represented the heart of Israel's worship system. The bronze altar in the temple courtyard (1 Kings 8:64) was where daily sacrifices were offered morning and evening (Exodus 29:38-42). The sanctuary (mikdash) encompassed the Holy Place and Most Holy Place. For God to 'cast off' these meant covenant relationship was broken. Ezekiel 10:18-19 describes God's glory departing the temple before its destruction. When Babylonian soldiers entered, they found it already abandoned by God's presence. The 'noise' of enemies in God's house contrasts with proper temple worship—Levitical singing, priestly blessings, worshipers' prayers. Instead, Psalm 74:4 laments: 'Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations.' The phrase 'as in the day of a solemn feast' bitterly ironizes: festival days brought joyful noise to God's house, but now enemy shouts replace celebratory worship.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God casting off His own altar demonstrate that external religious observance means nothing without heart obedience?
- What parallels exist between God abhorring the Jerusalem sanctuary and Jesus pronouncing 'your house is left desolate' (Matthew 23:38)?
- In what ways might our worship become mere 'noise' to God when divorced from justice, mercy, and humility (Micah 6:6-8)?
Analysis & Commentary
The desecration of worship continues: "The Lord hath cast off his altar, he hath abhorred his sanctuary" (zanach Adonai mizbecho ni'er mikdasho, זָנַח אֲדֹנָי מִזְבְּחוֹ נִאֵר מִקְדָּשׁוֹ). The verb zanach (זָנַח, "cast off, reject") and na'ar (נִאֵר, "abhor, spurn") are strong terms expressing divine repudiation. God rejects His own altar and sanctuary—institutions He ordained. This shows that religious forms divorced from heart obedience become detestable to God (Isaiah 1:11-15, Amos 5:21-23). The phrase "he hath given up into the hand of the enemy the walls of her palaces" (hisgir be-yad-oyev chomot armenotehe) shows God actively delivering Jerusalem's defenses to enemies. Most painful: "they have made a noise in the house of the LORD, as in the day of a solemn feast" (natnu kolam be-veit-YHWH ki-yom mo'ed). Enemy shouts in the temple replace worship songs. What should echo with praises to Yahweh now rings with pagan victory cries. The ultimate desecration.