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“You, O Jehovah, abide forever; / Your throne is from generation to generation”—Lam. 5:19:
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In verse 19 Jeremiah, changing his position and angle from himself to God, refers to God’s eternal being and unchanging government.
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Jerusalem was overthrown, the temple was burned down, and God’s people were carried away, but Jehovah, the Lord of the universe, remains to exercise His administration.
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The phrase 'You, O Jehovah, abide forever' indicates that God is eternal and that there is no change in Him—v. 19:
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God remains immutable, not subject to any change due to any kind of environments and circumstances—Psa. 90:2; Rom. 16:25-26.
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In the human realm changes take place in every way, but there is no change with God’s eternal being; He remains forever the same.
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Abraham “called on the name of Jehovah, the Eternal God”—Gen. 21:33:
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In Hebrew the Eternal God is El Olam; El means “the Mighty One,” and Olam means “eternal” or “eternity” and comes from a Hebrew root meaning “to conceal” or “to hide.”
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The divine title El Olam implies eternal life—cf. John 1:1, 4.
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By calling on Jehovah, the Eternal Mighty One, Abraham experienced God as the ever-living, secret, mysterious One, who is the eternal life.
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The phrase Your throne is from generation to generation refers to God’s eternal and unchanging government—Lam. 5:19; Psa. 45:6; 93:2; Rev. 4:2-3:
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God’s throne has no beginning or end; His throne exists from generation to generation.
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Jeremiah’s writing at the end of Lamentations concerning God’s eternal being and unchanging government surely is divine:
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Jeremiah’s word about God’s eternal being and His throne is a strong sign that in writing Lamentations Jeremiah touched God’s economy.
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He came out of his human feelings, touched God’s person and God’s throne, and entered into God’s divinity.
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In the New Jerusalem God will be fully unveiled in His person as the eternal King and in His government as His eternal, unshakable kingdom, both of which are the unshakable foundation of His dealing with His people—Heb. 12:28; Rev. 22:3.
Morning Nourishment
Lam. 5:19 You, O Jehovah, abide forever; Your throne is from generation to generation.Psa. 45:6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
Although Jeremiah was very human, he was also a man of God. He knew that the problems of the children of Israel could not be solved by merely being human. Therefore, at the end of the fifth lamentation, in Lamentations 5:19 through 22, he turned to Jehovah….The phrase You, O Jehovah, abide forever [v. 19] refers to God’s eternal being, and it indicates that there is no change with Him. In the human realm, changes take place in every way. In particular, many things changed in the situation of the children of Israel. But there was no change with God’s eternal being. He remains forever the same.
God’s throne has no beginning or end; His throne exists from generation to generation [v. 19]. Jeremiah’s writing here concerning God’s eternal being and His eternal and unchanging government surely is divine.
In the third lamentation Jeremiah spoke of God’s lovingkindness, compassions, and faithfulness, and at the end of the fifth lamentation he appealed to God’s eternal being and His eternal throne, His unchanging government. Which do you appreciate more and which do you consider higher—God’s lovingkindness, compassions, and faithfulness or God’s eternal being and eternal throne? God’s eternal being and throne are higher than His lovingkindness, compassions, and faithfulness. (Life-study of Lamentations, pp. 13-15)
Today’s Reading
According to the New Testament, God’s salvation is a matter of His love (John 3:16), His grace (Eph. 2:8), and His righteousness (Rom. 1:17). God’s love and grace may change, but God’s righteousness cannot change, because His righteousness is related to His government (Psa. 89:14). Both love and grace are related to God’s heart. God’s heart may change, yet He would still be righteous. God’s righteousness cannot change, because He must always be righteous.Jeremiah ended Lamentations not with God’s lovingkindness, compassions, and faithfulness but with God’s eternal being and His throne. This is a strong sign that in writing Lamentations Jeremiah touched God’s economy. Although his lamentations were too much in his human feeling, taste, love, and sympathy, at the end he came out of his being human and entered into God’s divinity. There, in 5:19, he touched God’s person and God’s throne.
In the New Jerusalem, God will be fully unveiled in His person and in His government, both of which are the unshakable foundation of His dealing with us. At that time, we will see God Himself as the eternal King with His eternal, unshakable kingdom (Heb. 12:28). The divine title Jehovah means “I am.” He is the One who was, who is, and who will be forever (Rev. 4:8b). Jerusalem was finished, the temple was finished, and the land of Israel was finished, but Jehovah will never be finished. When Jeremiah’s position and angle were changed from himself to Jehovah, he realized that although everything may be lost, Jehovah remains forever….The fact that nothing remains and that everything is finished manifests the truth that Jehovah remains forever….Heaven and earth may end, but He will never end. He is the unique source, and all the generations come out of Him.
I appreciate the contrast in [Lamentations 5:18 and 19], for it shows us what remains and what does not remain….Eventually, every “ism” will come to an end, yet Jehovah will remain forever. (Life-study of Lamentations, pp. 15, 18)
Further Reading: Life-study of Lamentations, msgs. 2-4; CWWL, 1978, vol. 3, “The Recovery of Christ as Everything in the Church,” ch. 6