If Both the Innocent and the Guilty Are Gone, Who is Left?

In this week's Megillot class, we delved into Perek Bet of Eicha. In the first part of the Perek, Pesukim 1-10, the Mekonen offers an objective description of the destruction of the city and the Beit Hamikdash. G-d's anger/fury caused Him to not remember the Beit Hamikdash, He profaned her kings and officers and "swallowed," with no pity, enabling a fire to consume them. Hashem bent His bow like an enemy, killed "pleasing" people, and stopped protecting them. Hashem completely uprooted the Beit Hamikdash, by rejecting it and exiling the priests. Therefore, the elders and the "betulot" are mourning and silent. The themes of this section include: the destruction of the leaders and the city and rejection by G-d, and the idea of G-d becoming like an enemy, as there is a lack of relationship between G-d and the people.

The second section of the Perek, Pesukim 11-12, describes Yerushalayim and the children. Yerushalayim's insides burn, her children are faint, and there is destruction in the streets. The children's souls pour out, they are faint, and the destruction continues to be widespread. There is the incorporation of the idea of "tzadik vera lo," and Yerushalayim cannot cry anymore because of the implications of G-d's anger and fury, as it takes the lives of innocent children. 

In the third portion of the Perek, Pesukim 13-19, Yerushalayim ceases her speaking, and the Mekonen takes over. He validates Yerushalayim's pain, by acknowledging that the leaders misled her and the enemies made a mockery out of her. Furthermore, Hashem caused this to occur by fulfilling the promise not to show pity. However, Yerushalyaim cannot "bottle this up." She needs to pour out her heart before G-d and cry again because of the situation with her children. 

In the final segment of the Perek, Pesukim 20-22, Yerushalayim begins to speak again. "Have you ever done anything like this before (that the situation has deteriorated so quickly) that women eat their own children while the priests/prophets die in the Beit Hamikdash? The people have lost all sense of morality!" Yerushalayim screams. "On the day of your anger, you caused young and old, men and women, and children to be slaughtered without mercy, while the enemies rejoiced." 

Yerushalayim laments the innocent in this Perek. She bemoans the fact that her pure children have been slaughtered, and her people demoralized and eating their own to remain alive. She plays the role of a parent, completely broken over the loss of her children. How could G-d destroy those who cannot even think of sin yet? And why is there no mention of the sin that brought about this utter destruction that could at least justify His anger? Is Yerushalayim giving up hope?

However, the Mekonen seems to be advocating the idea of re-building the relationship between G-d and the people. Will this help to repair G-d and Yerushalayim's connection? Or will it cause more pain? I'm interested in seeing what happens as we continue.