The Prophet is Sad Over Jerusalem’s Fall

Lamentations 1:1–11
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)

Each of the five chapters of Lamentations expresses grief over the destruction of Jerusalem, but this passage give the most serious weeping. It describes the utter destruction of the capital city caused by her grievous sin. Israel is no longer a super-power among the nations, but rather she is now like a widow (v. 1). Jerusalem has become as an abandoned and solitary widow, once great but now a pitiful person. Tears stream down her checks, She is comfortless and forlorn. The nations who once vied for her friendship are now her enemies. The allies to whom she looked for help have deserted her (vv. 2-3). Egypt, Tyre and Sidon failed to come to her rescue when Babylon invaded. Some even joined forces with Babylon against her. The roads leading to the city were no longer busy thoroughfares filled with pilgrims attending the festivals (cf. Ps 42:1-4). The gates no longer throng with crowds. No one attends her religious feasts (vv. 4-5). Because of her continuing sin, her inhabitants were deported and her leaders were like malnourished deer (harts) unable to escape the hunters (v. 6). All the splendor, beauty, pride, and glory of Jerusalem was gone.

Jerusalem remembered how it used to be but now they are condemned to roam (v. 7). In her wanderings scattered throughout the earth (Jer 9:16; (Jer 18:17; 30:11), afflicted and homeless Judah too late remembers ‘all her pleasant things,’ all her precious possessions she had in the days of old, gracious gifts of her Lord, to be cherished highly. She had despised both the gifts and the giver. Now nothing remains but affliction and wanderings and grievous sins (v. 8), filthy sins, defiling her skirts (v. 9), manifest in spite of her self-righteousness, her formal worship, her hypocritical boasting (Jer 7:4ff.), sins unforgiven. Her temple has been desecrated by intruding strangers (v. 10) and her people are starving because she has become vile in the sight of God (v. 11).

Application

I can only expect to be blessed, respected and affirmed as I stay true to following God’s Word. Lord help me to never get away from operating on the principles of your Word.