The Prophet is Sad Over Jerusalem’s Fall
January 9, 2022
Commentary
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.
Lamentations 1:1– 11 (NET)
1 Alas! The city once full of people now sits all alone! The prominent lady among the nations has become a widow! The princess who once ruled the provinces has become a forced laborer! ב (Bet)
2 She weeps bitterly at night; tears stream down her cheeks. She has no one to comfort her among all her lovers. All her friends have betrayed her; they have become her enemies. ג (Gimel)
3 Judah has departed into exile under affliction and harsh oppression. She lives among the nations; she has found no resting place. All who pursued her overtook her in narrow straits. ד (Dalet)
4 The roads to Zion mourn because no one travels to the festivals. All her city gates are deserted; her priests groan. Her virgins grieve; she is in bitter anguish! ה (He)
5 Her foes subjugated her; her enemies are at ease. For the Lord afflicted her because of her many acts of rebellion. Her children went away captive before the enemy. ו (Vav)
6 All of Daughter Zion’s splendor has departed. Her leaders became like deer; they found no pasture, so they were too exhausted to escape from the hunter. ז (Zayin)
7 Jerusalem remembers, when she became a poor homeless person, all her treasures that she owned in days of old. When her people fell into an enemy’s grip, none of her allies came to her rescue. Her enemies gloated over her; they sneered at her downfall. ח (Khet)
8 Jerusalem committed terrible sin; therefore she became an object of scorn. All who admired her have despised her because they have seen her nakedness. She groans aloud and turns away in shame. ט (Tet)
9 Her menstrual flow has soiled her clothing; she did not consider the consequences of her sin. Her demise was astonishing, and there was no one to comfort her. She cried, “Look, O Lord, on my affliction because my enemy boasts!” י (Yod)
10 An enemy grabbed all her valuables. Indeed she watched in horror as Gentiles invaded her holy temple — those whom you had commanded: “They must not enter your assembly place.” כ (Kaf)
11 All her people groaned as they searched for a morsel of bread. They exchanged their valuables for just enough food to stay alive. “Look, O Lord! Consider that I have become worthless!” ל (Lamed)