Zion stretches out her hands, but there is no one to comfort her. The LORD has decreed against Jacob that his neighbors become his foes. Jerusalem has become an unclean thing among them. Sermons
I. THE CONSCIOUSNESS SORROW, DESOLATION, AND SHAME. How extreme is the distress and humiliation here depicted is apparent from the fact that this language has been attributed to our Divine Saviour when hanging upon the cross of Calvary. If a city never endured sorrow like that of Jerusalem, certainly no human being ever experienced agonies so piercing as those which the Captain of our salvation willingly bore for our sake when he gave his life a ransom for many. "All ye that pass by, To the Saviour draw nigh; To you is it nothing that Jesus should die? For sins not his own He died to atone; Was pain or was sorrow like his ever known?" II. THE ADMISSION THAT AFFLICTION IS OF DIVINE APPOINTMENT, THAT IT IS CHASTISEMENT. When Jerusalem came to herself she could not fail to recognize a Divine hand in the miseries which befell her. The scourge was the army of the Chaldeans, but the hand was the righteous and retributive hand of the Eternal. It is too common for those who are in trouble to murmur against Providence, to exclaim against the injustice of providential appointments. Yet true wisdom points out that the path of submission and resignation is the right path. When once the mind is brought to acknowledge, "It is the Lord!" there is a prospect of spiritual improvement. III. THE CRY FOR SYMPATHY. By a striking figure of speech, Jerusalem is presented as calling upon surrounding nations for interest and compassion. "Is it nothing to you? ... Behold, and see!" Human sympathy is welcome in seasons of sorrow, Yet true help and deliverance must be from God, and from God alone, It is better to call upon the Lord than to call upon man; for he is both ready to sympathize and mighty to save. - T. 2. God can as easily destroy in a fenced city as in a battle. 3. It is God that ruleth even the wicked, and setteth them on work against His servants. 4. Men can no more escape God's hand in punishing them, than the grapes can fly from the treader of the winepress. 5. The niceness of those that have lived daintily ("the virgin") is no reason to free them, but rather a provocation to bring afflictions upon them.(1) The pampering of ourselves is none of the ends for which God bestoweth His blessings upon us.(2) Such coy niceness as many be of is seldom without special sins that are incident to that condition, which God will not let pass unpunished. 6. Except the children forsake their sins, they shall not be spared for the godliness of their parents. (J. Udall.) For these things I weep 1. It is not only lawful, but also necessary, for the godly to be so greatly grieved, when God punisheth them for their sins, as may draw them into extreme weeping.2. No adversity hath warrant to grieve us so much as the punishment of God upon us for our sins (Luke 23:28). 3. There is none so stout, or hardhearted, but afflictions will bring him down. 4. It is a grievous plague to be deprived of comforters in affliction; the contrary whereof is an exceeding blessing. 5. It is the duty of everyone to comfort and relieve others that be in distress. (1) (2) (3) 6. The Church, as also the commonwealth, is to declare herself a kind mother to everyone that is trained up therein, and to have compassion of their miseries, helping them to the uttermost. 7. It is the property of carnal friends to be friendly only whilst prosperity is upon us; but if our adversaries prevail against us, they are gone. (J. Udall.) Zion spreadeth forth her hands. 1. It is a necessary duty in God's people to seek out all good means of their release from troubles.2. God often frustrateth the lawful endeavours of His children of that good issue which is expected, and yet liketh well that they should use means to bring the same to pass. 3. The wicked have no power against God's people, but that which is given them from the Lord. 4. God's people are more grievously afflicted and reproached in the world than any else, and the godliest most of all. (J. Udall.) People Jacob, JeremiahPlaces Jerusalem, ZionTopics Adversaries, Attackers, Charged, Comfort, Comforter, Commanded, Decreed, Filthy, Foes, Forth, Hands, Impure, Impurity, Jacob, Jerusalem, Menstruous, Neighbors, Neighbours, None, Ones, Orders, Outstretched, Round, Spread, Spreadeth, Spreads, Stretches, Unclean, Zion, Zion'sOutline 1. The miseries of Jerusalem and of the Jews lamented12. The attention of beholders demanded to this unprecedented case 18. The justice of God acknowledged, and his mercy supplicated. Dictionary of Bible Themes Lamentations 1:17Library No Sorrow Like Messiah's SorrowIs it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Behold, and see, if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow! A lthough the Scriptures of the Old Testament, the law of Moses, the Psalms, and the Prophecies (Luke 24:44) , bear an harmonious testimony to MESSIAH ; it is not necessary to suppose that every single passage has an immediate and direct relation to Him. A method of exposition has frequently obtained [frequently been in vogue], of a fanciful and allegorical cast [contrivance], under the pretext … John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1 Epistle vi. To Narses, Patrician . "Come unto Me, all Ye that Labour, and are Wearied," &C. Meditations for one that is Like to Die. Concerning the Sacrament of Baptism Lamentations Links Lamentations 1:17 NIVLamentations 1:17 NLT Lamentations 1:17 ESV Lamentations 1:17 NASB Lamentations 1:17 KJV Lamentations 1:17 Bible Apps Lamentations 1:17 Parallel Lamentations 1:17 Biblia Paralela Lamentations 1:17 Chinese Bible Lamentations 1:17 French Bible Lamentations 1:17 German Bible Lamentations 1:17 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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