_That was fall of people! _ REVERSES OF FORTUNE The picture in this verse is strong by contrasts: solitary, and full of people; a widow, once a queen great among the nations; a princess receiving homage, now stooping in the act of paying tribute to a higher power. No nest is built so high that God... [ Continue Reading ]
_She weepeth sore in the night._ LONELY SORROW 1. According to the measure of God’s correcting hand upon us, must our grief be. (1) Because God is sure to be (at the least) so angry as His rods are heavy. (2) Our sins do cause Him to afflict us, which we must repent of according to the measure o... [ Continue Reading ]
_Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction._ AFFLICTIVE DISPENSATIONS 1. The outward things of this life are the soonest lost; and being enjoyed, the most uncertain. (1) They are most subject to all kinds of enemies. (2) God knoweth that we may best want them. Learn to make least accou... [ Continue Reading ]
_The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn feasts._ THE DECAY OF RELIGION MOURNFUL 1. The overthrow of the commonwealth bringeth with it the overthrow of the Church’s outward peace. 2. When the things that God hath given us here are not applied to the appointed use, we have just... [ Continue Reading ]
_Her adversaries are the chief, her enemies prosper._ THE ADVERSARIES OF THE GOOD 1. The cause apparent of all the miseries of God’s people is the prospering and prevailing of their enemies. 2. It often comes to pass that the wicked prosper in all things of this life, and the godly contrary (Psal... [ Continue Reading ]
_And from the daughter of Zion all her beauty is departed._ DEPARTING GLORY 1. The Church of God doth esteem the exercises of religion e most excellent and glorious thing that can be had in this life. (1) They are notable signs of God’s favour and presence. (2) There is more true comfort in them... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jerusalem remembered in the days of her affliction, and of her miseries, all her pleasant things._ THE ACTION OF THE MEMORY IN PAIN I. It generally refers to the “pleasant things” of the past. This it does by a necessary law of its nature--the law of contrast. All men must meet with trials sooner... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jerusalem hath grievously sinned; therefore she is removed._ THE CAPTIVITY OF JUDAH The emphatic word is “therefore.” It rings with sad and solemn cadence through the most mournful of all the books of the Bible. It is the epitaph of the nation to which once the conquest of the world was possible,... [ Continue Reading ]
_She remembereth not her last end: therefore she came down wonderfully._ THE WICKED SURPRISED BY THEIR OWN DESTRUCTION There are certain great principles in the Divine administration, the operation of which gives a degree of uniformity to the Divine proceedings. For instance, it is the manner of ou... [ Continue Reading ]
_The adversary hath spread out his hand upon all her pleasant things._ SPOLIATION 1. The wicked are usually merciless towards the godly, spoiling them and theirs in most cruel manner, if the Lord restrain them not (Psalms 53:4; Psalms 137:7). 2. The outward things of this world are uncertain, and... [ Continue Reading ]
_All her people sigh, they seek bread._ GRIEF AT LOSSES I. It is awful for the godly to be grieved with and take to heart their worldly losses-- (1) Because the things of this life are God’s blessings. (2) They are necessary to support us here, and (being well used) to make us the fitter to serv... [ Continue Reading ]
_Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by?_ ZION’S APPEAL 1. The whole passage evidently expresses a deep yearning for sympathy. Mere strangers, roving Bedouin, any people who may chance to be passing by Jerusalem, are implored to behold her incomparable woes. The wounded animal creeps into a corn... [ Continue Reading ]
_From above hath He sent fire into my bones._ PENETRATING SORROWS 1. This often mention of God’s hand teacheth this doctrine: When God punisheth us by the hands of the wicked, we are hardly brought to ascribe it to Him alone; and they from thinking that their own hand and power hath done it. 2. W... [ Continue Reading ]
_The yoke of my transgressions is bound by His hand._ A GUILTY CONSCIENCE I. Its sense of oppression. It feels itself under a “yoke.” It is heavy iron a crushing “yoke” is sin It is on the neck, there is no breaking away from it. II. Its sense of degradation. It feels itself held m a miserable va... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord hath trodden under foot all my mighty men._ SUPREME PENALTIES 1. When God meaneth to afflict us, He will spoil us of all our helps wherein we may have any confidence. 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 the... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord is righteous; for I have rebelled._ A RIGHT VIEW OF PUNISHMENT When we see God in our punishments, we begin to take a right view of them; when they are nothing to us but self-humiliations or signs of contempt, they embitter us and harden our hearts; but when we see God at work in the very... [ Continue Reading ]
_I called for my lovers, but they deceived me._ DECEITFUL HELPERS 1. It is an increase of sorrow to be disappointed of their help by whom we looked to be delivered out of our troubles. 2. God often maketh our friends, that love us unfeignedly, utterly unable to do us any good in our distress. 3.... [ Continue Reading ]