Lamentations 1:15-17

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 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.

Grief in view of punishment

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) God hath so commanded (Galatians 6:2).

(2) We are members one of another (1 Corinthians 12:27).

(3) We may have the like need ourselves another time.

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.--

The appeal for help

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.)