Lamentations 1:17-19

B. The Appeal to Neighboring Nations Lamentations 1:17-19

TRANSLATION

(17) Zion spreads forth her hands, but there is none to comfort her. The LORD has given commandment concerning Jacob that his neighbors are to be his foes. Jerusalem has become a filthy thing among them. (18) Righteous is the LORD, for I have rebelled against His word! Hear now, all you peoples and behold my sorrow. My maidens and young men have gone into exile! (19) I called unto my lovers, but they have deceived me. My priests and elders perished in the city while they sought food for themselves that they might preserve their life.

COMMENTS

In Lamentations 1:17 Zion turns in desperation to the neighboring nations. She spreads forth her hands in a gesture that is an appeal for help. But no aid is forthcoming from the neighboring peoples, the reason being that the Lord has commanded them to be hostile toward Jacob i.e., the nation of Judah. Jerusalem is now regarded by these neighbors as a filthy thing, literally, a menstrous woman (Lamentations 1:17). Regaining some measure of composure Zion acknowledges that she has been justly punished for her sins against God. But the very thought that she has rebelled against the word of God causes Zion again to burst forth into uncontrollable sobbing. In prayer-like fashion she calls upon the neighboring peoples to hear her wail and behold her sorrow. For their benefit Zion reviews a few of the more agonizing details of her misery: The young people of Zion have been carried off into exile (Lamentations 1:18). Zion's loversthe foreign nations and gods to whom she had turnedhad not lived up to expectations. Zion's priests and elders are perishing because they cannot find enough food for themselves (Lamentations 1:19). Thus does Zion earnestly appeal to her neighbors for sympathy and help but there is no answer. Earthly friends often are unavailable just when they are needed most.