THE PUNISHMENT OF NATIONAL SIN In this second elegy the poet has his attention fixed on something that is beyond Chaldean and Jew. He sees, what the eyes of the world do not see, that the hand of the invisible Governor of all nations is directing both oppressor and oppressed, and is at work to show... [ Continue Reading ]
EXEGETICAL NOTES.— (א) Lamentations 2:1. The poet sees nature as if it were in commotion. A storm-cloud piles up over Jerusalem, shrouding with its gloom even the most commanding summit. But it is not the swirls of an inanimate force which he perceives, nor yet the rush of human passion in an army o... [ Continue Reading ]
EXEGETICAL NOTES.— (ו) Lamentations 2:6. The dwelling-place of Jehovah on Mount Zion, which He claims as His own possession, with all its appointed services, has shared in the tribulations. HE HAS TREATED VIOLENTLY, AS A GARDEN, HIS BOOTH. The references in Lamentations 2:6 being to the methods of D... [ Continue Reading ]
EXEGETICAL NOTES.— (י) Lamentations 2:10. Two classes, who were exponents of the intelligence and joy of the people, prostrated like the rest, are no longer capable of acting their parts. THEY SIT ON THE GROUND, ARE SILENT, THE ELDERS OF THE DAUGHTER OF ZION; they exhibit other profound tokens of o... [ Continue Reading ]
EXEGETICAL NOTES.— (כ) Lamentations 2:11. So exasperating is his misery that he feels as if organic parts of his body were dismembered. MY EYES FAIL WITH TEARS, MY BOWELS ARE TROUBLED, MY LIVER IS POURED UPON THE GROUND—an effect of terrible grief, showing how body and soul are sympathetic with eac... [ Continue Reading ]
EXEGETICAL NOTES.— (מ) Lamentations 2:13. He is ready, as a servant of the All-merciful and All-wise, to speak on His behalf, so as to alleviate the clamant wretchedness; but he feels unable. WHAT SHALL I TESTIFY TO THEE? No message is given to him from the Most High, and no resemblance to her condi... [ Continue Reading ]
EXEGETICAL NOTES.— (נ) Lamentations 2:14. The Book of Jeremiah contains ample evidence as to who those _miserable comforters_ were. It shows that, during the period just preceding the overthrow of Judæa, there were a number of persons who were accustomed glibly to say, _The burden of Jehovah,_ but w... [ Continue Reading ]
_HOMILETICS_ EXEGETICAL NOTES.— (ם) Lamentations 2:15. Casual strangers on their travels felt glad at sight of desolated Jerusalem. THEY CLAP THEIR HANDS AT THEE, ALL WHO PASS BY THE WAY, and add scorn to gladness; THEY HISS AND WAG THEIR HEAD. They use sarcasm, IS THIS THE CITY WHICH THEY CALLED... [ Continue Reading ]
EXEGETICAL NOTES.— (צ) Lamentations 2:18. THEIR HEART CRIED UNTO THE LORD. The cry is not to the God in covenant with Israel, but to the ruler over all nations and all matter. Yet the pronoun their cannot refer to the persons last spoken of. The adversaries were not likely to change their vaunts int... [ Continue Reading ]
EXEGETICAL NOTES.— (ר) Lamentations 2:20. The prayer is put into words correspondent with the circumstances. SEE, JEHOVAH, AND BEHOLD TO WHOM THOU HAST DONE THIS, to the city called thine, to the people whom thou hast chosen to be _a name and praise_ to thee. How shocking are the consequences! See I... [ Continue Reading ]