_Remember, O Lord, what is come upon us._ AN APPEAL FOR GOD’S COMPASSION The prayer opens with a striking phrase--“Remember, O Lord,” etc. It cannot be supposed that the elegist conceived of his God as Elijah mockingly described their silent, unresponsive divinity to the frantic priests of Baal, or... [ Continue Reading ]
_We have drunken our water for money, our wood is sold unto us._ ZION’S SUFFERINGS 1. Common necessaries denied by adversaries. Fire and water are two necessary elements, but though God in nature have given these in common to His creatures, the Jews being captives are now denied them by their crue... [ Continue Reading ]
_Our necks are under persecution, we labour, and have no rest._ ZION’S SUFFERINGS 1. The words explained. This is the miserable servitude of a conquered people, this is the insulting and domineering pride of a potent and victorious enemy. When enemies come in power, menaces and insultations speak... [ Continue Reading ]
_Our fathers have sinned, and are not, and we have borne their iniquities._ ZION’S SUFFERINGS The terms unfolded, When in the depths of our distress the iniquities of our forefathers come to our remembrance, at once they aggravate our sins and augment our sorrows (2 Kings 22:13; Daniel 9:16; Jeremi... [ Continue Reading ]
_The elders have ceased from the gate._ THE SEAT OF JUSTICE OVERTHROWN 1. It is a grievous plague unto a people when the seat of justice is overthrown from among them. (1) Reasons. (A) It bringeth in all confusion and disorder. (B) No man can enjoy anything as his own. (C) Every one lieth open... [ Continue Reading ]
_For this our heart is faint, for these things our eyes are dim._ ZION’S SUFFERINGS 1. The best are exposed to sorrow. That the best are not out of the reach of misery, or that there is no outward calamity, but it may fall upon the godly as well as others (Ecclesiastes 9:1). Ahab’s and Josiah’s end... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou, O Lord, remainest forever; Thy throne from generation to generation._ THE EVERLASTING THRONE Thus at last our attention is turned from earth to heaven, from man to God. In this change of vision the mood which gave rise to the Lamentations disappears. Since earthly things lose their value in... [ Continue Reading ]