Lamentations 2:11-19 "Mine eyes do fail with tears, my bowels are troubled, my liver is poured upon the earth, for the destruction of the daughter of my people; because the children and the suckling's swoon in the streets of the city. They say to their mothers, Where is corn and wine ? when they swooned as the wounded in the streets of the city, when their soul was poured out into their mothers' bosom. What thing shall I take to witness for thee ? what thing shall I liken to thee, O daughter of Jerusalem ? what shall I equal to thee, that I may comfort thee, O virgin daughter of Zion ? for thy breach is great like the sea: who can heal thee ? Thy prophets have seen vain and foolish things for thee: and they have not discovered thine iniquity, to turn away thy captivity; but have seen for thee false burdens and causes of banishment.
All that pass by clap their hands at thee; they hiss and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem, saying, Is this the city that men call, The perfection of beauty, The joy of the whole earth ? All thine enemies have opened their mouth against thee: they hiss and gnash the teeth: they say, We have swallowed her up: certainly this is the day that we looked for; we have found, we have seen it. The LORD hath done that which HE had devised; HE hath fulfilled HIS WORD that HE had commanded in the days of old: HE hath thrown down, and hath not pitied: and HE hath caused thine enemy to rejoice over thee, HE hath set up the horn of thine adversaries. Their heart cried unto the LORD, O wall of the daughter of Zion, let tears run down like a river day and night: give thyself no rest; let not the apple of THINE eye cease. Arise, cry out in the night: in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the LORD: lift up thy hands toward HIM for the life of thy young children, that faint for hunger in the top of every street."
Jeremiah presents five vivid portraits of the dire situation that faced Jerusalem's population. The siege against the city resulted in the starvation of the people, graphically illustrated by the depiction of "children. . .[who] swoon in the streets" and plead for nourishment (vv.11-12 pictured above). Second, Jeremiah portrays a man desperately attempting to comfort others who are beyond help (v.13); the situation was so grim that consolation was impossible. Third, GOD reveals that the prophets were actually expediting the city's downfall (v.14). They were supposed to warn the nation and exhort her to repentance. A few were faithful (such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel), but most were not (Jeremiah 28:1-4; 29:29-32). The fourth scene presents the victorious enemy mocking the defeated people (vv.15-17). In times past, this city had been a glorious testimony of GOD's blessing; now, she was merely the object of ridicule. However, it was not simply her enemies who had done this; GOD's guiding hand was behind the devastation (v.17). It was the LORD WHO brought judgment against Judah, enabling Babylon to conquer it. The fifth image given is of the people continually wailing to GOD in despair over their situation (vv.18-19 pictured below). The phrase "pour out thine heart like water" indicates sincere prayer, a release of the innermost thoughts and emotions.
The people had rejected the warnings and, instead, followed the lies of the false prophets. How imperative it is in our day to be in CHRIST-centered local churches under godly, Bible-teaching pastors who rightly exposit the Scriptures. We must heed GOD's warnings given in HIS WORD lest we, too, find ourselves under HIS chastening hand. GDF
Your servant in CHRIST,
Julie
Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.
Used with permission. www.featoday.org
https://fivestarchristianministries.com/salvation
No comments:
Post a Comment