Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Lamentations
Book: Lamentations
Chapter: 1
Overview:
The miserable state of
Jerusalem, the just consequences of its
sins.
(1-11) Jerusalem represented as a
Captive female,
lamenting, and seeking the
Mercy of
God.
(12-22)
1-11 The
Prophet sometimes speaks in his own person; at other
times
Jerusalem, as a distressed female, is the speaker, or some
of the Jews. The description shows the miseries of the Jewish
nation.
Jerusalem became a
Captive and a
Slave,
By reason of the
greatness of her sins; and had
No Rest from suffering. If we
allow
Sin, our greatest
Adversary, to have dominion over us,
justly will other enemies also be suffered to have dominion. The
people endured the extremities of
Famine and distress. In this
sad condition
Jerusalem acknowledged her
Sin, and entreated the
Lord to look upon her case. This is the only way to make
ourselves easy under our burdens; for it is the just
Anger of
the
Lord for
Man's transgressions, that has filled the
Earth
with sorrows,
Lamentations, sickness, and
Death.
12-22 Jerusalem,
Sitting dejected
On the ground, calls
On those
that passed
By, to consider whether her
Example did not concern
them. Her outward sufferings were great, but her inward
sufferings were harder to
Bear, through the sense of guilt.
Sorrow for
Sin must be great sorrow, and must affect the soul.
Here we see the evil of
Sin, and may take warning to flee from
the wrath to come. Whatever may be learned from the sufferings
of
Jerusalem, far more may be learned from the sufferings of
Christ. Does he not from the
Cross speak to every one of us?
Does he not say, Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass
By? Let
all our sorrows lead us to the
Cross of
Christ, lead us to
Mark
his
Example, and cheerfully to follow him.