085. Lament Of Jeremiah.
Lament of Jeremiah as recorded.—Lamentations 1:18-22.
After Israel was carried captive and Jerusalem desolated, the prophet mourned, or as has been said, “bewailed this wailing.” The whole of this book of Lamentations might be called a poem, for it is not only highly poetical in its language, but there is much order as well as rhythm in it. There are twenty-two stanzas in each chapter; each verse in the first two begins with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet in regular order. The affliction, the desolation and distress, surrounding the prophet, are represented by such images and language as convey to us the magnitude and religious importance of the great calamities he weeps over. The Jews have called this book of the prophet, “Kinnoth,” or tears. In the annexed prayer Jerusalem, or Zion, is represented as a sorrowful female bereft of her children, deserted, “sitting solitary,”—adversaries surrounding her—but in the midst of trouble acknowledging God is just; her sense of guilt is intolerable to her; from friends she finds no relief, her appeal is then made to God, who alone can help, and who will deal with his enemies and friends according to his eternal justice. This prayer is peculiarly applicable to the case of every convinced sinner. In this cold world there is little of comfort. Sin, the “fruit of that forbidden tree whose mortal taste brought death into our world and all our woe,” has taken deep root in the human heart, has marred the glory and beauty of our moral nature.
Tears, floods of tears, should be shed by us, as with the “sorrowing female” of the prophet we weep over the desolation that vice has spread around us. But there is a mercy-seat, an ear open to hear our “complaint,” and to it we may have access, if we but acknowledge with the prophet we have grievously rebelled; if we find the earth “a vale of tears,” we may call upon a God of love. To the mourner be is pointing To a borne of light above, Where sorrow is forgotten And all is joy and love. His ready hand will wipe away Your penitential tears, Will heal your wounded broken heart, And banish all your fears.