LAST week we observed that in the sufferings of God’s people which form the subject of the Lamentations, there was, first, occupation with the trial itself, and later the sufferers were led to occupation with God who had permitted the trial. Since many of the children of God are in trial in the difficult times of depression and unemployment, through which the world is now passing, may it please Him to make our study of Jeremiah and the Lamentations helpful because trial, though the circumstances of it may be widely different, is always designed for the rich blessing of the tried saint. It is only as we acknowledge God’s hand in our trials that we get into the state to receive the intended blessing.
Chapter 2 Continues the theme with which Chapter I. ended, verses 1 to 9 being occupied with God, as the earlier part of chapter 1 was with circumstances alone. It is of moment to notice that the name of God commonly used here is not Jehovah, His name of covenant relationship, (usually, as has been before remarked, translated in the English Bible “The LORD”), but “the Lord”—a different Hebrew word meaning “Master”. The reason for this is, without doubt, that sin has put a distance between God and His people; they need, through trial, to be restored in their souls before they can again enjoy His presence.
The reader will note the growing intelligence as to God’s displeasure manifested in the language of verses 1, 2, 3, and 4, A little of this was evident in chapter 1, where we have “Jehovah is righteous, for I have rebelled,” etc. (verse 18); and “See, Jehovah, for I am in distress” (verse 20), but this chapter begins with the Lord righteously angry.
“How hath the Lord in His anger covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud!” Now “the daughter of Zion” is, ordinarily, a name of grace, of divine favor, but grace abused has led to judgment.
Verse 2 makes use of a stronger term than anger;—wrath, “He hath thrown down in his wrath the strong holds of the daughter of Judah.” The dearest place on earth to us all in a natural way,— home these —”the dwellings of Jacob”—the Lord had swallowed up.
In verse 3 we come to “fierce anger”; “He hath cut off in fierce anger all the horn of Israel...and He burned up Jacob like a flaming-fire...” The “horn” in Scripture means power, or strength. Then in verse 4 there is “fury”. “In the tent of the daughter of Zion He hath poured out His fury like fire.” It is not, we apprehend, that the indignation of God grew as He looked upon different objects, but rather that the understanding of the exercised saint grows as he inclines, his ear to hear what God has to say to him. It is only through deep and prolonged exercise that the believer thinks of sin in any measure as God does. We may illustrate this by reference to the forsaking of Christ on the cross; how little any of us apprehend what that meant to Him, and in many Christians there seems almost no intelligence as to the cause of it, and the meaning of that cry, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” The young believer is happy because his sins are forgiven, but he does not realize at first very much how God hates sin.
All of Jerusalem passes away: in verse 6, the place of assembly, and in verse 7, the altar and sanctuary, His house; in verse 8 the wall, and in verse 9 the gates; the king and princes are among the Gentiles, the law is no more, the prophets fine( no vision from Jehovah. A pitiful picture of the state of the people is afforded in verses 10 to 12.
The ruin is complete, great: as the sea; the “virgin daughter of Zion”—again the name that speaks of God’s wonderful grace to Judah—is beyond earthly power of healing (verse 13), Her prophets had deceived her (verse 14), and now the passersby express their amazement at what has happened, while the enemies against whom God had guarded her, utter their hatred and exult over the downfall of the city.
Yet, the calamity was Jehovah’s work; He had purposed it; He had fulfilled His word which He had commanded from days of old (verse 17). From Moses onward, the word of God uttered through His faithful servants had warned the people that He must deal with them in unsparing judgment, if they went in the paths of sin.
Verses 18 and 19: What encouragement is here penned by the Spirit of God for those that are His, plunged in the deepest grief, even though their own ways have brought upon themselves the chastening band of the Lord!
“Their heart cried limo the Lord...let tears run down...give thyself no respite ... pour out thy heart like water before the face of the Lord; lift up thy hands toward Him...”
Into God’s ever attentive ear pour thy grief; He will not turn thee away!
ML-06/16/1935