Jerusalem’s Plea For Mercy
December 7, 2020
Commentary
In the last half of this chapter Jerusalem shows extreme sorrow over her desolate Condition. (vv. 12-19). “Is it nothing to you …? Is it not of concern to you? Do you not care?” These are statements of her pathetic appeal to passers-by to look on and consider her sorrowful dilemma (vv. 12-13). “Just look at the suffering the Lord had brought on me in this day of His fierce anger.”
Many people today want to ignore the severity of, God’s wrath. This inability to realize God’s true goodness often keeps people from seeking God’s grace. The Lord has taken the sins of the people and has woven them into a strong rope to keep the yoke of subjection secure (v. 14).
The Lord has trampled his beloved city as grapes are trampled in a winepress (v. 15). Her young men are as clusters of grapes, whose lifeblood has been trodden out in the winepress of affliction. A winepress is sometimes used in Scripture as a picture of divine judgment (Isa 63:1-6; Rev 14:19-20). The city weeps uncontrollably for her children, and there is no one to comfort her (v. 16). The Lord has commanded Jacob’s neighbors to be her adversaries. Jerusalem is treated as an unclean thing. He who was to be an example of holiness to the nations (Deut. 4:4-9) has become unclean and scattered (vv. 17-18). He is deserted, distressed and mourning (v. 19).
Finding no compassion among men, Judah turns to the Father with a prayer that these joyful enemies will someday suffer their mournful misfortune (vv. 20-22). These enemies rejoice in Judah’s downfall (v. 21). Judah implores God to bring vengeance upon them (v. 22) This is entirely in keeping with God’s prophecy of the nations (Isa 10:12-21; Hab 2:5-17; Jer 25:12-14).
Application
There is a statement that misery loves company or in other words wants sympathy. I don’t want to be looking for sympathy but looking for ways God wants to use the situation to fulfill his purpose.
Lamentations 1:12– 22 (NET)
12 Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by on the road? Look and see! Is there any pain like mine? The Lord has afflicted me, he has inflicted it on me when he burned with anger. מ (Mem)
13 He sent down fire into my bones, and it overcame them. He spread out a trapper’s net for my feet; he made me turn back. He has made me desolate; I am faint all day long. נ (Nun)
14 My sins are bound around my neck like a yoke; they are fastened together by his hand. He has placed his yoke on my neck; he has sapped my strength. The Lord has handed me over to those whom I cannot resist. ס (Samek)
15 He rounded up all my mighty ones; The Lord did this in my midst. He summoned an assembly against me to shatter my young men. The Lord has stomped like grapes the virgin daughter, Judah. ע (Ayin)
16 I weep because of these things; my eyes flow with tears. For there is no one in sight who can comfort me or encourage me. My children are desolated because an enemy has prevailed. פ (Pe)
17 Zion spread out her hands, but there is no one to comfort her. The Lord has issued a decree against Jacob; his neighbors have become his enemies. Jerusalem has become like filthy garbage in their midst. צ (Tsade)
18 The Lord is right to judge me! Yes, I rebelled against his commands. Please listen, all you nations, and look at my suffering! My young women and men have gone into exile. ק (Qof)
19 I called for my lovers, but they had deceived me. My priests and my elders perished in the city. Truly they had searched for food to keep themselves alive. ר (Resh)
20 Look, O Lord! I am distressed; my stomach is in knots! My heart is pounding inside me. Yes, I was terribly rebellious! Out in the street the sword bereaves a mother of her children; Inside the house death is present. ש (Sin/Shin)
21 They have heard that I groan, yet there is no one to comfort me. All my enemies have heard of my trouble; they are glad that you have brought it about. Bring about the day of judgment that you promised so that they may end up like me! ת (Tav)
22 Let all their wickedness come before you; afflict them just as you have afflicted me because of all my acts of rebellion. For my groans are many, and my heart is sick with sorrow.
Illustration: The Sympathetic Jewel
A gentleman once visited a great jewelry store, owned by a friend. In looking at the stones he pointed to one, and said: “That has no beauty at all.” But his friend put it in the hollow of his hand, and shut his hand, and then in a few moments opened it again. What a surprise! The entire stone gleamed with all the splendors of the rainbow. “What have you done to it?” asked the astonished gazer. His friend answered: “This is an opal. It is what we call the sympathetic jewel. It only needs to be gripped with a hand to bring out its beauty.” (Encyclopedia of Illustrations #6335).