Jerusalem in Ruins
“Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look and see if there is any sorrow like my sorrow, which was brought upon me, which the Lord inflicted on the day of his fierce anger."
Lamentations 1:12
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 be warned 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 you that pass by?” It is no marvel that the souls of the saints faint away, when God, who is the only Comforter that can relieve them, keeps at a distance. Let all our sorrows lead us to the cross of Christ; lead us to mark his example, and cheerfully to follow him. It is matter of comfort to us that the troubles which oppress our spirits are open before God’s eye. Our prayers may and must agree with God’s word; and what day God has here called we are to call for, and no other. And though we are bound in charity to forgive our enemies, and to pray for them, yet we may in faith pray for the accomplishment of that which God has spoken against his and his church’s enemies that will not repent to give him glory.
[Lamentations 1:12-22]
*Excerpted from Matthew Henry Daily Readings (Christian Heritage, 2009).
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