Ver. 2.-Nights of weeping explained. Nights of weeping and constant tears upon the cheeks. Thus the metaphor is kept up with which this first song of lamentation begins. The sensitiveness of the woman-nature helps to bring out the prostration of Jerusalem. It is not only that fer condition is lamentable, but she herself, in all the feelings of her heart, is a prey to the keenest anguish. People do not always see their own sad state as others see it. There is either a shallowness of natUl·e or something has happened to deaden the sensibilities. But in this verse we have both the mention of tears and of most sufficient causes for tears. I. FIRST CA UBE : wANT OF SYMPATHY AND SOLACE. Jerusalem has no comforters, Not even Job's comforters. For, though Job's comforters were sufficiently irritating and mistook blisters for salves, yet comfort was their errand. Bad as Job's state was, it would have been worse still if in his time of sore trouble he had been left quite alone, especially if professed friends had not come near him. But here the widowed Jeru- salem has no comforter; and yet she had had many lovers, many who had been drawn irresistibly by the charm of her attractions. Jerusalem was proud of these attractions, and yet they did not belong to the essence of her existence. The attractions perished, and with the perishing of them the lovers whom they drew became cold. The attrac- tions perished, but Jerusalem herself remained with all her needs, and yet with none to minister. Where do we mean to look for comforters when our hour of deepest trouble comes? Many to whom we may look will be able to do nothing for us; some to whom we may look will not try to do anything: happy then shall we be if we have reason to say, "In the multitude of my thoughts within me, thy comforts delight my soul" (Ps. xciv. 19). II. SECOND OAUSE: FRIENDS HAVE BECOME ENEMIES. When the attractions of Jerusalem faded away, not only did the lovers depart, but they had to seek new satis- factions elsewhere, and for many selfish reasons they would act in sympathy with the conquerors of Jerusalem. When she was a strong city, it suited surrounding peoples to be friendly; but when she became desolate and the whole land was lost, then it seemed the interest of these peoples to be hostile to Jerusalem. Indeed, their connection with Jerusalem was really hostile even when they meant friendship. ThEir open and strenuous hostility from the first would nave been a. better thing. Professed friends, 14 THE LAMENTATIONS OF JEREMIAH. [OH. I, 1-22.
wilhont meaning it, may 80 mislead &8 to do more harm th&n the bitterest enemy could ever do. The real friend is he who, for the sake of truth e.nd of the highest interests, is not afraid to be reckoned for the time an enemy.-Y.
Ver. 4.-Zion forsak-en as a religious centre. I. TIIE l'EOULIAB GLORY OF ZION IN THE PAST. The ways of Zion mourned now, but the very fact that such a thing should be said showed that I.hey bad once heen filled with rejoicing. 'l'be gates had been crowded with worshippers from every district of the land. Zion was glorified as the sito of the temple, and the temple was glorified as holding within its imposing walls the ark of the covenant. Zion was the city of solemnities. Things were done there not according t-0 will-worship or mere immemorial tradition, but according to Jehovah's definite instructions given in the wilderness through Moses centuries before. Praise continually waited for God in Zion. Jehovah loved the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. There was no day without its morning and evening sacrifice, and every sabbath and new moon brought their peculiar additions. Nor must we forget the Feast of. the Passover, of the firstfruits, of the Pentecost, and the great feast of the seventh month. lf..as nothing more than times of mirth and relaxation, these would ~ a. large pa.rt in the life of the people, and true prophets and whosoever among the priests bad deep reverence for God would get much strength out of these services, finding in them, according to the measure of their faith, zeal, and diligence, constant means of grace. II. THE PECULIAR HUMILIATION OF Z10N IN THE PRESENT. The thought of Zion probably carried to the Israelite more associations than did the thought of any other place. The great periodic assemblies at Zion manifested the history, the privilege~, the stren~tb., the unity, of the nation. There may have been intervals of comparative neglect, but we know that in the time of Hezekiah there was a great keeping ..of ·the Passover. Thus, so far as outward observances were concerned, the machinery of Divine service must have been in good working order. But it is also very evident that the nation at large got no real good out of the numerous and elaborate rites which Jehovah had commanded. We may quote words of Hosea which, while they show the prominent position occupied by Zion in the national life, also explain the reason why God brought 1mch desolation to Zion. "I will also cause all her mirth to cease, her feast-days, her new moons, and her sabbatbs, and all her solemn feasts" (Hos. ii. 11). Religion had been turned into mere merry-making. The house of prayer became a house of revelling. Jehovah had declared emphatically by his prophets that offerings had no value detached from righteousness and mercy. What wonder, then, that from condemning words he should advance to condemning deeds? Forsaken Zion itself spoke as if with a prophetic voice. It was when they remembered Zion that the exiles in Babylon wept, and when their masters wanted from them a song of Zion they could only reply that it was not possible to sing Jehovah's song in a strange land. There is warning in all this desolation of Zion as to how great discernment is needed to make sure that the elements of our worship a.re acceptable to God, edifying to ourselves, and. not merely for self-pleasure. IIL We must not forget that BRIGIITEB DAYB ABE PBOPIIEBIED FOB ZION. The same old Zion was again crowded., but of this we must not make too much. Jesus himself had to say that the rebuilt house of bis Father had become a house of merchandise and even a den of thieves. There is the ideal Zion, part of the heavenly Jerusalem, where the holiest service will be the highest joy, where our religion will Iio longer be imperilled by formality, superstition, or superficiality.-Y.