Vers. 3--5.-The horrors of famine. A more graphic, a more terrible picture than this of the misery of a captured, starved, and desolated city, no pencil could paint. If the circumstances of the famine-stricken population of Jerusalem are portrayed with too literal a skill and with too sickening an effect, it must be borne in mind that the description is noL that of an artist, but of a prophet, and that the aim is not merely to horrify, but to instruct, and especially to represent the frightful consequences involved in a nation's sin and apostasy. I. PHYSICAL SUFFERINGS ARE DESCRIBED. If the condition of tbe wretched citizens be examined, they nre seen to be afflicted with all physical evils, e.g. with hunger and want, with tlmaciation and feebleness of body, with homele8sneSil, squalor, and filth, with pestilence and death. II. MORAL DEGRADATION IS DENOUNCED. A siege, the sack of a city, have sometimes called out exalted self-sacrifice and heroism; but they have sometimes been the occasion of the bursting forth into flame of the vilest pa.ssions~f avarice, cruelty, selfishness, and lust. In this passage we observe an atrocious exhibition of selfish indifference to the pains and necessities of others, and especially a display of cruelty towards children which contrasts with the parental instincts and tenderness of the brutes. To so low a. level does sin bring human nature. PRACTICAL LESSONS. 1. In plenty and peace let men cherish gratitude. 2. Let those who are prosperous commiserate the famine-stricken and the victims of war. 3. Let generous provision be made for the wanta of the destitute.-T. Ver. 12.-The impregnable taken. 'rhe natural position of Jerusalem was such as tu mal'k it out for a stronghold, WiJ to invite its posse:isors to fortify it and to deem them- 'i4 'l'IIE LAMENTATIONS OF JEREMIAH. [ell. IV. 1-22.
flr1'·es invincible. ,vhen David conquered it by daring and valour, he made it the metropolis or the nation. Sncceeding king;s strengthened the walls and comµlrted the fortilicntions, so that Jernsalem became one of the strongest fortresses of tl1e ancient world. And at this time Nebuchadnezzar had only taken the city after e. siege extending through a yeitr and a half. I. THE IMPRF.ssrvE co?-."TRAST. 1. One such contrast was upon the surface e.nd ob,;ous to every eye. 'l'he mighty and apparently invincible was vanquished and deso- lated. 2. Another contrnst was apparent to the mind of the observin'7 and reflectin'7 : the city favoured by God himself was abandoned, spoiled, and desolat~d. If Jehov~h had not gone out of the gates, the ChaldPans could not have entered in. 3. '1.'he con- trast was one universally amazing and astounding. "The kings of the earth, e.nd all the inhabitants of the world, woald not have believed it." II. THE r.-'SPIRED EXPLANATION OF THIS CONTRAST. It was not cha.nee, it was not "the fortune of war," it was not the consequence of some political machinations, some military strategy, that the proud c~ty of Zion fell into the hands of the foreign conqueror. U nfa1thfulness and rebellion ~a.mst God were the true explanation. The Lord only torsakes those who forsake him. All men, all n:\tions, endure chastisement for sin. Blessed be God! in the midst of wrath he remembers mercy.-T.
Vers. 13, 14.-The degradation of the prophets and the priests. There is a. somewhat obscure reference in this passage to some incidents which took place during and after the siege of Jerusalem. The book of Jeremia.h's prophecies casts some lio-ht upon the language of his lamentations. It is evident that the offices of priest a.nd prophet were ,ilely abused a.t this period of Judah's degradation, that the prophets prophesied in false and flattering words, that the priests burned incense to idols, that both professions were debased to selfish ends, and that both were accountable to a very large ex1ent for the calamities of the nation. No wonder that prophets a.nd priests became the objects of national detestation, that Jew and alien a.like shunned and hated them. I. THE NOBLEST OFFICES, WHEN MISUSED, BECOME THE GREATEST CURSE. The priests were "holy unto Jehovah;" the prophets were the commissioned ministers of the All- wise, and they spake his words to men. I3nt when they retained their name, but lost the spirit and the moral authority attaching to their position, they misled and oppressed their countrymen. Alas for the nation whose leaders in Church and state .are selfish and corrupt! they who should be a.n honour a.nd a. blessing become then a disgrace a.nc! a curse. Let the great and the consecrated take warning, a.nd watch and pray. lL WHEN 6PIDITUAL AND INTELLECTUAL LEADERS ABE DEBASED TREIB INFLUENCE UPON A NATION IS MOST DELETERIOUS AND DISASTROUS. "Like priest, like people," says the old proverb. In modern communities it is observable that the journalists and the clergy have amazing power in giving a. tone to public life. Where these are corrupt the very springs of a nation's life are poisoned; all classes are affected by the influences which are potent for harm as they had otherwise been for highest good. !II. THE lTh"FAITHFULN"ESS OF THE LEADERS BRINGS PENALTIES AND CALAMITIES UPON THE PEOPLE. The constitution of human society is such that one must needs suffer for a1,other. As the sins of the prophets and the iniquities of the priests had no small share in bringing a.bout the ruin ')f Jerusalem, so a corrupt literature and a selfish clergy will bring any nation, however powerful, into misery a.nd contempt.-'!'.
Ver. 17.-Vain help and hope. When Jerusalem wa.s besieged by the Chaldeii:'ns its inhabitants seem to have lookeil for assistance fron their Egyptian nei~hbours. This was a policy a.nd an expectation displeasing to Jehovah, who ever taught his people to rely, not upon an arm of flesh, but upon the eternal King of righteousness. In verse the prophet pictures the attitnde of the Jews 8JI da.y after day they strained their weary eyes to catch some glimpse of a.n approaching deliverer. How striking a picture of the folly and vanity of those hopes which man fixes upon his fellow-man I l. 'fHE DISTRESSED AND HARASSED NATURALLY HAVE RECOURSP: TO BUMAN AID. As the Jews looked now to Assyria and again to Egypt for allies and helpers, so the chddren of u,en have recourse to human counsellors, philosophers, and saviours to OH, IV, 1-22,] THE LAMENTATIONS OF JEREMIAH.