Ver. 2. — " Precious sons . . . fine gold," . . . become " earthen pttehert.'' The prophet's appreciation of the proper dignity and value of his nation was naturally very exalted ; in proportion were his sorrows and humiliation when his country rebelled against the Lord, and became, in consequence, a prey to the despised and hated foreigner. The reflections are applicable, not to Judah only, but to all the sinful and rebellious among men ; for there is no escape from the action of the moral law, from the chastisement of the righteous Judge.
I. The true value and proper dionitt of man. Comparable to " fine gold " in beauty, preciousness, and use, is our humanity when in the state designed by the Creator, free from the corroding rust of sin, and minted and stamped with the image and superscription of the Most High.
II. Sin nrvoLVEB chastisement, and chastisement brings disgrace. The striking contrast between gold, fine and solid, on the one hand, and " earthen pitchers " on the other hand, is a pictorial and effective representation of the change which took place in Judah. A holy nation, a kingdom of priests, the chosen of the Eternal, was reduced to the level of the poorest, meanest tribe vanquished and despoiled by an unsparing enemy. Here, as so often, the chosen nation was an emblem of humanity. For though man be by nature the sunlimest of God's creatures, when he is abandoned to sin and all its consequences he sinks below the level of the brutes.
Application. Only Divine grace and power can restore the beauty and dignity of which sin has robbed humanity. The gospel of Christ transforma the earthen pitcher into the fine gold of the sanctuary. — T.
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 not that of an artist, but of a prophet, and that the aim is not merely to horrify, but to instruct, and e.specially to represent the frightful consequences involved in a nation's sin and apostasy.
I. Physical sufferings ark described. If the condition of the wretched citizens be examined, they are seen to be afQicted with all physical evils, e,g. with hunger and want, with emaciation and feebleness of body, with homelessness, squalor, and filth, with pestilence and death.
II. Moral degradation is dbnounobd. A siege, the sack of a city, have sometimes called out exalted self-sacriflce and heroism ; but they have sometimes been the occasion of the bursting forth into flame of the vilest passions — of avarice, cruelty, selfishness, and lust. In this passage we observe an atrocious exliibition 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.
Pbacmcal 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. 8, Let generous provision be made for the wants of the destitute. — ^T.
Ver. 12. — The impregnalile taken. The natural position of Jerusalem was such as ta mark it out for a stronghold, as to inrita its possessors to fortify it and to deem them-
74 THE LAMENTATIONS OF JEKEMIAH. [ch. it. 1—22
selves invincible. When David conquered it by daring and valour, he made it tha metropolis ol' the nation. Siicceeciing kings strengthened the walls and completed tha fortifications, so that Jeiiisaleiu became one of the strongest fortresses of the ancient world. And at this time Nebuchadnezzar had only taken the city after a siege extending through a year and a half.
I. The impressive contrast. 1. One such contrast was upon the surface and obvious to every eye. The mighty and apparently invincible was vanquished and deso- lated. 2. Another contrast was apparent to the mind of the observing and reflecting : the city favoured by God himself was abandoned, spoiled, and desolated. If Jehovah had not gone out of the gates, the Chaldeans could not have entered in. 3. The con- trast was one universally amazing and astounding. " The kings of the earth, and all the iuhabiiants of tlie world, would not have believed it."
II. The inspired explanation op this contrast. It was not chance, it was not " the fortune of war," it was not the consequence of some political machinations, some military strategy, that the proud city of Zion fell into the hands of the foreisjn conqueror Unfaithfulness and rebellion against God were the. true explanation. The Lord only forsakes those who forsake him. All men, all nations, endure chastisement for sin. Blessed be God 1 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 Jeremiah's prophecies casts some light upon the language of his lamentations. It is evident that the offices of priest and prophet were vilely abused at 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 extent for the calamines of the nation. No wonder that prophets and priests became the objects of national detestation, that Jew and alien alike shunned and hated them.
L Thk noblest omoKS, when misused, become the obeatest oubse. The priests were "holy unto Jehovah ;" the prophets were the commissioned ministers of the All- wise, and they spake his words to men. But 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 I they who should be an honour and a blessing become then a disgrace and a curse. Let the great and the consecrated take warning, and watch and pray.
U. When spiBiTnAL and intblleotual leaders are debased theib influence UPON A NATION IS MOST DBLETBBI0U8 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.