As Jeremiah the prophet
began his discourse of lament over Judah and Jerusalem, he noted the
separation of them from other cities and nations. Where the people
were once thriving and living abundantly they were now saddened like
a widow and made to be taxpayers. In chapter one and verse two
Jeremiah adds to the their description where he wrote:
She weeps sore in the
night, and her tears are on her cheeks: among all her lovers
she has none to comfort her: all her friends have dealt
treacherously with her, they are become her enemies.
The
verse begins, “She weeps sore in the night, and her tears are
on her cheeks:” As Jeremiah likens Jerusalem and Judah to a
person, he says “she weeps” or “bewails, mourns,
and cries” during the night time. Rather than joy and laughter,
there are now “tears” running down her cheeks.
The
verse goes on to say, “among all her lovers she has none to
comfort her:” Those who were once very close,
“her lovers”, have now forsaken her. She is abandoned,
left alone, and no one is there to bring comfort to her side or to be
sorry for her. At one time she was thriving with those who seemed
close, and now she is now desolate and without consolation from any
of them.
Finally
the verse says, “all her friends have dealt treacherously
with her, they are become her enemies.” Not
only have her lovers left her, but “all her friends”
have turned against her and “dealt treacherously”
which means “faithlessly, deceitfully, and offensively”
with her, and those who were once close friends are now her
“enemies”. At one time she had people close to her, and
now she is left alone and opposed.
When we read these words of
Jeremiah does the word “forsaken” come to mind? To be betrayed,
forsaken, left alone, and abandoned is one of the most difficult
situations for any person to endure never mind an entire city or
country. As we ponder these words of Jeremiah perhaps we will think
of times when our lives have been filled with weeping, tears, lack of
comfort and deceit. We might even think of those who once seemed to
be friends who have now forsaken us, betrayed us, and even become our
enemy. We must keep in mind that God Almighty designed in His
foreknowledge that we would have access to the words in this book,
and in doing so He has His provision and comfort for us when we feel
abandoned by all others. May the Lord Jesus continually remind us
that when we seem abandoned and forsaken by everyone He would say, “I
will never leave you nor forsake you”.
Next
time we will see why this city is so sad, so read ahead, and we shall
join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ;
www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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