The Nazarites after Destruction Lamentations 4:8

Jeremiah continued his overlooking of the city of Jerusalem and took special note of the Nazarites that were “purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was of sapphire:” However, in chapter four and verse eight of Lamentations, Jeremiah tells of their dramatic change after the city's overthrow. He wrote:

Their visage is blacker than a coal; they are not known in the streets: their skin cleaves to their bones; it is withered, it is become like a stick.

The verse begins, “Their visage is blacker than a coal;” Where these Nazarites once looked like snow and whiter than milk, their “visage” or “shape, form, outline, figure, or appearance” was now “blacker” which means “to be or become dark, grow dim, be darkened, be black, be hidden” than a “coal” or “blackness”. In other words Jeremiah said these who were once so pure looking were now blacker than black in appearance.

The verse goes on to say, “they are not known in the streets:” Rather than being the pinnacle of admiration among the people of Jerusalem, these Nazarites are not even “known” or “to recognize, acknowledge, know, respect, discern, regard or pay attention to” by those who remained in the streets. Where they were once highly regarded and respected, the Nazarites were not even acknowledged among the people of the city.

Finally the verse continues, “their skin cleaves to their bones; it is withered, it is become like a stick.” As a further description of how these Nazarites looked, Jeremiah employed graphic language and metaphoric expression to detail their look. “Their skin cleaves” which means “to draw together, contract, draw up, or shrivel” “to their bones”, and “it is withered” or “dried up” as without moisture. Their bones appeared “like a stick” because of the emaciated condition of the Nazarites' bodies. When we use our imaginations we can picture their horrific conditions.

What a long fall from their former positions these Nazarites experienced. They were once exalted and held in high esteem by the people of the city, and now they are barely known. They once prospered and were like expensive jewels among the people, and now they were nothing more than feeble fodder that appeared as wooden sticks. As we ponder their condition and Jeremiah's description of them, we may be or know those who seem to have fallen from a former position like these. Once there was favor, and now there seems to be none around. Once their was admiration, but now there is only shame and aimlessness. When these times come, we must remember that it was God Almighty who placed these scriptures upon Jeremiah's heart, and as Jeremiah penned these words, we cannot help but know and believe that the Almighty's pathos for mankind is warning us of the results of rebellion against Him. As we consider that thought, let us be sure to commit or recommit ourselves to follow Jesus at all times lest we be the ones whom others deem to be so distraught that we are “blacker than black, withered, and appear like a stick”.

Next time see how hunger affected the people of Jerusalem, 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