There’s no one to comfort Zion
SHALOM๐
Blessed to be a Blessing to the Blessed People ๐จโ๐จโ๐งโ๐ฆ
There’s no one to comfort Zion
(Lamentations Chapter One)
In today’s reading portion it is mentioned that “Jerusalem has sinned greatly and so has become unclean ” (v 8) and the “roads to Zion mourn, for no one comes to her Appointed Feasts” (v 4). Usually Jews used to flock to Jerusalem three times a year to celebrate the great religious festivals but now all that has stopped. The city seems to be locked down:
๐ The priests mourn because the temple has been destroyed.
๐ The young women can no longer contribute their songs and dances to the ritual festivities, and so they mourn along with the priests (1:4 ; 2: 10)
๐ The people recognised that their enemies are now their masters (v 5)
๐ Once they were great (Queen) among the nations but now they become slave (v 1)
๐ Overwhelmed by sorrow, the city cannot find refreshment in sleep (.. she weeps at night.. v 2)
๐ THERE IS NO ONE TO COMFORT HER in these hours of crisis (v 2)
๐ The phrase ” there is no one to COMFORT her / me ” appears five times (v 2,9,16,17,21).
WHYโ
1๏ธโฃ The God of all comfort who comforts the people during the time of Isaiah (40:1-2) has rejected them because of their sins (v 5, 8,14, 22)
2๏ธโฃ “Her lovers and her friends ” have betrayed her (v 2b)
3๏ธโฃ All her priests and the elders have perished while searching for foods (v 19).
THE CITY LAMENTS:
1๏ธโฃ her priests groan v 4b
2๏ธโฃ her young women grieve v 1:4c
3๏ธโฃ her children have gone into exile v 1:5
4๏ธโฃ her princes.. find no pasture v 6
5๏ธโฃ her people have fallen into enemy’s hands v 7
6๏ธโฃ her people groan v 11
7๏ธโฃ her young men are crushed v 15b
8๏ธโฃ her children are destitute v16c
9๏ธโฃ her young men and young women have been carried off into exile v 18
๐ The people of Jerusalem did two noble things:
โ
The City CONFESSES (v 18a)
๐ The Bible says: “If we CONFESS our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness ” 1John 1:9
โ
The City PRAYS (v 20-22)
๐ The Bible says: “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and PRAY and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land ” 2Chronicles 7:14
๐ Beloved Church, this book reminds us that when our hearts cry out in deepest pain, we are heard. Come to Christ and he will give you peace and rest.
๐ The God of all comfort will comforts us in all our sufferings / troubles (2Cor 1:3-6)
Suffering is our call to LOOK INWARD for a spirit of repentance and to LOOK UPWARD to find our sufficiency in God.
Glory to God ๐
โ๐ฝ Mark Boje, ArP ๐ฎ๐ณ