Lamentations - The Sermon Depository

people, the Prophet ought not to have made more bitter their grief. But we
have already referred to the reason for this, even because the Jews, though
they mourned and were extremely sorrowful in their calamities, did not yet
consider whence their evils came. It was therefore necessary that they
should be more and more awakened; for it is but of little profit for any one
to suffer evils, except he has regard to God’s judgment. We hence perceive
the design of the Prophet, why he so much at large speaks of the miseries
which were seen by all, and could not escape the notice of the Jews, who
were almost overwhelmed with them; for it was not enough for them to
feel their miseries, except they also considered the cause of them.
He then says, All who have passed by clapped their hands and hissed and
moved the head, either in token of mockery, or of abhorrence, which is
more probable. He then says, that they moved or shook the head at the
daughter of Jerusalem, F43 Is this the city of which they said, It is perfect in
beauty, and the joy of the whole earth? I know not why some render
tlylk, calibat, a crown; it comes, as it is well known, from llk calal,
which means fullness, or anything solid. He then says, that Jerusalem had
been perfect in beauty, because God had adorned it with singular gifts; he
had especially favored it with the incomparable honor of being called by
his name. Hence Jerusalem was in a manner the earthly palace of God, that
is, on account of the Temple; and further, it was there that the doctrine of
salvation was to be found; and remarkable was this promise,
“From Sion shall go forth the law,
and rite word of God from Jerusalem.” (Isaiah 2:3.)
God had also promised to Ezekiel, that this city would be the fountain and
origin of salvation to the whole world. (Ezekiel 47:1-12.) As, then,
Jerusalem had been adorned with so remarkable gifts, the Prophet
introduces here strangers, who ask, “Could it be that a city so celebrated
for beauty had become a desolation?”
He calls it also the joy of the whole earth; for God had poured there his
gifts so liberally, that it was a cause of joy to all. For we delight in
beautiful things; and wherever God’s gifts appear, we ought to have our
hearts filled with joy. Some give a more refined explanation — that
Jerusalem had been the joy of the whole earth, because men have no peace
except God be propitious to them; and there God had deposited the
testimony and pledge of his favor: and thus Jerusalem made glad the whole
world, because it invited all nations to God. This, at the first view, is
plausible; but it seems to me more refined than solid. I am, therefore,
content with this simple view, that Jerusalem was the joy of the whole
earth, because God had designed that his favor should appear there, which
might justly excite the whole world to rejoice. F44 It afterwards follows, —
Lamentations 2:16
16. All thine enemies have
opened their mouth against thee;
they hiss and gnash the teeth:
they say, We have swallowed
her up: certainly this is the day
that we looked for; we have
found, we Have seen it.
16. Aperuerunt F45 super te os
suum cuncti hostes tui, sibilarunt
et frenduerunt dente (vel,
dentibus;) dixerunt, Devorabimus;
utique hic dies quem
expectavimus; invenimus,
vidimus.
Here, also, the Prophet introduces enemies as insolently exulting over the
miseries of the people. He first says, that they had opened the mouth,
even that they might loudly upbraid them; for he is not said to open the
mouth who only speaks, but who insolently and freely utters his
calumnies. God is, indeed, sometimes said emphatically to open his mouth,
when he announces something that deserves special notice; and so