Lamentations 2:18-19 - Homilies By J.r. Thomson

The entreaty of anguish.

This surely is one of those passages which justify the title of this book; these utterances are "lamentations" indeed; never did human sorrow make of language anything more resembling a wail than this.

I. THE SOULS FROM WHICH TEARFUL ENTEATIES ARISE The true language of passion—this utterance is lacking in coherence. The heart of the people cries aloud; the very walls of the city are invoked in their desolation to call upon the Lord. Clearly the distress is that of the inhabitants of the wretched city, of those survivors whose fate is sadder than that of those who fell by the sword.

II. THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT OCCASION THE ENTREATY .

1 . Personal want, suffering, and distress.

2 . The spectacle of the woes of others, especially of children. Literature has no more agonizing picture than this of the young children fainting and dying of hunger in every street.

III. THE BEING TO WHOM THE SUPPLICATIONS OF THE ANGUISHED ARE ADDRESSED . In such circumstances vain is the help of man. Upon whom shall Jerusalem call but upon the Lord, the King of the city, the great Patron and Protector of the chosen nation, who has forsaken even his own people because they have forgotten him, and in whose favour alone is hope of salvation?

IV. THE CHARACTER OF THE ENTREATY URGED .

1 . It is sorrowful, accompanied by many tears, flowing like a river and pausing not.

2 . Earnest, as appears from the description—heart, eyes, and hands all uniting in the appeal with imploring prayer.

3 . Continuous; for not only by day, but through the night watches, supplications ascend unto heaven, invoking compassion and aid.—T.