Lamentations 1:1 How does the city sit solitary, that was full of people! how is she become as a widow! she that was great among the nations… 1. God often alters the outward estate of His Church in this world. (1) That He may daily declare Himself the disposer and governor of all things. (2) To take from us all occasions of promising ourselves any certainty here. Therefore let us prepare ourselves to all conditions (Philippians 4:11, 12); settle our affections on heaven and the things that lead thereto. 2. It is our duty to strive with ourselves to be affected with the miseries of God's people (2 Chronicles 11:28, 29). For we are fellow members of one body, whereof Christ is the Head (1 Corinthians 12:25, 26). (1) This reproves those who seek only their own good. (2) It teaches us to put on tender compassion and labour to profit the whole Church and every member thereof. 3. God sometimes giveth His Church an outward estate that flourisheth both in wealth and peace. (1) That He may give His people's taste even of all kinds of earthly blessings (Deuteronomy 28:2; Psalm 84:11). (2) That they may have all opportunity to serve Him, and every kind of encouragement thereto. 4. The outward flourishing state of God's Church lasts not always, but is often changed into affliction and adversity. 5. God often changes the condition of His servants in this life from one extreme to another. Joseph; Job; Israel (1) That His mighty power may appear to all (2) That we may learn to ascribe all to Him. 6. It is a great blessing of God for a nation to be populous (Genesis 12:2). 7. God often makes His people in their prosperity most admired of all. (1) That He may show Him, self to love His servants. (2) That the godly may know that godliness is not without reward. (3) That the wicked may have all excuse taken from them, in that they are not allured by such notable spectacles of God's love to them that fear Him. 8. God often humbles His servants under all His foes and their adversaries, because of their disobedience to His word (Deuteronomy 28:36). (1) This shows us how great God's anger is for sin. (2) This teaches us not to measure the favour of God towards ourselves or others by the blessings or adversities of this life. (J. Udall.) Parallel Verses KJV: How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! how is she become as a widow! she that was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become tributary! |
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