On August 6, 1945, the American B-29 aircraft dropped at 2,000 feet high the first nuclear bomb in the Japanese city of Hiroshima instantly killing 80,000 people an area of about five square miles. Japan remained reluctant to surrender, and the next day, a second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki killing 40,000 people. This led to Japan’s unconditional performance during World War II. The end of World War II came to an end but not without leaving these two cities decimated (and many more damage of course). Many more people later died from radiation.
The images of destruction and desolation are a solemn reminder of the cruelty that exists in this world. We haven’t been through something like this, and we hope it doesn’t happen to any nation.
The people of Israel experienced the destruction, violence, cruelty and pain of their city in 568 a.C This was documented in the book of Lamentations. In this chapter we see the loneliness of the city (vv. 1-3), its destruction, affliction and desolation (vv. 4-6), its rebellion that led to its downfall (vv. 7-9a) and its cry to God (vv. 9b-11).
“How deserted lies the city,
once so full of people!
How like a widow is she,
who once was great among the nations!
She who was queen among the provinces
has now become a slave. ” (NIV)
The great nation whose husband was Jehovah God (Isa. 54: 5; Eze. 16) has now become a widow. She has no one. The author remembers how it was before this happened. She was a populous city but now been left desolate. The author watches Jerusalem sitting like a widow in her desolate state. The word “How!” is a funeral word that expresses the feeling of “I can’t believe it!” “What a pity!” She was great among the nations bu now she “she has become a widow.” He has no one with her to take care of her, protect her or support her. Not only this but she lost her prominence. She was the “queen” of the nations before this. She has lost her rank among the nations. Let’s remember the glory she had when Solomon took the throne. The whole world knew that Israel was great among the nations because God was with her. But now, the great nation of God has been defeated. She has to submit to the nation of Babylon and pay tribute to her. She is her slave.
The great city of Jerusalem has been left alone without consolation.
“Bitterly she weeps at night,
tears are on her cheeks.
Among all her lovers
there is no one to comfort her.
All her friends have betrayed her;
they have become her enemies. ” v. 2
The widow cries bitterly at night. Her tears spill down her cheeks but she has no one to comfort her. She left her husband God and preferred her lovers. Her infidelity led to nothing. Her lovers, the nations she trusted betrayed her. Judah thought that if she allied herself with other nations she would avoid captivity but she did not. It seems that Judah sought help from Egypt but it betrayed her and became her enemy. The widow cries without anyone comforting her. How sad!
But she not only has been left as a widow, alone, without position and without consolation but,
She has been caught at a dead-end and has been taken captive.
“After affliction and harsh labor,
Judah has gone into exile.
She dwells among the nations;
she finds no resting place.
All who pursue her have overtaken her
in the midst of her distress.” v. 3
This exile has brought her “affliction” and “harsh labor.” This brings back memories of the suffering they had experienced in Egypt. She now dwells among the nations but she has no rest. She has no rest because her pursuers caught up with her and she had no place to go. She was caught.
The account of this event is found in 2 Kings 25: 1-7 and Jer 52: 1-11. 2 Kgs 25: 1-7 The city was besieged by Nebuchadnezzar for two years. This was disastrous. The people suffered from hunger and there was even cannibalism. Finally, a breach was made in the wall and Zedekiah the king of Judah was captured, his children killed and he was taken captive to Babylon like many of the inhabitants of Judah.
Her destruction, affliction and desolation has left so much destruction.
“The roads to Zion mourn,
for no one comes to her appointed festivals.
All her gateways are desolate,
her priests groan,
her young women grieve,
and she is in bitter anguish. ” v. 4
The temple, the most special place in Jerusalem, was destroyed. Her treasures were taken to Babylon. The streets of Zion (Jerusalem) that lead to the temple are lonely. There are no special celebrations, there are no sacrifices and worship of God. The doors through which the people leading to the temple entered are alone. The priests who served in the temple groan or wail in pain. The virgins who possibly had a role in the temple dancing or in processions are not happy but rather sad. Zion “has bitter anguish.” Where did such destruction and bitterness come from?
She is clear about this.
Her foes have become her masters;
her enemies are at ease.
The Lord has brought her grief
because of her many sins.
Her children have gone into exile,
captive before the foe. v. 4
Judah has lost everything. Her enemies now rule over her and those who hated her have now prospered. Who was responsible for all this, this suffering, this pain, this mourning? It was the Lord.
But God is not an unjust God. God does not delight in the suffering they experience. This that has come upon them is because of “the multitude of her man sins.” The word “sins” means “to break” or “infraction.” Israel time after time broke God’s laws. She was warned by her prophets to repent and return to the Lord but she refused. She continued to make altars and worship other people’s gods (Hosea 10: 1).
God “Lord has brought her grief because of her many sins” and “Her children have gone into exile,
captive before the foe.” This is the sad thing. The punishment was for the entire nation, for all her children including the children. These children would grow up in a pagan nation.
Zion (Jerusalem) was vanished.
“All the splendor has departed
from Daughter Zion.
Her princes are like deer
that find no pasture;
in weakness they have fled
before the pursuer.” v. 6
She no longer radiates the glory of God. She lost her influence in the world. She lost everything. Her light was turned off. Israel lost everything. The Babylonian soldiers trampled on her and she carried off her princes, their leaders who were left weak after the siege. They could not against Babylon, they were left without strength. Jerusalem has been left a desolate city, destroyed, and afflicted due to her rebellion.
What kinds of emotions arise in you as you read the description of the destruction of the city of Jerusalem? Take a few minutes and express to God how you feel. Take a few minutes to pray for the nations of the world that are experiencing pain, anguish and suffering due to injustice.
