Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents

1:12 Jerusalem now speaks (vv. 12-16). She addresses those who pass by, perhaps because God has not answered. She wants them to look and see, just as she wanted God to see and act (vv. 9, 11). day of his fierce anger. Cf. Isa. 2:6-22; Jer. 12:3.

1:13 From on high he sent fire. Fire is a common metaphor for judgment (Amos 1:3-2:5). The phrase reminds readers of Sodom and Gomorrah (cf. Gen. 19:23-29; Lam. 4:6). into my bones. The very core of Jerusalem's being (Jer. 20:9). spread a net. As one does to trap an animal (cf. Ps. 35:7; 57:6; Prov. 29:5; Hos. 7:12).

1:14 A yoke represents power and authority (e.g., Jer. 27:8). God placed Jerusalem under the power of her own sins, which caused her strength to fail, resulting in God giving her into the hands of her foes (cf. Deut. 28:64-68; Jer. 52:1-30).

1:15 rejected. Or "spurned" (Ps. 119:118). he summoned an assembly. God brought an overwhelming fighting force against Jerusalem (Jer. 52:1-30). trodden as in a winepress. Cf. Isa. 63:1-6.

1:16 Jerusalem weeps after the devastation, just like Jeremiah wept (Jer. 13:17) when he predicted it. comforter. See Lam. 1:9. enemy has prevailed. See vv. 7-10.

1:17 The narrator verifies Jerusalem's claims of loneliness and lack of comfort (cf. vv. 9, 16), God's sovereignty in the situation (vv. 12-13), and Jerusalem's sinful past (vv. 5, 9, 14).

1:18 Jerusalem confesses that God is in the right (cf. Ps. 51:4) for judging her rebellion. but hear. Nonetheless, she desires comfort from all you peoples.

1:19 I called to my lovers. Jerusalem asked her allies for help (cf. Jer. 27:1-15; 37:1-10), but to no avail. they deceived me. They promised help they could not or would not deliver. priests and elders. Religious and civic leaders who misled the people (cf. Jer. 2:8, 26). perished . . . while they sought food. A pitiable end, regardless of their spiritual condition.

1:20 Again Jerusalem asks God to look at her distress (cf. vv. 9, 11). Her stomach churns. Her "inward parts" (Isa. 16:11), i.e., the emotions, are in turmoil. I have been very rebellious. See Lam. 1:18. the sword bereaves. See Jer. 15:1-4.

1:21 no one to comfort me. See vv. 9, 16, 17. the day you announced. The day of judgment promised by Moses and the prophets (see vv. 12-13). let them be as I am. Jerusalem asked that God judge her foes, which Jer. 27:7 and 46:1-51:64 indicate will occur in due course.