Lam 1:7 | KingComments | STEP | Jerusalem – here the name of the city is mentioned for the first time – is in affliction and homelessness ( ). As for the past, there are only memories of what she possessed then in many precious things. This only makes the situation sadder. When she was in possession of all those precious things, the enemy came and she fell into the hand of the adversary. Again and again she must think of that terrible moment. There was no helper, which makes it even more dramatic. It is dramatic to be without a helper in the power of a ruthless enemy. It is in this condition that a people or a human being ends up when God is rejected as Helper ( ). Then it also becomes apparent that such a situation, instead of arousing pity, gives gloating to the adversary, who rejoices at her downfall. This laughter is a hateful, evil, devilish laughter. This change of situation is the result of her grievous sins, the guilt of which became greater and greater because those sins were repeated incessantly ( ). As a result, Jerusalem has become disgraced and stripped of all value and honor, while she now lies ‘naked’, that is without any means of protection, open to her enemies. Her nakedness is the punishment for her unfaithfulness to the LORD. We see here again the contrast between past and present. All those who used to revere her, with whom she had made covenants, and who now see her, despise her. The city is always seen as a woman. In she is a widow and here she is an unclean woman because of her monthly uncleanness, but she is also a naked woman. All she does is sigh and turn away, turn backwards. She has developed an aversion to herself. She does not want to see herself or know what others see of her.

‏ Lamentations 1:7

Reflection

Jerusalem – here the name of the city is mentioned for the first time – is in affliction and homelessness (Lam 1:7). As for the past, there are only memories of what she possessed then in many precious things. This only makes the situation sadder. When she was in possession of all those precious things, the enemy came and she fell into the hand of the adversary. Again and again she must think of that terrible moment.

There was no helper, which makes it even more dramatic. It is dramatic to be without a helper in the power of a ruthless enemy. It is in this condition that a people or a human being ends up when God is rejected as Helper (Hos 13:9). Then it also becomes apparent that such a situation, instead of arousing pity, gives gloating to the adversary, who rejoices at her downfall. This laughter is a hateful, evil, devilish laughter.

This change of situation is the result of her grievous sins, the guilt of which became greater and greater because those sins were repeated incessantly (Lam 1:8). As a result, Jerusalem has become disgraced and stripped of all value and honor, while she now lies ‘naked’, that is without any means of protection, open to her enemies. Her nakedness is the punishment for her unfaithfulness to the LORD. We see here again the contrast between past and present. All those who used to revere her, with whom she had made covenants, and who now see her, despise her.

The city is always seen as a woman. In Lam 1:1 she is a widow and here she is an unclean woman because of her monthly uncleanness, but she is also a naked woman. All she does is sigh and turn away, turn backwards. She has developed an aversion to herself. She does not want to see herself or know what others see of her.