--- title: "John Wesley's Notes on the Whole Bible" author: "John Wesley" languages: [en] shelf: "Commentaries" section: 219 of 398 url: https://scriptura.si/works/john-wesley-notes-on-the-whole-bible/219/ cite: "John Wesley, John Wesley's Notes on the Whole Bible, section 219. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/john-wesley-notes-on-the-whole-bible/219/" --- # John Wesley's Notes on the Whole Bible *John Wesley* Wesley's short, plain notes on the Old and New Testaments, verse by verse. ## 219. Lamentations · 1 of 2 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/john-wesley-notes-on-the-whole-bible/219/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/john-wesley-notes-on-the-whole-bible/219/#p-N [¶0] A widow - She that had a king, or rather a God, that was an husband to her, now was forsaken of God, and her king taken from her. [¶1] Because - Because of the servitude and oppression exercised among them: oppression by their rulers, and servitude more generally; keeping their servants beyond the year of jubilee, when they ought to be set at liberty. The straits - Those that pursued them overtook them in places where they could not escape. [¶2] She - Persons of all ages and ranks are in bitterness. [¶3] Pleasant things - Has laid violent hands on them. The things of the sanctuary were always pleasant things to those that feared God. [¶4] Bread - Even in a land that ordinarily flowed with milk and honey, they were at a loss for bread to eat. Given - And gave any thing for something to satisfy their hunger. Vile - Miserable or contemptible. [¶5] Is it nothing - The prophet speaks in the name of the Jewish church. [¶6] Fire - A judgment as consuming, and afflictive as fire. [¶7] Is bound - Put upon my neck on account of my transgressions. Wreathed - My punishments are twisted as cords; I have a complication of judgments upon me, sword, famine, pestilence, captivity. [¶8] An assembly - God had called an assembly of Chaldeans against the city, to crush the inhabitants of it. Trodden - God had trodden upon the Jews as men use to stamp grapes in a wine - press. [¶9] The comforter - God. [¶10] Jerusalem - Is become loathsome and filthy. [¶11] Deceived - They did not answer my expectation. [¶12] Death - By famine and pestilence. [¶13] They - The neighbouring nations. Like me - But thou hast foretold their destruction also, and hast by me proclaimed it: and thou shalt in that day bring them into as sad a condition as I am in now. [¶14] His footstool - His temple; but suffered the Chaldeans to destroy it. Cast down - That is, thrown them down from the highest glory and honour, to the meanest degree of servitude. [¶15] Polluted - Dealt with them as with a polluted thing; cast them off, brake them in pieces. [¶16] The horn - All their beauty and strength. Drawn back - God hath drawn back his assistance which he was wont to give the Jews against their enemies. Round about - God consumed them, not in this or that part, but round about, as a fire seizing an house at once on all sides. [¶17] His tabernacle - His temple. The places - The synagogues. The king - By the king and the priests are meant persons of greatest rank and eminency, though it is thought here is a special reference to Zedekiah the king of Judah, and Seraiah who was the high priest; the former of which was miserably handled, the latter slain. [¶18] They - The enemies with their triumphs and blasphemies, made as great a noise, as those that sang holy songs, or played on instruments, were wont to make to the glory of God. [¶19] The wall - The strength and security of the Jews. A line - Artificers used with lines not only to mark out places for building, but also for destruction, to direct them what to cut off; and such a line is here meant. [¶20] Among the Gentiles - In miserable captivity. The law - Is no more read, opened or observed. Her prophets - They had but very few prophets, from this time to the time of the gospel, and very few of those at this time alive had any revelation from God. [¶21] The virgins - The whole city is in a mournful posture. [¶22] Mine eyes - This whole verse is but expressive of the prophets great affliction for the miseries come upon the Jews. He wept himself almost blind. Bowels - His passion had disturbed his bodily humours, that his bowels were troubled. Liver - His gall lying under his liver. All these are expressions of great affliction and sorrow. Swoon - During the famine, occasioned by the long siege. [¶23] Bosom - When they died in their mother's arms. [¶24] Who - There was no people whose condition was in any degree parallel to the misery of the Jews: nor was there any cure for them, their breach was like a sea breach where the waters come in with such a torrent, that there is no making any defence against them. [¶25] The prophets - False prophets told you vain stories. Not discovered - Whereas they ought to have made you sensible of your sins, and this might have prevented your captivity. False burdens - False stories to encourage you in sin, and so cause your banishment. [¶26] O wall - That is, those that are upon it. [¶27] Whom - Not the Heathen, but to thy own people. Women - Wilt thou suffer women to satisfy their hunger with the fruit of their own bodies? [¶28] My terrors - As my people were wont to be called together from all parts in a solemn day, so now my terrible enemies, or terrible things are by thee called together. [¶29] I am the man - It seems, this is spoken in the name of the people, who were before set out under the notion of a woman. [¶30] Made old - All my beauty is gone, and all my strength. [¶31] Builded - He hath built forts and batteries against my walls and houses. [¶32] Enclosed - He has defeated all my methods and counsels for security, by insuperable difficulties like walls of hewn stone. Crooked - Nay, God not only defeated their counsels, but made them fatal and pernicious to them. [¶33] Wormwood - With severe and bitter dispensations. [¶34] Ashes - Mourners were wont to throw ashes on their heads. [¶35] Wormwood - Wormwood and gall, are often made use of to signify great affliction. [¶36] This - Which follows, concerning the nature of God, and his good providences. [¶37] Faithfulness - In fulfilling thy promises to thy people. [¶38] Bear - Quietly and patiently to bear what afflictions God will please to lay upon us. And if God tame us when young, by his word or by his rod, it is an unspeakable advantage. [¶39] Borne it - That he keep his soul in subjection to God, because God hath humbled him by his rod. [¶40] In the dust - Both this and the former verses let us know the duty of persons under afflictions. [¶41] Willingly - Not from his own mere motion without a cause given him from the persons afflicted. Hence judgment is called God's strange work. [¶42] To subvert - Here are three things mentioned, which God approveth not. [¶43] Who - Nothing comes to pass in the world, but by the disposal of divine providence. This seems to be spoken in the name of the people of God, arguing themselves into a quiet submission, to their afflictions, from the consideration of the hand of God in them. [¶44] Evil - Doth not evil or trouble come out of God's mouth from his direction, and providence, as well as good?