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Verse 1. HEar ye this word which I take up a∣gainst you, even a lamentation, O house of Israel.
2. The virgin of Israel is fallen, she shall no more rise: she is forsaken upon her land, there is none to raise her up.
In these verses, the Prophet laieth before Israel their sad condition and approaching ruine, in a lamentation
given and dictate to him by God, thereby to expresse his sense of their condition: Wherein it is lamented that the Church and state of Israel is fallen, and that without hope of recovery; she being deprived of her members and sub∣jects, and none left to raise her up againe. From v. 1. learn, 1. A peoples obstinacy and opposition to God, and their contemning of better tidings from the word, will at last resolve in sad newes and lamentations: and what∣ever it be that people rejoice and comfort themselves in, neglecting God, it will certainly end in bitternesse and sorrow; for, now the wanton and incorrigible house of Israel get a word against them, even a lamentation. 2. Im∣penitent sinners are ordinarily so carelesse and so deafe, that they have need to be stirred up to give attention, even when saddest news are gone out against them; for, they need a call here, Hear ye this word &c. O house of Israel. 3. Albeit the Lords faithful servants must carry hard tidings against his people, when they are comanded; and are bound to glorifie Gods justice, when it is manifested in righteous judgements: Yet their own dispositions are not so cruel, but they will be ready to lament for the sad tid∣ings which they must carry: and it is matter of deep sor∣row, when the Lord enters into judgement, even with his sinful Church, and people, and rewards them as they deserve; Therefore is this threatning held forth in a lamentation of the Prophet. From v. 2. learn. 1. It is the sad and lamentable fruit of sin, that it brings a Na∣tion or person violently down from their dignities and en∣joyments, into a gulfe of miseries; for, it is the lamenta∣tion that Israel is fallen, which is a violent change to the worse. He speaks of it in the present time, because of its certainty and nearnesse, and because the lamentation is fitted to the time when it should be so. 2. A peoples former flourishing condition, and their not meeting with such sad lots, yea and Gods former tendernesse toward them, will not hold off deserved wrath, it may well make it sadder; for, though they be the virgin of Israel, both in respect of Gods tendernesse toward them (as a man is care∣ful of his daughter, being a virgin) and in respect of their former flourishing condition, and that they had been as an untouched virgin in respect of total subduing (and so it is spoken of other Nations, Isa. 47. 1. Jer. 46.11.)
Yet the virgin of Israel is fallen, and that maketh her fall the sadder. 3. Albeit secure sinners (especially in the Church) do ordinarily dreame of a speedy recovery out of their calamities; yet it is no wonder to see deliverance long a coming when once God is provoked to strike in ex∣tremity: Yea it is just with God to strike an impenitent Church without hope of recovery, at least for many gene∣rations; Therefore it is added, she shall no more rise, or re∣cover, like a weak woman so crushed with a fall, that she cannot get up again. Which is not to be understood as if Israel should never recover; for the contrary is promised, Hos. 3.5. and 41.10, 11. Rom. 11.26. and elsewhere: And the original expression is used of things which come not to passe onely for a time, as 2. Kings 6.23. and 24.7. compared with Jer. 37.5. But the meaning is, that however formerly when they were afflicted, they did re∣couer again either in the same, or in the following genera∣tion. 2. Kings 13.22.23, 24, 25. and 14.25, 26, 27. yet now it should not prove so: But by this stroak, the Nation and state should for once be lost without hope of recovery, and should continue so for a long time; as hath been sadly verified to this day. 4. God when he is pro∣voked, can deprive a people of all refuges; and leave them destitute of all helpe, in the midst of their former enjoyments; for, she is forsaken, and that upon her land, there is none to raise her up. This confirmes her hopelesse con∣dition, that like a virgin crushed with a fall to the ground, and wanting help to raise her up; so should she be depri∣ved of her subjects who in great numbers had possessed that land, and should have none to recover her out of her difficulties, but she behoved to lie still upon the ground, and not get her state erected again on that land, as formerly.