Verses 1-16: Is any afflicted? Let him pray; and let him in prayer pour
out his complaint to God. The people of God do so here; they
complain not of evils feared, but of evils felt. If penitent and
patient under what we suffer for the sins of our fathers, we may
expect that He who punishes, will return in mercy to us. They
acknowledge, Woe unto us that we have sinned! All our woes are
owing to our own sin and folly. Though our sins and God's just
displeasure cause our sufferings, we may hope in his pardoning
mercy, his sanctifying grace, and his kind providence. But the
sins of a man's whole life will be punished with vengeance at
last, unless he obtains an interest in Him who bare our sins in
his own body on the tree.
Verses 17-22: The people of God express deep concern for the ruins of
the temple, more than for any other of their calamities. But
whatever changes there are on earth, God is still the same, and
remains for ever wise and holy, just and good; with Him there is
no variableness nor shadow of turning. They earnestly pray to
God for mercy and grace; Turn us to thee, O Lord. God never
leaves any till they first leave him; if he turns them to him in
a way of duty, no doubt he will quickly return to them in a way
of mercy. If God by his grace renew our hearts, he will by his
favour renew our days. Troubles may cause our hearts to be
faint, and our eyes to be dim, but the way to the mercy-seat of
our reconciled God is open. Let us, in all our trials, put our
whole trust and confidence in his mercy; let us confess our
sins, and pour out our hearts before him. Let us watch against
repinings and despondency; for we surely know, that it shall be
well in the end with all that trust in, fear, love, and serve
the Lord. Are not the Lord's judgments in the earth the same as
in Jeremiah's days? Let Zion then be remembered by us in our
prayers, and her welfare be sought above every earthly joy.
Spare, Lord, spare thy people, and give not thine heritage to
reproach, for the heathen to rule over them.