Lamentations 1 - Wesley's Explanatory Notes

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.

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.

She — Persons of all ages and ranks are in bitterness.

Pleasant things — Has laid violent hands on them. The things of the sanctuary were always pleasant things to those that feared God.

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.

Is it nothing — The prophet speaks in the name of the Jewish church.

Fire — A judgment as consuming, and afflictive as fire.

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.

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.

The comforter — God.

Jerusalem — Is become loathsome and filthy.

Deceived — They did not answer my expectation.

Death — By famine and pestilence.

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.