For I have heard a voice as of a woman in travail, and the anguish as of her that bringeth forth her first child, the voice of the daughter of Zion, that bewaileth herself, that spreadeth her hands, saying, Woe is me now! for my soul is wearied because of murderers.
Anguish - namely, occasioned by the attack of the enemy.
Daughter of Zion. There is special beauty in suppressing the name of the person trouble, until that trouble had been fully described (Henderson).
Bewaileth herself - rather, 'draweth her breath short' (Horsley); panteth.
Spreadeth her hands - (Lamentations 1:17).
Remarks:
(1) If we would have a "return" to blessing from the Lord we must "return" to reconciliation with the Lord (Jeremiah 4:1). Until a man is converted truly to Christ, he is like a restless wanderer, "removing" from place to place,-an outcast from his true home (Jeremiah 4:2). Such are the Jews now, in their state of unbelief: but once that they turn to Messiah "in truth." they shall not only regain their appointed rest, the land of their inheritance, but be the instrument of spiritual and temporal blessing to all nations.
(2) It is useless to receive the good seed of the word on a heart hard as the unbroken fallow ground. The thorns of worldly care, covetousness, and pleasure, choke the word, and the stones of natural indifference to spiritual things, pride, and self-love, prevent its sinking below the surface. If the sinner would be saved, the Holy Spirit must be earnestly sought for, in order that He may "break up the fallow ground:" for "the preparation of the heart in man ... is from the Lord." Still, we are addressed as responsible beings; and are told to do that which God alone can do for us-that is, "Circumcise yourselves to the, Lord, and take away the foreskins of your heart." Let us pray that God, will give us the true "circumcision of the heart" and "the repentance not to be repented of," for the sake of the Lord Jesus, whom "God hath exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance ... and forgiveness of sins" (Acts 5:31). (3) God will not spare even His own elect people when they harden themselves in impenitence; and they who reject invitations of mercy shall feel the stroke of judgment: nor will "the fierce anger of the Lord be turned back" (Jeremiah 4:8) from sinners until they turn back from the error of their way.
(4) Whomsoever God means to destroy He first dementates. It is a sure sign that the culprit's execution is nigh when his eyes are covered. So God sends a deceived mind on them who "hold fast deceit," and "strong delusion" on them who "receive not the love of the truth that they may be saved" (Jeremiah 4:9-10; Jeremiah 8:5).
(5) The only means of escape from the deceived heart, which precedes utter destruction, is, "Wash thine, heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved" (Jeremiah 4:14): let not "vain thoughts" any longer "lodge within thee." Too "long" have we done the will of the world; henceforth let our whole soul, Spirit, and body be consecrated to the Lord.
(6) Judgment and sin are as inseparably connected together as the fruit and the flower. Damnation is not the arbitrary penalty of guilt, but its natural and necessary consequence. God's righteous sentence of retribution will ring forever in the ears of the lost, "Thy way and thy doings have procured these things unto, thee; this is the bitter fruit of thy wickedness," (Jeremiah 4:18).
(7) How many, in spite of all God's warnings, reverse the right order of things, and "are wise to do evil, but to do good have no knowledge" (Jeremiah 4:22), instead, of being "wise unto good, simple concerning evil" (Romans 16:19). Ignorance of God is the root of all perversity, folly, and sin. Hence, arises utter confusion, the 'sinner's whole course being without form, and void' of all that is true, good, and profitable (Jeremiah 4:23). Necessarily, this darkness of all unbelievers here must end in everlasting darkness hereafter. Though the Lord will make a "full end" of the general mass of unbelievers, He has mercy in store at last for His people. He may correct them severely for their sins, as He did Israel and Judah, but He will not east them off forever. He remembers for them His covenant, and His unchangeable love: for having once for all loved them, He loves them to the end. For this end He pours out on them the Spirit of grace and supplication, that so, renouncing all past confidences and false colouring of a mere outward profession, they may heartily return to the Lord, and find in Him the rest and refuge which they in vain had sought elsewhere.