Thou hast called as in a solemn day my terrors round about, so that in the day of the LORD's anger none escaped nor remained: those that I have swaddled and brought up hath mine enemy consumed. Thou hast called as in a solemn day my terrors - thou hast summoned my enemies against me from all quarters, just as multitudes used to be convened to Jerusalem on the solemn feast days. The objects for which the enemies and the festal multitude respectively met formed a sad contrast. Compare Lamentations 1:15, "called an assembly against me."
Remarks:
(1) In proportion as Zion had been lifted up to heaven in spiritual privileges, she was cast down low unto the earth when she abused them (Lamentations 2:1). It is altogether just that God should degrade from honour those who debase themselves by sin. Once, in their day of grace, the Jews had by idolatries treated with contempt the ark of the covenant which, as being the footstool of Yahweh, was their great glory and "the beauty of Israel:" in righteous retribution God now, "in the day of His anger," would not remember for them His former footstool, but violently took away His tabernacle and places of solemn assembly (Lamentations 2:6-7). As they had polluted His Sabbaths, so He "caused" the Sabbaths and other holy days now "to be forgotten in Zion." And, instead of the joyous thanksgivings which in better times used to peal forth through the house of the Lord, there was heard the pagan enemy's exulting shout of triumph (Lamentations 2:7). How many there are who shall only know the preciousness of Sabbath ordinances when they shall have forever lost them. Let us so value and lay them out to good account now while we have them, as the lost shall wish they had done, when their regrets shall be unavailing, and the day of opportunities forever past.
(2) How awful a change it was, when He who had been the especial friend of Israel, and her defender from her enemies, bent His bow against her as an enemy (Lamentations 2:4-5). He who had once dwelt between the cherubim in His temple at Jerusalem, now abhorred His sanctuary and cast off His altar (Lamentations 2:7). Though God has for all men the love of compassion, yet He reserves the love of complacency and friendship for those alone who walk in agreement with Him. Ye are my friends, saith the Lord, if ye do whatsoever I command you (John 15:14). His pity gives place to righteous anger against those who harden themselves against His love. Let us, therefore, seek to experience the blessedness of His friendship who is "a friend" that "loveth at all times, and a brother born for adversity," - nay more, our "friend" that "sticketh closer than a brother" (Proverbs 17:17; Proverbs 18:24). And let us beware of presuming on His favour by carelessness about sin, lest from a Friend He should become as an enemy.
(3) The prophet, though he had been so slandered and maltreated by his countrymen in their prosperity, now in their adversity proves himself to be the true man of God, by his tearful lamentations for those who had wronged him (Lamentations 2:11), and the true patriot, by his prayers to Yahweh in behalf of his ungrateful country (Lamentations 2:20). How brightly does his conduct contrast with that of the false prophets, who had soothed them with promises of peace at the time when the true prophet could only announce to them from God messages of wrath because of their sins: whereas now, when the false burdens of the lying prophets had eventuated in the banishment of the people, the faithful prophet ministers his sympathy and counsel to his afflicted fellow-countrymen.
(4) While the victorious enemy exulted in the overthrow of Judea, as if it were their doing (Lamentations 2:15-16), Jeremiah declares the true cause of it to lie in the Lord's counsels of old, as announced by His prophets in the foreseen event of His people's sin (Lamentations 2:17). Since then, the evil was from the Lord, to the Lord he directs his afflicted countrymen to "lift up their hands" in behalf of themselves and their little ones (Lamentations 2:19).
(5) But as precept has little weight without example, he himself leads the way in prayer, "Behold, O Lord, and consider" (Lamentations 2:20). Prayer affords a remedy for every malady, however desperate. The very greatness of our extremity is a powerful plea to use before our gracious God; because man's extremity is God's opportunity. Let us detail minutely to Him all the particulars of our grief (Lamentations 2:20-22), and though He may not visibly grant relief at once, yet He lays it up in store for His praying people, and in His own good time will bring it forth, to their unspeakable comfort.