Synopsis of the Books of the Bible, by John Nelson Darby,
[1857-62], at sacred-texts.com There is nothing more affecting
than the sentiments produced in the heart by the conviction that
the subject of affliction is beloved of God, that He loves that
which He is obliged to smite, and is obliged to smite that which
He loves. The prophet, while laying open the affliction of
Jerusalem, acknowledges that the sin of the people had caused
it. Could that diminish the sorrow of his heart? If on the one
hand it was a consolation, on the other it humbled and made him
hide his face. The pride of the enemy, and their joy in seeing
the affliction of the beloved of God, give occasion to sue for
compassion on behalf of the afflicted, and judgment on the
malice of the enemy. At the end of chapter 1, after full
confession that it was Judah's sin that had brought the evil
upon them, and that Jehovah was righteous, the people call on
the eye of Jehovah to look on their sorrow, and judge those by
whose wickedness they were punish