Lamentations chapter 2

vs 12

Little starving children - Jeremiah knew the secrets of heart rending emotional pull way back then.

vs 13

Normally you try and say something, but this is just so bad. God has torn himself from you, there really isn't curative words for that.

vs 14

The hidden message here is, "EXCEPT FOR MINE, AND YOU DIDN'T LISTEN TO ME YOU DAFT BUGGERS!"

vs 15

Hard to judge a city by its ruins, especially so soon after, when the smoke is still clearing and the bodies still lying around. It's interesting to think that Jerusalem had such a reputation, still.

vs 16

Of course they're happy. Jerusalem historically was a thorn in the ass of a few big nations for way too long. It's like a border city between two warring empires. That it existed free as long as it did is really a huge miracle all its own.

vs 17

Israel thus descends, and the power of another nation ascends. That won't last, but the mark of this exile, the time when God finally called in a promise he made oh so many generations ago, will stick with his people forever.

vs 18

This was the whole point, wasn't it? To make the people call out to God? I guess it depends what they're calling out. Then he gives this picture of the very walls of the city itself weeping for what has happened. The city, in that sense, is a hapless bystander. It did what it could.

vs 19

Not sure if this is still talking to the walls, or to the people now.

The children starving are quite important to Jeremiah. And I think God would want his people not to forget their responsibility to such. I know it's a hard time, and mostly I'm sure it's just painting a picture for us of the devestation. But I think there is still that godly concern for the weak there.

vs 20

Well, in fact, any city that sat under a lengthy seige has suffered thusly. And Israel killed a bunch of priests and prophets in their time, and laid seige to many cities too.

When has Israel ever had to do it, though? I think that's his point.

vs 21

This bit of the prayer makes me think the walls are praying this prayer. It really does sound like a mega slaughter. It's awful.

vs 22

The destruction is so thorough that the walls weep for the destruction that has been wrought inside them. They couldn't protect their people, but that wasn't really their job. It was only ever God who would protect them. And he decided, finally, to stop.