Lecture 8

^1:8^ Heth. Jerusalem has grievously sinned, therefore is she become unstable: all that honored her have despised her, because they have seen her shame: but she sighed and turned backward.

8. Here he shows the cause of so great a misfortune.

And first, he presents the sin itself;

second, the progression of the sin, at her filthiness is on her feet (Lam 1:9).

Concerning the first, he does two things.

First, he presents the sin: sin, substituting this word (Antonomasia, which is a figure of speech (in particular, a type of metonymy) in which an epithet or other name or phrase is used instead of the proper name or word.) for infidelity and idolatry. Sin makes nations miserable (Prov 14:34).

Second, he presents the effect of sin.

First, the misery of instability: therefore is she become unstable, that is, she does not stand on her land but was taken captive and fled into foreign regions. The wicked are like the raging sea, which cannot rest (Isa 57:20).

Second, the shame of confusion: all that honored her—they blessed her at the time of her prosperity; have despised her, because they have seen her shame, of adversity. The ear that heard me blessed me, and the eye that saw me gave witness to me (Job 29:11).

Third, the sadness of the heart: but she sighed and turned backward, away from the prosperity which she had enjoyed in God*. Let them be turned backward and be ashamed that desire evils to me* (Ps 39:15).