Weeping for Jerusalem

“How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! how is she become as a widow! she that was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become tributary!” Lamentations 1:1

Jeremiah was known as the weeping prophet. He faithfully preached a message of warning to the people of Judah for many years, but they refused to repent and turn back to God. As a result of their disobedience, God gave them over to the Babylonians who came to Jerusalem three different times. Each time they came and fought against Jerusalem, they conquered the city. During the final battle, the Babylonians broke down the walls of Jerusalem and burned the city to the ground. The number of Israelites killed in those battles is not given, but there were 4,600 people who were taken into captivity (Jeremiah 52:30). Most of the people who remained in the city decided to flee to Egypt (Jeremiah 42-43). With the city completely devastated and nearly empty, Jeremiah sat down and wept. Jerusalem was his home. He had so many memories of family gatherings and yearly feasts when the streets were bustling with people and ringing with laughter. Jerusalem was the city of God. It was the city of the temple, the center of worship and praise. Jerusalem was lost because of disobedience to God and the failure to respond to repeated warnings from His prophets. Jeremiah wept because of the sin and rebellion of his people and because of the bitter price they paid as a result of their refusal to turn back to God.