“My eyes will flow unceasingly, without relief,” writes the prophet Jeremiah, “until the LORD looks down from heaven and sees. What I see brings grief to my soul” (Lam. 3:49– 50). In Lamentations 3, Jeremiah is describing his extreme sorrow at the judgment being carried out against God’s people.

Clearly, the Lord is not afraid to use both extreme measures and unlikely agents to bring pressure to bear on those who resist His will. He is not vindictive, but rebellion against God inevitably creates a barrier. Verses 43–44 say He has “covered” Himself in anger and cloud “so that no prayer can get through.” The consequences of Judah’s rebellion against God have been far-reaching. They have been scorned and terrorized by the nations (vv. 45–47). When they opened their mouths, it was not merely to speak against God’s people but to swallow them whole like some monster.

The overall effect on Jeremiah, who has been a voice for God, is one of profound sorrow. His tears flow without ceasing (v. 49). He is like a man who has been thrown into a pit as the waters fill it and people hurl stones at him from above (v. 54). Jeremiah may be drawing on personal experience for this imagery. Jeremiah 38 describes how the religious and political authorities accused God’s prophet of treason when he predicted that the besieged city of Jerusalem would fall to the Babylonians. Their complaint? He was too discouraging. “This man is not seeking the good of these people but their ruin,” they grumbled (Jer. 38:4). Jeremiah’s enemies wanted to do more than silence him. They wanted him dead (Jer. 38:4). It is not always easy to speak for God. Those you love may misunderstand your motives.

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