Daily Devotions
Jeremiah
"Lamentation and bitter weeping"
Text: Jeremiah 31:15
THE INVASION OF THE BABYLONIANS
Was there a reason why the LORD emphasised rejoicing so much (Jeremiah 31:12-14)? Yes! The invasion of the Babylonians had brought so much sorrow to so many!
“Thus says the LORD:
‘A voice was heard in Ramah,
Lamentation and bitter weeping,
Rachel weeping for her children,
Refusing to be comforted for her children,
Because they are no more.'”
Jeremiah 31:15
1. “Thus says the LORD”
a) The LORD sought to address the sorrow of the nation.
b) He was fully aware of the pain and suffering experienced by so many when the Babylonians invaded the land of Judah.
2. “A voice was heard in Ramah”
a) Ramah was a city of priests.
b) It was the hometown of Samuel the prophet.
c) This was also the hometown of Jeremiah the prophet.
3. “Lamentation and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children”
a) There was great suffering experienced.
b) No city in Judah was spared.
c) Not even Ramah.
i) A city dedicated to the priests/ Levites.
ii) But these suffered terribly too.
d) Rachel
i) She represents all the mothers of Israel.
ii) All mothers suffered; especially those who saw their children killed.
4. “Refusing to be comforted for her children, because they are no more”
a) The mothers were inconsolable.
b) They had lost their children.
c) The pain felt was deep and traumatic!
5. This verse was employed by Matthew when King Herod ordered the death of all babies two years and younger (Matthew 2:18).