Armies came and destroyed the Northern Kingdom of Israel. The people were carried away by the armies to far off places, away from their homes, their families, their temples and their lands. Jeremiah heard the cry of his poor people who had been taken away into exile and he cried:
My joy is gone, grief is upon me, my heart is sick.
God had made a promise to the people, but the people did not keep their promise to God. "Is there no King in Jerusalem?" Jeremiah wondered. "Do the people not know that God has kept the promise? Why do they turn away from God?" So Jeremiah cried:
My joy is gone, grief is upon me, my heart is sick.
The people prayed to
other God's: they trusted in armies and weapons not the Lord; they relied on politicians and alliances not
promise of God; they invested in economies not prayers; they believed in the
work of their own hands more than God's wonders. Jeremiah saw this and cried:
My joy is gone, grief is upon me, my heart is sick.
Even the priests,
the leaders and the kings could not be trusted.
They lied and cheated, and betrayed their trusts. They made no healing balm, but only poison. Physicians caused pain instead of
restoration. And Jeremiah cried:
My joy is gone, grief is upon me, my heart is sick.
"For the hurt
of my people," said Jeremiah.
"I am hurt, I mourn, and dismay has taken hold of me." Jeremiah cried:
My joy is gone, grief is upon me, my heart is sick.
"O that my head
were a spring of water, and my eyes a fountain of tears, so that I might weep
day and night for the slain of my poor people!"
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