2:1 Alas! The Lord has covered Daughter Zion with his anger. He has thrown down the splendor of Israel from heaven to earth; he did not protect his temple when he displayed his anger.
In chapter 2, Jeremiah sang another acrostic funeral song for the death of Judah. Each verse began with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
The first Hebrew letter is the alef, which is a silent letter which can carry any consonant sound. . The acrostic is אֵיכָה֩ (aicah), which means “how.” The Daughter Zion is the city of Jerusalem.
How has God covered Jerusalem with His anger? The answer is that He has thrown down the glory of Israel from heaven to earth. The false prophets were all predicting that Jehovah would not allow Jerusalem to fall, because He would protect His temple. In His anger against sinful Judah, Jehovah allowed the temple to be destroyed. Jehovah did not want Judah looking at the temple as a good luck charm. He wanted Israel to learn more about Himself by studying and applying strong Bible doctrine.
2:2 The Lord destroyed mercilessly all the homes of Jacob’s descendants. In his anger he tore down the fortified cities of Daughter Judah. He knocked to the ground and humiliated the kingdom and its rulers.
The second Hebrew letter is beth. The acrostic is בָּלַע (bala), a qal perfect third masculine singular verb, meaning “he swallowed.” Jehovah swallowed all of the homes of Judah. He tore down the fortified cities which were protecting Jerusalem. He knocked the kingdom of Judah to the ground and humiliated all of the rulers. All of the rulers were telling the people of Judah that Jerusalem would not be destroyed.
2:3 In fierce anger he destroyed the whole army of Israel. He withdrew his right hand as the enemy attacked. He was like a raging fire in the land of Jacob; it consumed everything around it.
The third Hebrew letter is gimel. The acrostic is גָּדַע (gada), a qal perfect third masculine singular verb, meaning “he chopped down.” In anger, Jehovah chopped down the entire army of Israel just as one would chop down a tree. When the Babylonians attacked, Jehovah withdrew His right hand of protection from Israel and allowed the Babylonians to destroy Judah. Jehovah was like a raging fire which consumed all of Judah.
2:4 He prepared his bow like an enemy; his right hand was ready to shoot. Like a foe he killed everyone, even our strong young men; he has poured out his anger like fire on the tent of Daughter Zion.
The fourth Hebrew letter is dalet. The acrostic is דָּרַך (derek), a qal perfect third masculine singular verb, meaning “he bent the bow.” When Judah sinned, Jehovah became the enemy of Israel. He bent His bow and killed all of the strong young men of Judah. The killing of the strong young Jewish men would cause difficulty in producing sons for the next generation.
2:5 The Lord, like an enemy, destroyed Israel. He destroyed all her palaces; he ruined her fortified cities. He made everyone in Daughter Judah mourn and lament.
The fifth Hebrew letter is hay, which is the “h” sound. The acrostic is הָיָה (haya), a qal perfect third masculine singular verb, meaning “he became.” This is the verb of being which composes the name of Jehovah (Yahweh). Jehovah had become the enemy of Israel. He had destroyed all of her palaces and fortified cities. All of the people of Jerusalem were singing funeral songs.
2:6 He destroyed his temple as if it were a vineyard;he destroyed his appointed meeting place. The Lord has made those in Zion forget both the festivals and the Sabbaths. In his fierce anger he has spurned both king and priest.
The sixth Hebrew letter is vav, which is the “v” sound. The acrostic is וַיַּחְמֹ֤ס (va-yahchumim), a conjunction with a qal perfect third masculine singular verb, meaning “and he has violently taken away.” Jehovah had violently taken away the temple of Judah. He destroyed the temple, just as a farmer would destroy a worthless vineyard which would not produce any good fruit. Judah would no longer be able to celebrate the seven feasts of Israel. All of these feasts pointed to the Messiah’s first and second comings. Jehovah killed all of her kings and priests, because they were leading the people astray.
2:7 The Lord rejected his altar and abhorred his temple. He handed over to the enemy her palace walls; the enemy shouted in the Lord’s temple as if it were a feast day.
The seventh Hebrew letter is zayin, which is the “z” sound. The acrostic is זָנַ֨ח (zakach), a qal perfect third masculine singular verb, meaning “he has cast off.” Jehovah has cast off His altar. He is disgusted with the temple rituals. Israel was worshiping false gods in the temple. According to the prophet Ezekiel, they were worshiping the bugs of Egypt. Jehovah handed over the palace walls to Babylon. The Babylonians ran into the temple courtyard (where Gentiles were not allowed) and shouted as if it were a feast day.
2:8 The Lord was determined to tear down Daughter Zion’s wall. He prepared to knock it down; he did not withdraw his hand from destroying. He made the ramparts and fortified walls lament; together they mourned their ruin.
The eighth Hebrew letter is hecht, which is similar to the German “h” sound. The acrostic is חָשַׁ֨ב (hashav), a qal perfect third masculine singular verb, meaning “he has purposed, planned, or determined.” It was Jehovah’s divine purpose to destroy the walls of Jerusalem. Babylon was simply His tool to do so.
2:9 Her city gates have fallen to the ground; he smashed to bits the bars that lock her gates. Her king and princes were taken into exile; there is no more guidance available. As for her prophets, they no longer receive a vision from the Lord.
The ninth Hebrew letter is tet, which is a “t” sound. The acrostic is טָבְע֤וּ (tabau), a qal perfect third masculine singular verb, meaning “he has sunk.” The city gates of Jerusalem sunk into the ground. Jehovah smashed the bars and locks of her gates. The kings and princes were captured and exiled to Babylon. The Hebrew word for “guidance” is תּוֹרָ֔ה (torah), meaning that the Mosaic Law was no longer being taught or followed in Jerusalem. The prophets were no longer speaking to the people of Israel.
2:10 The elders of Daughter Zion sit on the ground in silence. They have thrown dirt on their heads; They have dressed in sackcloth. Jerusalem’s young women stare down at the ground.
The tenth Hebrew letter is yod, which is the “y” sound. The acrostic is יֵשְׁב֨וּ (yashvu), a qal perfect third masculine singular verb, meaning “she sat.” The elders of Jerusalem sat on the ground in silence. They threw dirt on their heads as a sign of mourning. They dressed in sackcloth, which was the clothing of mourning. Jerusalem’s young women stared at the ground knowing that they were about to be raped and enslaved by the Babylonians soldiers.
2:11 My eyes are worn out from weeping; my stomach is in knots. My heart is poured out on the ground due to the destruction of my helpless people; children and infants faint in the town squares.
The eleventh Hebrew letter is kaf, which is the “k” sound. The acrostic is כָּל֨וּ (calu), a qal perfect third masculine plural verb, meaning “they fell, or they came to an end.” Jeremiah was called the weeping prophet. His eyes have cried so much that there were no more tears left inside him. His stomach was in knots because of the stress. His heart was greatly saddened over all of the death and destruction in which he observed. Children and infants were fainting in the streets from hunger.
2:12 Children say to their mothers, “Where are food and drink?” They faint like a wounded warrior in the city squares. They die slowly in their mothers’ arms.
The twelfth Hebrew letter is lamed, which is the “l” sound. The acrostic is לְאִמֹּתָם֙ (la-imotam), meaning “to their mothers.” The lamed prefix is used in Hebrew as the preposition “to.” The children were hungry and thirsty. They were asking their mothers for food and drink. The children began to faint from hunger and thirst. They died in their mother’s arms. Dying of hunger is one of the worst ways that a person can die. Mothers watching their children die from hunger had to be one of the most terrible catastrophes that a mother could experience.
2:13 With what can I equate you? To what can I compare you, O Daughter Jerusalem? To what can I liken you so that I might comfort you, O Virgin Daughter Zion? Your wound is as deep as the sea. Who can heal you?
The thirteenth Hebrew letter is mem, which is an “m” sound. The acrostic is מָֽה־אֲעִידֵ֞ךְ (mah-ah-id-ka), meaning “in what way can I warn you.” Jeremiah and the other prophets had continually warned Judah about her coming destruction, but Judah refused to listen. Jeremiah wanted to comfort Israel with his words, but he did not know what to say. Her wound was too deep and beyond healing. Only Jehovah could bind her wound, but He refused to do so at this time. (However, He would later bind her wound and restore her. First, Israel needed to serve in a land filled with idols).
2:14 Your prophets saw visions for you that were worthless lies. They failed to expose your sin so as to restore your fortunes. They saw oracles for you that were worthless lies.
The fourteenth Hebrew letter is nun, which is the “n” sound. The acrostic is נְבִיאַ֗יִךְ (naviahika), meaning “your prophets.” Israel had listened to the lies of the false prophets. The false prophets were much like the modern seeker-friendly pastors of today. They did not expose the sins of the people. They continued to give out false prophecies which tickled the ears of their congregations. They told Israel that they were the chosen people of God. They told the people that since the temple was in Jerusalem, then God would not allow His holy people, His holy city, or His holy temple to be destroyed. Therefore, Israel would continue in her sin and think that she would be delivered.
As long as the American electorate continues to place godless men in political office, then pastors need to quit tickling the ears of their congregations. Everything is not all right in America. America is no longer a Christian nation. America worships the Almighty Dollar. American pastors need to step up, call sin a sin, and teach the entire counsel of the Word of God at the deepest level. A nation without Bible doctrine will fall, just as Israel did.
2:15 All who passed by on the road clapped their hands to mock you. They sneered and shook their heads at Daughter Jerusalem. “Ha! Is this the city they called ‘The perfection of beauty, the source of joy of the whole earth’?”
The fifteenth Hebrew letter is samek, which is an “s” sound. The acrostic is סָֽפְק֨וּ (saphku), a qal perfect third masculine plural verb, meaning “They clapped or struck.” When future Gentiles walk past the city of Jerusalem, they will clap their hands in joy. They will be happy that Jerusalem was destroyed. They will mock the Jews and the God in which they worship. They will make jokes about the city of Jerusalem and their God. They will laugh and say, “Is this the city that the Jews called ‘the perfection of beauty?’ Is this the city which was to be ‘the source of joy of the whole earth’?” The Gentiles would see Jerusalem in rubble. These Gentiles would falsely believe that the Babylonian gods were more powerful than Jehovah. When believers flaunt their sin, then they are insulting God publicly in front of their community. God will not be mocked. He will spank His children. If carnal Christians continue in their sin, then God will bring them home through the portal of death.
2:16 All your enemies gloated over you. They sneered and gnashed their teeth; they said, “We have destroyed her! Ha! We have waited a long time for this day. We have lived to see it!”
The sixteenth Hebrew letter is pey, which is the “p” sound. For some reason, Jeremiah (led by the Holy Spirit) reversed the pey and ayin (silent letter) of the next verse. The acrostic is פָּצ֨וּ (pazu), a qal perfect third masculine plural verb, meaning “they opened.” The Hebrews made sure that the Gentiles knew that they were “the chosen people of God.” The Hebrews called the Gentiles “dogs,” which was also a synonym for sodomites. These Gentile "dogs" opened their mouths and tore the Jews in Jerusalem to shreds.
It is important to note that once homosexuality and lesbianism enters a nation politically, then the homosexuals and lesbians will rise up together and destroy Christians. Same-sex marriage leads to the persecution and attempted genocide of Christians. The Christians are the salt of the earth. They keep the world from spoiling. Once the Christians are removed from a nation, then the nation spoils and becomes rotten in the stomach of Jehovah. God will vomit these people out of the land and repopulate the land with new people.
2:17 The Lord has done what he planned; he has fulfilled his promise that he threatened long ago: He has overthrown you without mercy and has enabled the enemy to gloat over you; he has exalted your adversaries’ power.
The seventeenth Hebrew letter is ayin, which is a silent letter which can take on any vowel. The acrostic is עָשָׂ֨ה (asa), a qal perfect third masculine singular verb, meaning “he has done or he has accomplished.” Jehovah planned for Jerusalem to be destroyed. Jehovah accomplished what He had planned through the Babylonians. This was no accident of history. Jehovah predicted this exact historical event in advance through His prophets. He enabled the Babylonian army to rise up and defeat Israel. He allowed the Babylonians to gloat over their victory of Israel. Jehovah gave Babylon the strength and power to accomplish this task. Basically, the powerful nation of Babylon was just a tool in the hands of Jehovah. Babylon was the hammer, but Jehovah was the strong and accurate arm who formed and wielded the hammer.
2:18 Cry out from your heart to the Lord, O wall of Daughter Zion! Make your tears flow like a river all day and all night long! Do not rest; do not let your tears stop!
The eighteenth Hebrew letter is tsade, which is a “ts” sound. The acrostic is צָעַ֥ק (tsa-ak), an imperative verb, meaning “You cry out.” Jeremiah commanded the people of Jerusalem to cry to Jehovah from their hearts. He asked them to cry out rivers of tears both day and night. He asked them not to rest, but to continue crying tears. If they did so, then maybe Jehovah would listen and bless Israel during their seventy years of coming captivity.
2:19 Get up! Cry out in the night when the night watches start! Pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord! Lift up your hands to him for your children’s lives; they are fainting at every street corner.
The nineteenth Hebrew letter is kaf, which is a “k” sound. The acrostic is ק֣וּמִי (ka-u-mi), an imperative verb, meaning “You arise.” There were three military watches during the night. The first night watch was from sunset to 10 p.m. The second night watch was from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. The third night watch was from 2 a.m. to sunrise. Jeremiah commanded the people of Jerusalem to arise during the first night watch and pour out their hearts like water before the face of Jehovah.
Notice that these Jews prayed like Jesus prayed. They did not bow their heads and close their eyes (this type of prayer is the opposite of how Jesus prayed. This type of prayer may have come from the satanism of the Babylonian religious system). Instead, the people were commanded to raise their hands to Jehovah in prayer. They were to ask Jehovah to save their children from the terrible death of famine.
2:20 Look, O Lord! Consider! Whom have you ever afflicted like this? Should women eat their offspring, their healthy infants? Should priest and prophet be killed in the Lord’s sanctuary?
The twentieth Hebrew letter is resh, which is the “r” sound. The acrostic is רְאֵ֤ה (raah), an imperative verb, meaning “You look closely at what is happening.” Jeremiah commanded the people in Jerusalem to look closely at what was happening and to meditate upon it. The famine was so bad, that mothers were eating their own children. Priests and prophets were being killed in the streets.
America, like Israel, was given more light. If God leaves America alone and allows her to continue in her liberal agenda, then America may experience the same famine and cannibalistic judgments in which Israel suffered. Liberalism leads to homosexuality, lesbianism, famine, and cannibalism.
2:21 The young boys and old men lie dead on the ground in the streets. My young women and my young men have fallen by the sword. You killed them when you were angry; you slaughtered them without mercy.
The twenty-first Hebrew letter is shin, which is the “sh” sound. The acrostic is שָׁכְב֨וּ (shakvu), a qal perfect third masculine plural verb, meaning “they lied.” Jeremiah was an eyewitness to the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem. He saw young boys and old men lying dead on the ground. The young boys were the procreators of the next generation. The Babylonians slaughtered the future Jewish procreators without mercy.
2:22 As if it were a feast day, you call enemies to terrify me on every side. On the day of the Lord’s anger no one escaped or survived. My enemy has finished off those healthy infants whom I bore and raised.
The twenty-second Hebrew letter is tav, which is the “t” sound. The acrostic is תִּקְרָא֩ (takarah), a qal perfect second masculine singular verb, meaning “you have called.” Jeremiah is speaking metaphorically as though he was the eyes of Israel. Jehovah called Jeremiah to observe this slaughter just as God would call him to a feast day. Jeremiah see the Babylonians killing Jews all around him. All of Jeremiah’s children had been slaughtered and killed by the Babylonians.
The prophets over and over had warned Israel to accept the Babylonian Captivity. They were told not to stay in Jerusalem, because they would be killed by famine, plague, or sword. They were told that they would eat their own children. Israel, like America, was given more light. Israel was also promised double punishment for her sins. If America does not turn around spiritually, then she is headed down this same path. Liberalism leads to fornication, adultery, homosexuality/lesbianism, famine, and cannibalism. These are the five stages of the fall of nations. With the legalization of same-sex marriage, America has just entered phase three.