274
The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 2
her walls. The glorious destiny which might have blessed Jerusalem,
had she accepted her Redeemer, rose before the Son of God. He saw
that she might through him have been healed of her grievous malady,
liberated from bondage, and established as the mighty metropolis of
the earth. From her walls the dove of peace would have gone forth to
all nations. She would have been the world’s diadem of glory.
[393]
But the bright picture of what Jerusalem might have been had she
accepted the Son of God, fades from the Saviour’s sight as he realizes
what she is under the oppressive Roman yoke, bearing the frown of
God, doomed to his retributive justice. He takes up the broken thread
of his lamentations: “But now they are hid from thine eyes. For the
days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about
thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, and shall
lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they
shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest
not the time of thy visitation.”
Christ came to save Jerusalem with her children from the conse-
quences of her former sins; but the unholy expectations of the Pharisees
were not answered in the manner of his appearing. Pharisaical pride,
hypocrisy, jealousy, and malice had prevented him from accomplishing
his purpose. Jesus knew the terrible retribution which would be visited
upon the doomed city. He sees Jerusalem encompassed with armies,
the besieged inhabitants driven to starvation and death, mothers mak-
ing a repast on the dead bodies of their own children, and both parents
and children snatching the last morsel of food from one another, natu-
ral affection being destroyed through the gnawing pangs of hunger. He
sees that the stubbornness of the Jews, as evinced in their rejection of
his salvation, will also lead them to refuse their only remaining chance
of safety, submission to the invading armies. He sees the wretched
[394]
inhabitants suffering torture on the rack, and crucifixion, the beautiful
palaces destroyed, the temple where God had revealed his glory, in
ruins, and of all its pure and spotless walls, decorated with lofty pillars
and gilded devices, not one stone left upon another, while the city is
plowed like a field. Well may the Saviour weep in agony in view of
such a fearful picture!
Jerusalem had been the child of his care, and as a tender father
mourns over a wayward son, so Jesus wept over Jerusalem. How can I
give thee up! How can I see thee devoted to destruction and desolation!