Jeremiah beheld his beloved city, and saw the holy temple of God within that city, and the prophet saw utter destruction with the enemy going wherever he pleased in the city, and even into the temple reserved only for God’s people,

Her uncleanness is in her skirts;
She did not consider her destiny;
Therefore her collapse was awesome;
She had no comforter.
“O LORD, behold my affliction,
For the enemy is exalted!”
The adversary has spread his hand
Over all her pleasant things;
For she has seen the nations enter her sanctuary,
Those whom You commanded
Not to enter Your assembly.
All her people sigh,
They seek bread;
They have given their valuables for food to restore life.
“See, O LORD, and consider,
For I am scorned.”
(Lamentations 1.9–11)

This broke the heart of the prophet, moving him to ask the Lord to see the affliction of the people of God, even of Jeremiah’s own heart, because the enemy, the Babylonians, entered the city and the temple, and conquered it all. They scorned the people of God, their place, and their things. The prophet begged the Lord to consider what was being done to Jerusalem.

In so many ways, the enemies of the church have also ravaged the church, taking away our young people, and making us of no significance. May the God of Jeremiah see us, see our condition, see our desolation, and restore us to our former glory in the land.