Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction.
Afflictive dispensations
1. The outward things of this life are the soonest lost; and being enjoyed, the most uncertain.
(1) They are most subject to all kinds of enemies.
(2) God knoweth that we may best want them.
Learn to make least account of them, as things without which we may be perfectly happy. Endeavour most of all to obtain the true knowledge and fear of God, which is the treasure laid up in heaven (Mat_6:19-20).
2. It is natural for a man to seek to better his outward estate, and his duty to seek far and near for the freedom and rest of conscience (2Ch_11:13-17).
3. It is better to live anywhere than in our own country where our governors seek to oppress us, for their hatred being assisted with their might will never let us live in any tolerable peace.
4. Of two evils, we may and ought to choose the less, to avoid the greater.
5. It is grievous and dangerous to dwell among the ungodly.
(1) They can administer no true comfort unto us.
(2) They are strong to draw us to evil.
6. When God means to punish, He stirs up means; but when He means it not, the means shall not prosper.
7. There is no place or means to escape God’s hand, when He means to punish.
8. There is no kind of people so generally and so evil entreated in their adversity as the godly.
9. This people seemeth to be utterly overthrown for ever, and yet they returned unto their land and became a commonwealth again. So is it often with the Church of God (Psa_139:1, etc.). This teaches us--
(1) Never to despair, though our calamities be never so many and grievous.
(2) That there is no assured safety, but in the true fear of God. (J. Udall.)
