Плач Иеремии, Глава 2, стих 14. Толкования стиха

SHEPHERDS SHOULD BE UNAFRAID OF SPEAKING THE TRUTH. GREGORY THE GREAT: The ruler should be discreet in keeping silence, profitable in speech, lest he either utter what ought to be suppressed or suppress what he ought to utter. For, as incautious speaking leads into error, so indiscreet silence leaves in error those who might have been instructed. For often improvident rulers, fearing to lose human favor, shrink timidly from speaking freely the things that are right, and, according to the voice of the Truth, serve to the custody of the flock by no means with the zeal of shepherds but in the way of hirelings; since they fly when the wolf comes if they hide themselves under silence. For hence it is that the Lord through the prophet upbraids them, calling them, “Dumb dogs that cannot bark.” Hence again he complains, saying, “You have not gone up against the enemy, neither opposed a wall for the house of Israel, to stand in the battle in the day of the Lord.” Now to go up against the enemy is to go with free voice against the powers of this world for defense of the flock; and to stand in the battle in the day of the Lord is out of love of justice to resist bad people when they contend against us. For a shepherd to have feared to say what is right, what else is it but to have turned his back in keeping silence? But surely, if he puts himself in front for the flock, he opposes a wall against the enemy for the house of Israel. Hence again to the sinful people it is said, “Your prophets have seen false and foolish things for you: neither did they discover your iniquity, to provoke you to repentance.” For in sacred language, teachers are sometimes called prophets, in that, by pointing out how fleeting present things are, they point out the things that are to come. And these are the ones the divine discourse convinces of seeing false things, because, while fearing to reprove faults, they vainly flatter evildoers by promising security; neither do they discover the iniquity of sinners, since they refrain their voice from chiding. For the language of reproof is the key of discovery, because by chiding it discloses the fault of which even he who has committed it is often himself unaware. PASTORAL RULE 2.4.

Вторая песнь – разрушение Иерусалима – более подробно изображает катастрофу столицы. Укрепления его разрушены, чертоги в развалинах. Господь в гневе Своем отверг царя и священника и не пощадил даже самого храма – рукою врагов разрушен Дом Божий. Плач и стоны оглашают улицы. Глаза истощились от слез при виде, как грудные дети умирают на руках матерей от голода. Но еще тяжелее видеть духовное оскудение народа. Пророки не получают откровений от Бога и некому учить народ. Так Господь наказывает Свой народ и его пророков за многие грехи их, за то, что первые не следовали закону Божию, а вторые не обличали грех и успокаивали народ ложными пророчествами.