Jeremiah had repeatedly prophesied that this would happen. “For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: 'Behold, I will silence in this place, before your eyes and in your days, the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride” (Jeremiah 16:9; cf. Jeremiah 7:34; Jeremiah 25:10). Now that these prophesies have been fulfilled, he pleads with the Lord to look on the situation with mercy.
15 The joy of our hearts has ceased; our dancing has been turned to mourning.