Pride Gives Way to Darkness, Tears, and Captivity

Hear before darkness, or the prophet will weep in secret for pride

Hear ye, and give ear; be not proud: for the LORD hath spoken. Give glory to the LORD your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness. But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the LORD's flock is carried away captive.

The text does not shame tears. Secret weeping is the prophet's response to pride that will not hear. Captivity of the flock is coming loss, not a verdict that captives deserved mockery.

King and queen are told to sit down as the north takes the beautiful flock

Say unto the king and to the queen, Humble yourselves, sit down: for your principalities shall come down, even the crown of your glory. The cities of the south shall be shut up, and none shall open them: Judah shall be carried away captive all of it, it shall be wholly carried away captive. Lift up your eyes, and behold them that come from the north: where is the flock that was given thee, thy beautiful flock? What wilt thou say when he shall punish thee? for thou hast taught them to be captains, and as chief over thee: shall not sorrows take thee, as a woman in travail?

Labor pain again images inescapable crisis, not contempt for pregnancy. People taken captive are not to be shamed. The north is still not a modern country. Leadership failure is the question: where is the flock?