This, of course, is designed to encourage the people to mourn for their sin. When Judah saw Jeremiah, a prophet sent from God, weeping for their situation and for the awful judgments coming on the land, it showed them their proper response to this word from the Lord. The ministry of the gospel is a solemn business. It cannot be carried out in a light hearted manner. All forms of communication which do not leave room for deep and solemn feelings are inappropriate. How can the seriousness of the gospel be conveyed by those who bob up and down and strum guitars and beat drums. The medium is the message, or at least must be in harmony with it. We have joyful things to speak of also, but they are reserved for those who come to know God. Our first word is a call to repentance. Jeremiah is the model of all who are called to minister in a time of spiritual decline.