24. Grief at such a calamitous message as ours was reflected by what exclamation in Jeremiah 8:21, 22?

²⁴ Persons who today adhere to Christendom may feel grieved at such a message as ours. Long ago Jeremiah felt grieved at the prospect of destruction to the temple at which he served as priest and because the nation of which he was a member was to suffer slaughter and dispersion. In despair of the spiritual recovery of his own people and in all sincerity and with no vindictive feelings, he could exclaim: “Over the breakdown [shéber, or shattering] of the daughter of my people I have become shattered [shabár]. I have grown sad. Outright astonishment has seized hold of me.

Jer. 8:21,

25. Is any healing remedy available for Christendom today, and what should lovers of lasting peace now do?

²⁵ The shattered spiritual condition of ancient Jerusalem and the land of Judah was unhealable. They were therefore really shattered by the Babylonians in 607 B.C.E.