The Lamentations of Jeremiah
Lamentations 3
Chapter III · Vol. III, pp. 1307–1309
1 The prophet bewaileth his own calamities; 22 he acknowledgeth God's mercies and truth to be a proper ground of patient hope: 37 he maketh humble confession of the sins which had drawn down God's severe judgments: 55 he prayeth to be avenged of his enemies.
1 I am the man athat hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath.1
A.M. cir. 3416. B.C. cir. 588.
a Je.15.10,17,18; 20.7-10;26.8-16; 36.26; 37.15;38.6.
1 'The subject of this elegy,' says Henderson, 'is the personal experience of Jeremiah, on which he expatiates in the most touching strains in order partly to give vent to his own feelings, and partly to excite corresponding emotions in the breasts of his exiled countrymen. From the lively recollections which he had of the severe trials that he had endured in the course of his prophetic ministry, the merciful interpositions of the Lord on his behalf, and the indisputable right of the most High to inflict suffering on sinful men, he proposes himself as an example from which they might receive instruction, and be induced, in the exercise of repentance and prayer, to hope for a restoration from their captivity.' This seems to me to be the true object of this touching elegy.—P.
2 He hath led me, and brought me into darkness,2 but not into light.
2 Je.13.16. Am.5.20. Is.59.9,11. ver.53,55; ch.2.1, i.e. great misery and grief.
3 Surely bagainst me is he turned; he turneth his hand against me all the day.
b Is.63.10; 1.25. Ps.38.1,2,6;88.7,16. ch.2.1-7.
9 Hej hath inclosed my ways with hewn stone: he hath made my paths crooked.
j ver.5,7,11. Ps.88.8. Le.26.27,28. ver.7.
11 Hel hath turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces: he hath made me desolate.
l Ho.6.1. Je.21.4-7;9.11; 15.2-4. 2 Ch.36.16,17.
12 Hen hath bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow.
n Job 16.12,13; 7.20; 6.4. Ps.38.2. Mi.7.9.
14 Io was a derision to all my people, and their song all the day.
o Je.20.7-10. Ps.44.13; 79.4. 1 Co.4.9. Job 30.9. Ps.69.12,20. ver.63.
15 He hath filled me with 4bitterness, phe hath made me drunken with wormwood.5
4 Heb. bitternesses.
p Job 9.19. ver.19. Is.51.17-22. Je.25.15,16,18,27;9.15. Ps.60.3;75.8.
5 Bitter sufferings.
20 My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled1 in me.
A.M. cir. 3416. B.C. cir. 588.
1 Heb. bowed.
21 Thisv I recall to my mind,2 therefore3 havex I 4hope.5
v ver.22-36. Ps.130.7,8;131.3. Hab.2.3.
2 Heb. make to return to my heart.
3 Or, nevertheless, ver.24.
x Ps.77.5, &c.
4 'This I revolve in my mind; therefore shall I have hope that the mercies of Jehovah are not exhausted—that they fail not.'—Boothroyd.
5 See note * below.
* The transition from the despondency which is the usual consequent of intense suffering and persecution, to faith and hope, is here very striking and instructive. The moment the prophet takes a right and full view of himself—of the utter sinfulness of his own heart, he feels conscious that great as his sufferings have been, they have been yet far less than he deserved. He is therefore forced to exclaim, 'It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed'—utterly and finally cut off; and this feeling then becomes the basis of hope.—P.
26 Ite is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.
e Ps.130.5-8; 37.1-7; 119.165,174. Ge.49.18.
30 Hej giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach.
j Is.50.6. Mi.5.1. Mat.5.39;26.67. Je.20.7-10.
32 But though lhe cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.
l Ps.30.5.
34 Too crush8 under his feet all the prisoners of the earth,
8 To crush—as men often do in selfishness, tyranny, or malice.—C.
35 Top turn aside the right of a man before the face of the Most High,9
p Zec.1.15,16. Pr.18.5;17.15. Ps.12.5. De.32.36,40-43.
9 Or, a superior.
37 Whoq is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?
q Ps.33.9. Pr.16.9. Ja.4.13,15.
39 Wherefore doth a living man complain,3 a man for the punishment of his sins?
3 Or, murmur, Pr.19.3. Re.16.9,11. 1 Co.10.10. Jude 16. Mi.7.9.
43 Thoux hast covered with anger, and persecuted us: thou hast slain, thou hast not pitied.
A.M. cir. 3416. B.C. cir. 588.
x ch.2.1,2,17,21. Eze.v.-vii.ix. 2 Ch.36.16,17.
44 Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, ythat our prayer should not pass through.
y See ver.8. Ps.88.13,14;80.4;22.2.
45 Thou hast made us as the zoffscouring and refuse in the midst of the people.
z 1 Co.4.13. ch.1.17; 2.15; ver.14.
47 Fearb and a snare is come upon us, desolation and destruction.
b Is.24.17,18. Je.48.43,44. Is.51.19. Am.9.1-4. Eze.v.-vii. ch.i.ii.
48 Minec eye runneth down with rivers of water for the destruction of the daughter of my people.
c ch.1.16;2.11,18. Ps.119.136;77.2. Je.9.1; 14.17;4.19.
49 Mine eye trickleth down, and ceaseth not, without any intermission,
50 Tilld the LORD look down, and behold from heaven.
d ch.1.12,20;2.20;5.1,21. Is.63.15; 64.1. Ps.102.13-20;123.2. Lu.18.1-8. Is.62.1,6,7.
53 Theyi have cut off my life in the dungeon, and cast a stone6 upon me.
i ver.6. Je.37.20; 38.9,10. Da.6.17. Mat.27.66.
6 The dungeon of the tomb, to which 'a great stone' was rolled, and then sealed, Mat.27.60,66.—C.
54 jWaters7 flowed over mine head; kthen I said, I am cut off.
j Ps.69.1,2; 124.4-8; 18.4,5,16.
7 Waters. Waves of affliction, the deluge of death, Ps.69.1,2;124.4,5.—C.
k Ps.31.22. Is.38.10,11. Eze.37.11. ver.18. Jonah 2.3,4,7.
57 Thoup drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst, qFear not.1
p Ja.4.8. Ps.102.2. Is.58.9;65.24.
q Re.1.17,18. Is.41.10,14;43.1,2.
1 The lesson here taught is very cheering. Afflictions are sent until the soul is thoroughly humbled, until it is brought to feel and acknowledge its utter vileness and helplessness—then the moment it turns to God in penitence and faith, seeking pardon, acceptance, and help, that moment the rod is removed, and blessings begin to flow from the fountain of divine mercy.—P.
58 O Lord, thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; thou rhast redeemed my life.
r Ps.35.1-4; 43.1,2. Je.1.8; 15.11,20,21; 51.36.
61 Thou hast heard their reproach, O LORD, and all their imaginations against me;
62 The lips of those that rose up against me, and their device against me all the day.
Notes
Ver. 3, 7, 9, 43, 53. He has so plunged and fixed me in miseries that it is impossible for me to get out; and my attempts to obtain relief do but render me still more and more miserable.—We are quite overwhelmed with trouble, and brought into a most desperate and remediless condition.
Ver. 1. The man. 'The strong, the mighty man.'—An attentive consideration of this chapter will suggest, at least the probability, that it is a prophetic picture of the suffering Messiah, drawn for the instruction of Zion in the duty of humiliation and patience under the hand of the Lord. This interpretation of the chapter is suggested on the following grounds:—(1) The title, which is, literally, 'mighty man.' (2) The fact of his deep afflictions, Col. 4. 24. (3) The cruel mockery of his people, ver. 14; Mat. 27. 29. (4) The gall he gets to drink, Mat. 27. 34. (5) The cheek he turns to the smiter, ver. 30; Jn. 19. 3. (6) His sympathetic weeping, ver. 48; Lu. 19. 41. (7) His assertion that he was persecuted 'without cause,' ver. 52; Jn. 15. 25. (8) His life being 'cut off,' ver. 53, 54; comp. Is. 53. 8. (9) His redemption from death, ver. 58; Ps. 16. 10; Ac. 2. 24-36. (10) His fearless appeal to his judge, ver. 59; Jn. 8. 40; He. 9. 14. (11) The continuous plotting of his enemies, ver. 61, 62; Mat. 2. 16-20; 3. 15. (12) The corresponding language of his companions, the apostles, ver. 45; comp. 1 Co. 4. 13; also Ps. 44. 22, with Ro. 8. 36. (13) The experience of all believers, that the only argument that can reach the judgment or the heart of the afflicted, is derived from a recital and view of the sufferings of Christ, He. 12. 1-3. (14) That Christ and his sufferings are similarly introduced in the Psalms and the Prophets. The only objection to this interpretation arises from comparing ver. 4 with Jn. 19. 36. But the breaking of his bones there denied is the act of his enemies, the breaking in ver. 4 is the act of God: and, when compared with Ps. 51. 8; Is. 38. 13; Je. 50. 17, will be seen to be the emblem of extreme affliction, such as our Lord endured when he 'bore our griefs and carried our sorrows, was wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities.' C.
Ver. 27. The yoke. 'Afflictions' (Aben Ezra). It is rather the yoke of willing service, Mat. 11. 29, 30, which the believer puts on when he acknowledges Jesus to be Master and King: and in which service afflictions may be, and generally are, more or less included.—Note, There are many blessings attendant upon early conversion, such as, (1) The follies of youth, and sins of riper years, which it prevents. (2) The many bitter weepings which are prevented by preservation from these follies. (3) The blessings to others which the instruction and example of early piety so frequently conveys. (4) The blessed hope which it works in the believer's own experience of continued mercy, Ps. 77. 6; Ro. 5. 4. (5) The continued opportunities which it furnishes, when days are lengthened, for glorifying God in the various periods or relations of life; and (6) The nearer resemblance to Christ into which it brings the believer.—Note, Let the aged sinner know that it is never too late—but, let the youthful remember, it is never too early—to believe and turn to the Lord. C.
Ver. 35. The verse condemns all oppression wherein men take advantage either of the mere letter or imperfection of a human law to inflict an injury in the name of law, and as in the presence of 'the most High,' by whom kings reign and princes decree justice. C.
Ver. 39. Wherefore doth a living man complain? Seeing the chief blessing, life, is still continued; and seeing that afflictions are intended for correction, why should man murmur at what he either wants or suffers? Why should the sick man reject the medicine, or accuse the Physician of cruelty? Is. 45. 7; Am. 3. 6; He. 12. 6. C.
Ver. 51. Mine eye affecteth mine heart. What my eye sees 'preys upon my heart.'—Note, Fools make a mock, a sport, a jest, an entertainment of sin: but the eye that sees sin as Jesus saw it—as God sees it—must often weep as Jesus wept. C.
Ver. 64-66. That ver. 64-66 may be rendered in the future, as declaratory and not imprecatory, is certain; but similar scriptures quoted from the Old into the New Testament, being thus rendered into the Greek, which does not admit the uncertainty of the Hebrew (see Ps. 69. 25; 109. 8; comp. with Ac. 1. 20), seem to require the authorized version to be retained, on the sound principle of analogy, and to call for exposition, rather than authorize escape from an apparent difficulty or objection. See for this exposition, and defence of similar prayers, Ps. 5. 10; 35. 8. C.
Reflections.—How tremendous are the fatherly corrections of Jehovah! and very criminal must be the sins which so provoke him against the objects of his love. The children of light, and heirs of joy, sometimes walk in the greatest darkness of calamity and grief, and even despondency: and many and diversified are God's arrows of affliction, flying swift and piercing deep. But if men will walk in crooked paths of iniquity, it is but just that God should cross their designs and break their measures; and if they will regard iniquity, it is just in him to shut out their prayers, than which few things are more galling to a gracious heart.—Saints can never enter the lowest hell, being preserved by grace: but by multiplied troubles from God, from devils, and from men, they may have a hell upon earth. Yet God will deliver his people and churches in due time, when they are thoroughly melted and purified in his furnace. In their worst cases they are neither helpless nor hopeless. Let us therefore always acknowledge him kind and faithful. If our troubles be heavy and sharp, let us eagerly claim and live upon him as our portion, and comfort ourselves with his compassion, and with a persuasion that all he does is the fulfilment of his gracious Word, on which he has caused us to hope. Let us complain to God, but never complain against him. And let us earnestly work together with God, and labour to promote the same self-debasing and soul-sanctifying ends. Experience of former kindness should encourage us to hope for more. And having cast our burdens on the Lord, we should continue waiting instant and patient in prayer; and at last we shall find an answer of peace. There is no prison so deep or dark but God can bring us out of it; no enemy so strong but God can destroy; and no request of faith so silent but he will hear it for our good. But woe to those, however powerful, haughty, merry, or scornful, against whom God's favourites plead! And think, my soul, what of all these troubles Jesus underwent—in infinite love underwent—and all for me!