LAMENTATIONS—NOTE ON LAMENTATIONS 3:1 I Am the Man Who Has Seen Affliction. Chapter Lamentations 3:1 has one speaker, a man who has endured suffering, experienced God’s faithfulness (vv. Lamentations 3:1), and accepted God’s sovereignty and goodness (vv. Lamentations 3:25). He prays for renewal (vv.... [ Continue Reading ]
LAMENTATIONS—NOTE ON LAMENTATIONS 3:4 HE HAS MADE MY FLESH AND MY SKIN WASTE AWAY. Literally, “he has swallowed up my flesh and my skin.” For “swallow” as a symbol of judgment, see Lamentations 2:2, Lamentations 2:5, Lamentations 2:8, Lamentations 2:16. HE HAS BROKEN. For “breaking” as a symbol of p... [ Continue Reading ]
LAMENTATIONS—NOTE ON LAMENTATIONS 3:14 Like Jerusalem (Lamentations 1:7), the speaker has endured shame and mocking. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
LAMENTATIONS—NOTE ON LAMENTATIONS 3:19 A prayer for God to REMEMBER all that the speaker has suffered. God has not remembered Jerusalem and protected her (see note on 2:1). WORMWOOD. See Lamentations 3:15. GALL. Or “bitterness,” see vv. Lamentations 3:5, Lamentations 3:15. Remembering the events tha... [ Continue Reading ]
LAMENTATIONS—NOTE ON LAMENTATIONS 3:21 This verse marks a change in the speaker’s attitude. The contentment he remembers renews the HOPE lost in v. Lamentations 3:18. In view of vv. Lamentations 3:22, Lamentations 3:32, he may be reflecting on Exodus 34:6, which these verses echo.... [ Continue Reading ]
LAMENTATIONS—NOTE ON LAMENTATIONS 3:22 God’s STEADFAST LOVE (his “covenant mercy” or beneficial action on his people’s behalf) NEVER CEASES, even in the face of Judah’s unfaithfulness and the resulting “day of the LORD” (see Joel 2:1; Amos 5:18; Zephaniah 1:14). MERCIES. Or “compassion.” This type o... [ Continue Reading ]
LAMENTATIONS—NOTE ON LAMENTATIONS 3:23 NEW EVERY MORNING. Each day presents another opportunity to experience God’s grace. FAITHFULNESS. God’s constant goodness and personal integrity remain intact no matter what happens. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=im... [ Continue Reading ]
LAMENTATIONS—NOTE ON LAMENTATIONS 3:24 MY PORTION. As with the Levites (Numbers 18:20), God is the speaker’s only inheritance (see Psalms 73:26). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
LAMENTATIONS—NOTE ON LAMENTATIONS 3:25 THE LORD IS GOOD. God’s goodness is the core of his character (Nehemiah 9:25; Psalms 34:8; Psalms 86:5; Hosea 3:5). ⇐ ⇔... [ Continue Reading ]
LAMENTATIONS—NOTE ON LAMENTATIONS 3:26 WAIT QUIETLY. In prayer and expectation. SALVATION. In this case, deliverance from danger, not salvation from sin. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
LAMENTATIONS—NOTE ON LAMENTATIONS 3:27 He must BEAR THE YOKE of punishment for sin (v. Lamentations 3:18; Lamentations 1:14). IN HIS YOUTH indicates that the suffering is temporary. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); [ Continue Reading ]
LAMENTATIONS—NOTE ON LAMENTATIONS 3:29 PUT HIS MOUTH IN THE DUST. Assume a posture that shows his humility and dependence on God. THERE MAY YET BE HOPE because of God’s faithfulness (see v. Lamentations 3:24). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length,... [ Continue Reading ]
LAMENTATIONS—NOTE ON LAMENTATIONS 3:31 NOT CAST OFF FOREVER. God’s anger is temporary (Psalms 103:9). He judges people to bring them to repentance and renewal. THOUGH HE CAUSE GRIEF, in this case because of the people’s covenant breaking, HE WILL HAVE COMPASSION. See Exodus 34:6; Lamentations 3:22;... [ Continue Reading ]
LAMENTATIONS—NOTE ON LAMENTATIONS 3:34 THE LORD DOES NOT APPROVE (v. Lamentations 3:36) of those who CRUSH others UNDERFOOT (perhaps a reference to the Israelites being crushed by Babylon). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
LAMENTATIONS—NOTE ON LAMENTATIONS 3:37 SPOKEN AND IT CAME TO PASS. Just as in creation (see Genesis 1:3; Psalms 33:9), God speaks and things happen, including Jerusalem’s destruction (Lamentations 1:5, Lamentations 1:12; Lamentations 2:1).... [ Continue Reading ]
LAMENTATIONS—NOTE ON LAMENTATIONS 3:41 The people should LIFT UP their HEARTS (where repentance begins; see Deuteronomy 30:1; Jeremiah 4:3) and their HANDS, showing their total dependence on God. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = doc [ Continue Reading ]
LAMENTATIONS—NOTE ON LAMENTATIONS 3:42 YOU HAVE NOT FORGIVEN. God has not let their actions go unpunished. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
LAMENTATIONS—NOTE ON LAMENTATIONS 3:48 MY EYES FLOW WITH... TEARS. Like Jerusalem (Lamentations 1:16; Lamentations 2:11, Lamentations 2:18), the speaker weeps for what has happened to the city. THE DAUGHTER OF MY PEOPLE. A term of endearment for Jerusalem (see Lamentations 2:11).... [ Continue Reading ]
LAMENTATIONS—NOTE ON LAMENTATIONS 3:51 MY EYES CAUSE ME GRIEF. What he has witnessed saddens the speaker. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
LAMENTATIONS—NOTE ON LAMENTATIONS 3:54 I AM LOST. There seemed to be no hope (see v. Lamentations 3:18). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
LAMENTATIONS—NOTE ON LAMENTATIONS 3:55 In the DEPTHS OF THE PIT (the worst days of his suffering), the speaker called upon God, who had placed him there. YOU HEARD MY PLEA. See Psalms 30:2; Psalms 103:4. God not only CAME NEAR, offering his comforting and saving presence, but also gave reassuring an... [ Continue Reading ]
LAMENTATIONS—NOTE ON LAMENTATIONS 3:58 TAKEN UP MY CAUSE. God has taken the speaker’s side against his attackers (v. Lamentations 3:52). REDEEMED MY LIFE. God’s acts on his behalf resulted in deliverance (see Leviticus 25:47; Ruth 4:1; Jeremiah 1:17; Jeremiah 39:11).... [ Continue Reading ]
LAMENTATIONS—NOTE ON LAMENTATIONS 3:59 God has SEEN THE WRONG DONE TO the speaker. Jerusalem prayed for this in Lamentations 1:9, Lamentations 1:11, Lamentations 1:20. True relief cannot come until God judges in favor of the speaker and against his enemies for ALL THEIR PLOTS (see Jeremiah 11:18;... [ Continue Reading ]
LAMENTATIONS—NOTE ON LAMENTATIONS 3:65 YOUR CURSE. The judgment that comes because of their actions (see Deuteronomy 28:15). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]