Lamentations 3

will he suffer any men to escape unpunished that are guilty of such acts of injustice and cruelty, who never consider that all the wrongs they do are committed in the sight of the supreme Judge of the world; and although at present he thinks fit to prosper such oppressors, the Chaldeans in particular, yet in due time he will call them to a severe account for their wickedness.

Lamentations 3:37

Who is he that saith, and it comes to pass, when the Lord comrnandeth it not?. The king of Babylon, and such haughty tyrants/ may boast of their power, as if it were equal to ctanipotence itself: but still it is God’s prerogative to bring to nass whatever he pleases, without any let or impediment, only by speaking or declaring his purpose, that the thing should be done, as he did at the beginning of the creation: (see Psal. xxxiii. 7.) and ever since nothing is brought* to pass, but according to his determinate counsel and foreknowledge: who, as he majces men the instrument of his vengeance, so he can restrain their cruelty whenever he thinks fit.

Lamentations 3:38

Out of the mouth of the Host High proceeds not evil and good?. Do not calamities come from God’s will and disposal, as well as prosperity? (See Isa. xlv. 7. Airios iii. 6.)

Lamentations 3:39

Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?. If we consider God’s afflictions as a just reward of our evil deeds, this will prevent all murmuring and repining against Providence: especially as long as men are on this side of the grave, they ought to be thankful for having an opportunity given them of repentance.

Lamentations 3:43

Thou hast covered with anger, and persecuted its. See ii. 1. Or the words may be rendered, Tltou hast covered thy face in anger, &c. (See the next verse.)

Lamentations 3:44

Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud. The same sense is elsewhere expressed by God’s hiding his face.

Lamentations 3:45

Thou hast made us as the offscouring and refuse in the midst of the people. That is, of the heathen nations, whither thou hast driven us; (see ver. 14. ii. 15.) St. Paul plainly alludes to this text, 1 Cor. iv. 13. and translates the Hebrew word maus, refuse, by the Greek Tltgtyriua. I have observed in the notes upon Jer. xxv. 10. that the apostles, in quoting the Scriptures, do not always follow the Septuagint, but now and then make a new translation of the words out of the Hebrew.

Lamentations 3:46

All our enemies have opened their mouths against us. See the note on ii. 16. Or else the words may be understood of the reproaches they utter against us, and the God whom we worship. (Compare Rev. xiii. 6.)

Lamentations 3:47

Fear and the snare is come upon us. See Jer. xlviii. 43. Desolation and destruction.] The expression is much the same in the original with that we meet with Isa. Ii. 19. (See the note there.)

Lamentations 3:51

Mine eye affecteth mine heart. Or, preys upon my heart: my grief wears out my health and strength. Abraham A Schultens, in bis Animadvers. on Job, p. 47. observes, that nalal signifies, in Arabic, to weaken, grieve, or make sick.

Lamentations 3:52

Mine enemies chased me sore, like a bird, without cause. The prophet in this and the following verses describes his own sufferings, when his enemies seized him and put him into the dungeon, (Jer. xxxvii. 16. xxxviii. 6.) He compares them to a fowler that is in pursuit of a bird; so, saith he, they sought all opportunities to take an advantage against me, and to deprive me of life or liberty: and this they did without any provocation given on his part. So theword hinnam, without cause, signifies. (Compare Psal. xxxv. 7. 19. Ixix. 4. cix. 3.)

Lamentations 3:53

They have cut off my life in the dungeon, and cast a stone upon me. I was not only sequestered from all human society, like a dead man, (see ver. 6.) but in apparent danger of losing my life in the dungeon. (See Jer. xxxvii. 24. xxxviii. 9, 10.) And their laying a stone upon the entrance of that dark cavern, resembled the burying me alive. (Compare Dan. vi. 17. Matt, xxvii. 60.)

Lamentations 3:54

Waters flowed over my head; then I said, I am cut off. When I sunk down into the mire in the dungeon, I despaired of my life, just as if I had been sinking over head and ears in a river. (Compare Psal. Ixix. 2.) And I said, I am cut off from the land of the living. (See Psal. xxxi. 2. Isa. xxxviii. 10, 11.)

Lamentations 3:56

Hide not thine ear at my breathing. Or, sighing: God’s answering our prayers is commonly expressed by opening his ears: hiding them denotes the contrary.

Lamentations 3:60

Thou hast seen all tlieir vengeance, &c. See Jer. xi. 19.

Lamentations 3:63

Behold their sitting down, and their uprising; I am their music. In every part of their life (compare Psal. exxxix. 2.) I am the object of their scorn and derision. (See ver. 14.)

Lamentations 3:64

Render to them a recompence, &c. See the note upon Jer. xi. 20.

Lamentations 3:66

Destroy them— from under the heavens of the Lord. Let them be destroyed from off the face of the earth. (Compare Jer. x. 11.)