
Text -- Lamentations 3:42 (NET)




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collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)
Wesley -> Lam 3:42
Thou hast plagued us according to the just desert of our sins.
Jeremiah and his fellow countrymen in their calamity.

JFB: Lam 3:40-42 - -- As opposed to the torpor wherewith men rest only on their outward sufferings, without attending to the cause of them (Psa 139:23-24).
As opposed to the torpor wherewith men rest only on their outward sufferings, without attending to the cause of them (Psa 139:23-24).

The Babylonian captivity had not yet ended.
Calvin -> Lam 3:42
Calvin: Lam 3:42 - -- The faithful do not here expostulate with God, but on the contrary acknowledge that God’s severity was just. That God then had dealt with them seve...
The faithful do not here expostulate with God, but on the contrary acknowledge that God’s severity was just. That God then had dealt with them severely, they ascribe to their own sins, This is the substance of what is said.
We hence learn that an ingenuous confession ever accompanies repentance, as also Paul teaches us, (2Co 7:11.) For when a sinner is either secure or tries to cover his wickedness, and flatters himself, as we see but a few who willingly humble themselves before God, he contracts the hardness of obstinacy. For this reason the Prophet requires confession; nay, he suggests here the words suitable to be used, when we desire to obtain pardon from God. We have done wickedly, he says, and have been rebellious The pronoun, we, is here emphatical, as though the faithful had taken on themselves the blame of all the evils, which the greater part ever sought to disown. 195
Here then the Prophet shews that there is no other way of being reconciled to God, than by confessing ourselves to be the authors of all our evils; and he also teaches us, that it is an evidence of true repentance, when we do not allege vain pretences as it is commonly done, nor flatter ourselves, but confess that we are guilty. He now shows that guilt ought by no means to be extenuated, so that our confession may be real and complete: but in this respect the world trifle with God. The most wicked are, indeed, ashamed to deny that they are sinners; but as they are forced to make some kind of confession, this they do lightly; and it seems an extorted confession, and is therefore jejune, or at least not complete. But the Prophet here shews that they who seek to be reconciled to God, ought not only in words to acknowledge and confess their guilt, but also ingenuously to open their hearts. Hence he connects perverseness with sin: as though he had said, “We have not sinned simply or in one way, but we have exasperated God himself; and by sinning in many ways and constantly, we have provoked him against us.” He says, in short, that there is then an access open to us to obtain favor, when we do not murmur against God nor contend with him as though he had dealt severely with us, but when we confess that he has been hard and rigid with us, because he had a reason to be so on account of our sins and wickedness. He adds, —
TSK -> Lam 3:42
TSK: Lam 3:42 - -- transgressed : Lam 1:18, Lam 5:16; Neh 9:26; Job 33:27, Job 33:28; Jer 3:13; Dan 9:5-14; Luk 15:18, Luk 15:19
thou : 2Ki 24:4; Jer 5:7, Jer 5:8; Eze 2...

collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)
Barnes -> Lam 3:40-42
Barnes: Lam 3:40-42 - -- The prophet urges men to search out their faults and amend them. Lam 3:40 And turn again to the Lord - Or, "and return to Yahweh."The pre...
The prophet urges men to search out their faults and amend them.
And turn again to the Lord - Or, "and return to Yahweh."The prep. (to) in the Hebrew implies not half way, but the whole.
Literally, "Let us lift up our heart unto our hands unto God in heaven;"as if the heart first lifted up the hands, and then with them mounted up in prayer to God. In real prayer the outward expression is caused by the emotion stirring within.
Poole -> Lam 3:42
Poole: Lam 3:42 - -- The prophet doth not dictate words, but sense to them, teaching them the matter of their prayer; first, by way of confession. Sin is called a trans...
The prophet doth not dictate words, but sense to them, teaching them the matter of their prayer; first, by way of confession. Sin is called a transgression , because it is going aside from the way of God’ s precepts; it is called rebellion , because it is an act contrary to that allegiance and duty which we owe unto God, and the covenant we have made with him. By pardoning here is meant the discharge of the guilty persons from the temporal punishment due for sin (as it is often taken in Scripture); so it signifies, thou hast plagued us according to the just desert of our sins.
Haydock -> Lam 3:42
Inexorable. Hebrew and Septuagint, "Thou hast not shewn pity." (Haydock)
Gill -> Lam 3:42
Gill: Lam 3:42 - -- We have transgressed, and have rebelled,.... Here begins the prayer, the sense of which is directed to, though the words are not dictated; and it begi...
We have transgressed, and have rebelled,.... Here begins the prayer, the sense of which is directed to, though the words are not dictated; and it begins with confession of sin, as prayer should, especially when in such circumstances as the people of the Jews now were; and with confession of it, as a transgression of the law of God; and as rebellion against him, as every sin is, a breach of his law, a contempt of his authority, and a trampling under foot his legislative power, and an act of hostility against him; and so downright rebellion; every sin being an overt act of that kind; and which is aggravated by the favours before acknowledged to have been received:
thou hast not pardoned; as they apprehended; they had not the discovery and application of pardoning grace and mercy; otherwise pardon of sin with God is past, and includes all sin present and future, as well as past; but temporal afflictions being upon them, they concluded their sins were not pardoned; pardon of sin in Scripture often signifying the removal of such afflictions.

expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

expand allCommentary -- Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis -> Lam 3:1-66
TSK Synopsis: Lam 3:1-66 - --1 The prophet bewails his own calamities.22 By the mercies of God, he nourishes his hope.37 He acknowledges God's justice.55 He prays for deliverance,...
MHCC -> Lam 3:42-54
MHCC: Lam 3:42-54 - --The more the prophet looked on the desolations, the more he was grieved. Here is one word of comfort. While they continued weeping, they continued wai...
Matthew Henry -> Lam 3:42-54
Matthew Henry: Lam 3:42-54 - -- It is easier to chide ourselves for complaining than to chide ourselves out of it. The prophet had owned that a living man should not complain, as i...
Keil-Delitzsch -> Lam 3:40-42
Keil-Delitzsch: Lam 3:40-42 - --
Confession of sins, and complaint against the cruelty of enemies, as well as over the deep misery into which all the people have sunk. Lam 3:40-42. ...
Constable -> Lam 3:1-66; Lam 3:41-66
Constable: Lam 3:1-66 - --III. The prophet's response to divine judgment (the third lament) ch. 3
As mentioned previously, this lament is ...
