3:1 Jeremiah claimed to have seen much affliction because Yahweh had struck Jerusalem in His anger (cf. Job 9:34; 21:9; Ps. 89:32; Isa. 10:5).
"The two preceding poems ended with sorrowful complaint. This third poem begins with the complaint of a man over grievous personal suffering."35
3:2-3 The Lord had driven the prophet to walk in the darkness of His judgment rather than in the light of His blessing and presence (cf. v. 6). The Lord had disciplined him repeatedly for a long time in that He had judged Jerusalem, and Jeremiah suffered along with the people.
3:4 Jeremiah's suffering included sickness and pain, as when someone does not get enough to eat or breaks a bone (cf. Ps. 42:10; Prov. 5:11). Fever pains sometimes resemble the pain of a broken bone (cf. 1:13-14; Job 30:17; Ps. 51:10; Isa. 38:13). He may have experienced these physical ailments, or he may have simply described his inner pain in terms of physical afflictions.
3:5-6 Bitter experiences and hardship had assailed the prophet as Yahweh had judged His people (cf. Jer. 8:14). Jeremiah's existence had turned into a living death for him (cf. Ps. 143:3).
3:7 The Lord had imprisoned His prophet in his affliction; he could not escape from it (cf. Job 19:8; Ps. 88:9; Jer. 38:6; Hos. 2:8).
3:8-9 The Lord would not ease his suffering in answer to prayer (cf. Ps. 18:42; Jer. 7:16). It was as though the Lord had opposed Jeremiah's progress toward restoration and made it very difficult.
3:10-11 Jeremiah felt like the Lord was lying in wait to devour him, like a wild animal (cf. Ps. 10:19; 17:12). The Lord had desolated Jeremiah by opposing his ways and making him feel torn apart.
3:12-13 Jeremiah felt as though he was a target that the Lord was shooting at and that Yahweh had wounded him severely (cf. Job 16:13).
3:14-15 The prophet's contemporaries mocked and ridiculed him constantly. He had become full of bitter experiences, like poison, which the Lord had given him to drink (cf. Job 9:18).
"Wormwood is the name given to certain plants used for imparting a bitter flavor to some drinks; the name has no connection with either worm or wood."36
3:16 Jeremiah felt like his teeth were broken and that God had given him stones to eat instead of bread.
". . . the teeth have become broken and ground down because God has given His people stones to eat as punishment for venerating the images of Baal."37
3:17-18 Jeremiah had forgotten what peace and happiness were like. He had also lost his strength and his hope.
