Lamentations 3:34-66 NIV

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Lamentations 3:40

Let us search and try our ways ,.... stead of murmuring and complaining, let us search for something that may support and comfort, teach and instruct, under afflictive providences; let us search into the love of God, which, though it cannot be fully searched out, it will be found to be from everlasting to everlasting; and that all afflictions spring from it; and that it continues notwithstanding them: let us search into the covenant of grace, in which provision is made for afflictions in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Lamentations 3:41

Let us lift up our heart with our hands ,.... Lifting up of the hands is a prayer gesture, and is put for prayer itself; see Psalm 141:2 ; but the heart must go along with it, or it is of no avail; the soul must be lifted up to God; there must be an ascending of that unto him, in earnest desires after him; in affection and love to him; in faith and dependence on him; and in hope and expectation of good things from him, Psalm 25:1 ; this is the way in which men return to God, even by... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Lamentations 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 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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Lamentations 3:43

Thou hast covered with anger ,.... Either himself; not as a tender father, that cannot bear to see the affliction of a child; this does not suit with anger; but rather as one greatly displeased, in whose face anger appears, being covered with it; or who covers his face with it, that he may not be seen, withdrawing his gracious presence; or hast put anger as a wall between thee and us, as Jarchi: so that there was no coming nigh to him: or else it means covering his people with it; so the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Lamentations 3:44

Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud ,.... With wrath and anger, as a cloud; he wrapped up himself in thick darkness, so as not to be seen or come at: sin, when it appears not pardoned, is as a cloud between God and his people; and this causes him to show his anger and displeasure; which is the cloud about him, Or the hiding of his face. The Targum is, "thou hast covered the heavens with the clouds of thy glory:' that our prayer should not pass through ; in such circumstances God... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Lamentations 3:45

Thou hast made us as the offscouring and refuse in the midst of the people. Had given them up into the hands of the Gentiles, the Chaldeans, to be treated as the dirt of the streets, as the sweepings of a house; or the dross of metal; or anything that is vile, mean, and contemptible. The apostle seems to have some reference to this passage; and his words may be an illustration of it, 1 Corinthians 4:13 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Lamentations 3:46

All our enemies have opened their mouths against us. Like lions and other beasts of prey, to devour us; or in way of scorn and derision; pouring out their reproaches upon us, and scoffs at us, for our religion, and the worship of God, and on account of present miseries and distresses; see Lamentations 2:16 . The Targum adds, "to decree against us evil decrees.' read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Lamentations 3:47

Fear and a snare is come upon us ,.... Or, "fear and a pit" F13 פחד ופחת "pavor et fovea", Calvin, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Cocceius, Michaelis. ; the fear of failing into the pit of ruin and destruction, on the brink of which they saw themselves; or fear seized us, and caused us to flee; and a snare or pit was prepared for us to fall into; so that there was no escaping hence: desolation and destruction ; desolation or devastation of their land; and destruction of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Lamentations 3:48

Mine eye runneth down with rivers of waters ,.... Denoting the greatness of his grief and trouble at the afflictions of his people, and the vast profusion of tears on that account. Here the prophet speaks in his own person, expressing the anguish of his soul he felt, and the floods of tears he shed: for the destruction of the daughter of my people ; for those that were slain of them, or carried captive; see Jeremiah 9:1 . The Targum is, "for the destruction of the congregation of my... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Lamentations 3:49

Mine eye trickleth down, and ceaseth not ,.... From weeping, as the Targum: the prophet was continually weeping; the distresses of his people were always uppermost in his mind; and which so affected him, that it drew tears from his eyes, which constantly trickled down his cheeks: without any intermission ; or, "without intermissions" F14 מאין הפגות "a non intermissionibus", Montanus, Calvin; "sine intervallis", Cocceius. ; there were no stops or pauses in his grief, and in the... read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Lamentations 3:40

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Lamentations 3:41

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Lamentations 3:42

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Lamentations 3:43

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Lamentations 3:44

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Lamentations 3:45

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Lamentations 3:46

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Lamentations 3:47

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Lamentations 3:48

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Lamentations 3:49

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