Lamentations 3:37-40

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Lamentations 3:37-41

That we may be entitled to the comforts administered to the afflicted in the Lam. 3:21-36, and may taste the sweetness of them, we have here the duties of an afflicted state prescribed to us, in the performance of which we may expect those comforts. I. We must see and acknowledge the hand of God in all the calamities that befal us at any time, whether personal or public, Lam. 3:37, 38. This is here laid down as a great truth, which will help to quiet our spirits under our afflictions and to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Lamentations 3:37

Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass ?.... Or, "who that says this shall be , and it cometh to pass?" or, "who is he that saith this shall come to pass?" F9 So some in Gataker. this, or that, or the other thing, he wills and desires, and his heart is set upon: when the Lord commandeth it not ? has not willed and decreed it, but determined the contrary; for nothing escapes his knowledge and foreknowledge; or can resist his will; or control his power; or... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Lamentations 3:38

Out of the mouth of the most High proceed not evil and good? Certainly they do; they come to pass, both one and the other, as God has pronounced, and his will determined; even "evils", as it is in the plural number; not the evil of sin, or of fault; this comes not out of the mouth of God, but is forbidden and condemned by him; much less is he the author of it, or tempter to it; indeed it is not without his knowledge, nor in some sense without his will; not with his will of approbation, but... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Lamentations 3:39

Wherefore doth a living man complain ?.... Or murmur, or fret and vex, or bemoan himself; all which the word F11 יתאונן γογγυσει Sept. "quiritaretur", Junius & Tremellius; "taedio se confecit", Calvin; "fremet", Strigelius; "murmurabit", Cocceius. may signify; as the prophet had done in his own person; or as representing the church, Lamentations 3:1 ; and here checks himself for it; and especially since the mercies and compassions of God never fail, and are daily renewed; and... read more

John Gill

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Lamentations 3:39

Wherefore doth a living man complain - He who has his life still lent to him has small cause of complaint. How great soever his affliction may be, he is still alive; therefore, he may seek and find mercy unto eternal life. Of this, death would deprive him; therefore let not a living man complain. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Lamentations 3:40

Let us search - How are we to get the pardon of our sins? The prophet tells us: Let us examine ourselves. "Let us turn again to the Lord." "Let us lift up our heart;" let us make fervent prayer and supplication for mercy. "Let us lift up our hand;" let us solemnly promise to be his, and bind ourselves in a covenant to be the Lord's only: so much lifting up the hand to God implies. Or, let us put our heart on our hand, and offer it to God; so some have translated this clause. "We... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Lamentations 3:37

Verse 37 The Prophet, after having mentioned the blasphemy which prevailed everywhere at that time, strongly condemns so gross a stupidity. Who is this? he says. He checks such madness by a sharp rebuke — for the question implies an astonishment, as though the Prophet had said, that it was like a prodigy to find men who imagined that God was content with his own leisure, and exercised no care over the world; for this was to annihilate him altogether. God is not a dead being, he is not a... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Lamentations 3:38

Verse 38 The Prophet says that from the mouth of the most High proceed good and evil By “mouth” he means his decree. God indeed does not always declare that he is a judge; he has often executed punishment on the wicked, as it were, in silence; for there were no prophets among the heathens to proclaim the judgments he brought on them. But though God does not always speak when he punishes the wickedness of men, it is yet said that good and evil proceed from his mouth; because he allots to men... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Lamentations 3:39

Verse 39 Some explain the verb יתאונן, itaunen, by giving it the sense of lying, “Why should man lie?” others, “Why should man murmur?” But I see not what sense there can be in rendering it lying or murmuring. Others translate thus, “Why should man harden himself?” but it is a mere conjecture. Now, this verb sometimes means to weary one’s self, in Hithpael. So in the eleventh chapter of Numbers, “The people murmured,” as some render the words; but I think differently; nor is there a doubt but... read more

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