3 I Am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath.
2 He hath led me, and brought me into darkness, but not into light.
3 Surely against me is he turned; he turneth his hand against me all the day.
4 My flesh and my skin hath he made old; he hath broken my bones.
5 He hath builded against me, and compassed me with gall and travail.
6 He hath set me in dark places, as they that be dead of old.
7 He hath hedged me about, that I cannot get out: he hath made my chain heavy.
8 Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer.
9 He hath inclosed my ways with hewn stone, he hath made my paths crooked.
10 He was unto me as a bear lying in wait, and as a lion in secret places.
11 He hath turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces: he hath made me desolate.
12 He hath bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow.
13 He hath caused the arrows of his quiver to enter into my reins.
14 I was a derision to all my people; and their song all the day.
15 He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath made me drunken with wormwood.
16 He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones, he hath covered me with ashes.
17 And thou hast removed my soul far off from peace: I forgat prosperity.
18 And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the Lord:
19 Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.
20 My soul hath them still in remembrance and is humbled in me.
Matthew Henry’s Bible Commentary (concise)
Chapter Contents
The faithful lament their calamities, and hope in God's mercies.💓💓💓
Commentary on Lamentations 3:1-20
(Read Lamentations 3:1-20)
The prophet relates the more gloomy and discouraging part of his experience, and how he found support and relief. In the time of his trial the Lord had become terrible to him. It was an affliction that was misery itself; for sin makes the cup of affliction a bitter cup. The struggle between unbelief and faith is often very severe. But the weakest believer is wrong, if he thinks that his strength and hope are perished from the Lord.
The Hebrew word for "perish" is אָבַד (abad), which means to be lost, destroyed, or to vanish
(Cristianity.com)
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My thoughts:
This passage reminds me of the times when we are feeling sorry for ourselves. I know someone that doesn't see the bigger picture and always has to complain about their circumstances.
Please don't think that I think I am above doing the same. But over my life, I have learned to try to always s remember what the Apostle Paul said:
I know what it is to be in need;
But he goes on to say;
I know what it is to have plenty.
Philippians 4:12
For those of us that live in the US, if we have a roof over our head, bread on our table and more importantly a Bible to read, we have more than many third world countries.
If the prophet in this passage started out feeling sorry for himself, he does later realize that it's God that gets him through. No matter what was going on in his life at the time.
And we too should remember that His mercies are new every morning.
Praise God for His faithfulness!
Thanks for coming by today!
God bless you this Lord's Day!
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