Lamentations 3:1-30
Q.1. To whom did the description of Israel’s affliction apply? Who is responsible for these sufferings? – (Lam.3:1-18)
We can understand why Israel applied these sorrows to Herself. Such sevenfold judgment was certainly promised – see Lev.26:14-45; Duet.28:15-68. This was Jeremiah’s lament. He spoke vicariously on behalf of his devastated people. However, there is much more meaning to this passage than that. After His resurrection, Jesus – opened their minds (of the disciples) to understand the scriptures of the Old Testament (c.f. Lk.24:45). We too must look for Christ in all the Scriptures. On this basis, almost all of the verses from 1 to 18 describe the sufferings of Christ through the trials and ignominy of the Cross, especially when Jeremiah wrote – I am the man who has seen affliction because of the rod of His wrath … 3 Surely against me He has turned His hand repeatedly all day. 4 He has caused my flesh and my skin to waste away … 14 I have become a laughingstock to all my people, their mocking song all day (Lam.3:1, 3, 14).
Q.2. On what basis did Jeremiah find hope? What did the prophet reveal about God? To whom does God extend His grace? –(Lam.3:19-30)
Jeremiah now turned the lament into a prayer of hope for the righteous. He cried out – 19 Remember my affliction and my wandering, the wormwood and bitterness. 20 Surely my soul remembers … (Lam.3:19-20). He found solace as – 21 I recall to my mind; Therefore, I have hope. 22 The Lord’s loving kindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. 24 ‘The Lord is my portion’ says my soul; Therefore I have hope in Him (Lam.3:21-24). This hope extends to all the righteous. Jeremiah reminded them – 25 The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him. 26 It is good that he waits silently for the salvation of the Lord. 27 It is good for a man that he should bear the yoke in his youth. 28 Let him sit alone and be silent since He has laid it on him (Lam.3:25-28).