The Bible — notes and cross-references in Lamentations | Interpretation and commentary to chapter 3

3:22^b compassions

Psa. 86:15; Micah 7:19; Zech. 1:16; Luke 1:78; Rom. 12:1

3:22¹ consumed

No matter how much He had punished Israel, God had not utterly consumed them. Jeremiah and many others remained. This was God’s lovingkindness. The people of Israel had failed, but God’s compassions did not fail. His compassions had preserved the remnant of Israel for the carrying out of His economy. See Jer. 23:5-6 and note Jer. 23:6^3b.

3:22^a lovingkindness

Ezra 9:8; Neh. 9:31; Psa. 78:38; Mal. 3:6

3:19¹ wandering

Or, misery.

3:14^a derision

Jer. 20:7

3:1¹ I

Although Jeremiah himself was not afflicted by God, he was one with God’s afflicted people. Thus, in his feeling, in his sympathy, he was suffering the same kind of affliction. This indicates that a servant of the Lord must learn how to identify himself with God’s people, regardless of the situation, and especially in a situation of affliction (cf. 2 Cor. 11:29).

3:66^a under

Deut. 25:19; Jer. 10:11

3:64^a You

Psa. 28:4; cf. Jer. 11:20

3:57^a near

James 4:8

3:55^1a called

Psa. 130:1; Jonah 2:2; Rom. 10:12

See note Gen. 4:26^2b.

3:48^a runs

Lam. 1:16

3:47^a Fear

Isa. 24:17; Jer. 48:43

3:45^a offscouring

1 Cor. 4:13

3:40^a turn

Deut. 4:30

3:38^b evil

Job 2:10; Isa. 45:7; Amos 3:6

3:38^a mouth

Matt. 4:4; Rev. 19:21

3:31^a Cast

Psa. 94:14

3:30^a cheek

Isa. 50:6; Matt. 5:39; Luke 6:29

3:25^1a wait

Psa. 130:6; Isa. 30:18

Although God is true, living, compassionate, and faithful, in order to test His people, He often delays in fulfilling His word. In Jeremiah’s case, the waiting on the Lord has been quite long. The fulfillment of his prophecies concerning the age of restoration has still not come. This indicates that we need to learn the lesson of waiting on the Lord. Today is not the time of the ultimate consummation; therefore, we must wait on the Lord.

3:24^1a portion

Psa. 16:5; 73:26

This word concerning Jehovah being our portion and our hoping in Him bears a New Testament flavor (Col. 1:12, 27). Jeremiah enjoyed Jehovah as his portion, and he put his hope not in himself nor in the people nor in anything else but only in Jehovah. On the one hand, Jeremiah realized that God is a God of lovingkindness, that He is compassionate, and that His word is faithful (vv. 22-23). On the other hand, Jeremiah realized that we still need to contact the Lord every morning, put our entire hope in Him, wait on Him, and call on His name (vv. 23-25, 55).

3:23^2b faithfulness

Psa. 36:5; 57:10; 100:5; 108:4; 117:2; 119:90

God’s compassions do not fail, because He is the faithful One. The faithfulness of God refers to His word and is also related to His covenant. Because He had made a covenant with Abraham and confirmed it with Isaac and Jacob (Gen. 15:1-21; 17:1-22; 26:1-4; 35:11-12), God had to be faithful to keep His word.

3:23^a morning

Isa. 33:2

3:23¹ every

This indicates that Jeremiah contacted the Lord as the compassionate One every morning. It was through his contact with the Lord that he received this word regarding God’s lovingkindness, compassions, and faithfulness.