ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for Lamentations 3

Lam. 3:1–66 I Am the Man Who Has Seen Affliction. Chapter 3 has one speaker, a man who has endured suffering, experienced God’s faithfulness (vv. 1–24), and accepted God’s sovereignty and goodness (vv. 25–39). He prays for renewal (vv. 40–47) and remains confident of God’s concern for him and Israel (vv. 48–66).

Lam. 3:1–2 I am the man. A new speaker, who has experienced God’s wrath and desires to teach others what he has learned. Darkness without any light describes the terror of the day of the Lord (see Joel 2:1–2; Amos 5:18; Zeph. 1:14–16).

Lam. 3:4–6 He has made my flesh and my skin waste away. Literally, “he has swallowed up my flesh and my skin.” For “swallow” as a symbol of judgment, see 2:2, 5, 8, 16. he has broken. For “breaking” as a symbol of punishment, see 1:15 (“crush”) and 2:9. Jerusalem was besieged by Babylon; the speaker in this chapter (see note on 3:1–2) was besieged by bitterness and tribulation.

Lam. 3:14 Like Jerusalem (1:7), the speaker has endured shame and mocking.

Lam. 3:19–20 A prayer for God to remember all that the speaker has suffered. God has not remembered Jerusalem and protected her (see note on 2:1). wormwood. See 3:15. gall. Or “bitterness,” see vv. 5, 15. Remembering the events that he asks God to remember causes his soul to bow down.

Lam. 3:21 This verse marks a change in the speaker’s attitude. The contentment he remembers renews the hope lost in v. 18. In view of vv. 22–23, 32, he may be reflecting on Ex. 34:6–7, which these verses echo.

Lam. 3:22 God’s steadfast love (his “covenant mercy” or beneficial action on his people’s behalf) never ceases, even in the face of Judah’s unfaithfulness and the resulting “day of the Lord” (see Joel 2:1–2; Amos 5:18; Zeph. 1:14–16). mercies. Or “compassion.” This type of mercy replaces judgment with restoration. never come to an end. God is willing to begin anew with those who repent.

Lam. 3:23 new every morning. Each day presents another opportunity to experience God’s grace. faithfulness. God’s constant goodness and personal integrity remain intact no matter what happens.

Lam. 3:24 my portion. As with the Levites (Num. 18:20), God is the speaker’s only inheritance (see Ps. 73:26).

Lam. 3:25 The Lord is good. God’s goodness is the core of his character (Neh. 9:25; Ps. 34:8; 86:5; Hos. 3:5).

Lam. 3:26 wait quietly. In prayer and expectation. salvation. In this case, deliverance from danger, not salvation from sin.

Lam. 3:27 He must bear the yoke of punishment for sin (v. 18; see 1:14). In his youth indicates that the suffering is temporary.

Lam. 3:29 put his mouth in the dust. Assume a posture that shows his humility and dependence on God. There may yet be hope because of God’s faithfulness (see v. 24).

Lam. 3:31–33 not cast off forever. God’s anger is temporary (Ps. 103:9). He judges people to bring them to repentance and renewal. Though he cause grief, in this case because of the people’s covenant breaking, he will have compassion. See Ex. 34:6–7; Lam. 3:22; Hos. 11:1–9. steadfast love. See Lam. 3:22. does not afflict from his heart. God’s first instinct is not to punish. He does so only when his patience with sinners does not lead to their repentance.

Lam. 3:34–36 The Lord does not approve (v. 36) of those who crush others underfoot (perhaps a reference to the Israelites being crushed by Babylon).

Lam. 3:37 spoken and it came to pass. Just as in creation (see Gen. 1:3; Ps. 33:9), God speaks and things happen, including Jerusalem’s destruction (Lam. 1:5; 12–16; 2:1–10).

Lam. 3:41 The people should lift up their hearts (where repentance begins; see Deut. 30:1–10; Jer. 4:3–4) and their hands, showing their total dependence on God.

Lam. 3:42 you have not forgiven. God has not let their actions go unpunished.

Lam. 3:48 my eyes flow with . . . tears. Like Jerusalem (1:16; 2:11; 18), the speaker weeps for what has happened to the city. the daughter of my people. A term of endearment for Jerusalem (see 2:11).

Lam. 3:51 my eyes cause me grief. What he has witnessed saddens the speaker.

Lam. 3:54 I am lost. There seemed to be no hope (see v. 18).

Lam. 3:55–57 In the depths of the pit (the worst days of his suffering), the speaker called upon God, who had placed him there. you heard my plea. See Ps. 30:2; 103:4. God not only came near, offering his comforting and saving presence, but also gave reassuring and empowering words of courage (Do not fear!). See Jer. 1:17–19.

Lam. 3:58 taken up my cause. God has taken the speaker’s side against his attackers (v. 52). redeemed my life. God’s acts on his behalf resulted in deliverance (see Lev. 25:47–54; Ruth 4:1–12; Jer. 1:17–19; 39:11–40:6).

Lam. 3:59–60 God has seen the wrong done to the speaker. Jerusalem prayed for this in 1:9, 11, 20. True relief cannot come until God judges in favor of the speaker and against his enemies for all their plots (see Jer. 11:18–12:6; 17:18; 18:23).

Lam. 3:65 your curse. The judgment that comes because of their actions (see Deut. 28:15–68).