Confession of sins, and complaint against the cruelty of enemies, as well as over the deep misery into which all the people have sunk. Lamentations 3:40-42. The acknowledgment of guilt implies to prayer, to which also there is a summons in Lamentations 3:40, Lamentations 3:41. The transitional idea is not, "Instead of grumbling in a sinful spirit, let us rather examine our conduct" (Thenius); for the summons to examine one's conduct is thereby placed in contrast with Lamentations 3:39, and the thought, "let every one mourn over his own sins," transformed into a prohibition of sinful complaint. The real transition link is given by Rosenmller: quum mala nostra a peccatis nostris oriantur, culpas nostras et scrutemur et corrigamus. The searching of our ways, i.e., of our conduct, if it be entered on in an earnest spirit, must end in a return to the Lord, from whom we have departed. It is self-evident that עד יהוה does not stand for אל יי, but means as far as (even to) Jahveh, and indicates thorough conversion - no standing half-way. The lifting up of the heart to the hands, also, - not merely of the hands to God, - expresses earnest prayer, that comes from the heart. אל־כּפּים, to the hands (that are raised towards heaven). "To God in heaven," where His almighty throne is placed (Psalm 2:4), that He may look down from thence (Lamentations 3:59) and send help. With Lamentations 3:42 begins the prayer, as is shown by the direct address to God in the second member. There is no need, however, on this account, for supplying לאמר before the first member; the command to pray is immediately followed by prayer, beginning with the confession of sins, and the recognition of God's chastisement; cf. Psalm 106:6; Daniel 9:5. נחנוּ is contrasted with אתּה. "Thou hast not pardoned," because Thy justice must inflict punishment.

Lamentations 3:47 Parallel Commentaries

fear

Isaiah 24:17,18 Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are on you, O inhabitant of the earth...

Isaiah 51:19 These two things are come to you; who shall be sorry for you? desolation, and destruction, and the famine, and the sword...

Jeremiah 48:43,44 Fear, and the pit, and the snare, shall be on you, O inhabitant of Moab, said the LORD...

Luke 21:35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

desolation

Lamentations 1:4,13 The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn feasts: all her gates are desolate: her priests sigh...

Lamentations 2:1-9 How has the LORD covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud in his anger, and cast down from heaven to the earth the beauty of Israel...