Lamentations 3:26-39

B. Reflections About Suffering Lamentations 3:26-39

TRANSLATION

(26) It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. (27) It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. (28) Let him sit alone and remain silent for He has laid it on him, (29) Let him put his mouth in the dust, perhaps there is hope. (30) Let him give his cheek to the one who smites him; let him be filled with reproach. (31) For the Lord will not reject forever. (32) For though He may afflict, yet He will have compassion according to the multitude of His lovingkindness; (33) for He does not desire to grieve and afflict the children of men. (34) To crush under foot all the prisoners of the earth, (35) to turn aside the right of a man before the face of the Most High, (36) to subvert a man in his cause, the LORD does not approve. (37) Who is it that speaks and it comes to pass if the Lord has not commanded it? (38) Do not pronouncements of misfortunes and prosperity proceed from the mouth of the Most High? (39) For what reason does a living man complain, each man because of the punishment for his sins?

COMMENTS

Growing out of his reflections about God the poet makes several observations, some practical and some philosophical, about human suffering.

1. Patience and hope open the channels of salvation and deliverance (Lamentations 3:26). Boisterous complaint against the human predicament only tends to aggravate the situation. The believer should quietly wait in faith for the deliverance of the Lord.

2. Self-discipline during one's youth has positive benefits. If a young person can learn to bear the yoke of suffering he will not easily despair when he is old (Lamentations 3:27). Suffering teaches one patience and hope (Romans 5:3-5) and helps one bring forth the fruit of righteousness (Hebrews 12:11). Such a one however must learn to suffer in solitude and silence. He should not grumble against the God who sent the tribulation nor should he yield to the temptation to appeal for the sympathy of others by dis cussing with them his aches and pains (Lamentations 3:28). He must bite the dust in self-abasement humbly to hope that there is hope (Lamentations 3:29). He should willingly submit himself to whatever injustices life has to offer. Even though he may be filled with reproach he should not pour it forth upon his antagonist (Lamentations 3:30 cf. Matthew 5:38-39).

3. Affliction sent by God is measured and purposeful. Present affliction does not mean that God has ultimately rejected His people for the Lord does not reject forever (Lamentations 3:31). Even in periods of chastisement He remains the God of mercy (Lamentations 3:32). He does not permit one trial or temptation beyond what a man can endure. God takes no delight in seeing men suffer (Lamentations 3:33). Nevertheless, He permits men to suffer and sometimes administers the stroke against them in order to accomplish His own sovereign purposes in their lives.

4. God does not approve of punishment which is not just or purposeful. Political atrocities (Lamentations 3:34), injustice in legal proceedings (Lamentations 3:35) or, in fact, any social inequities (Lamentations 3:36) arouse His displeasure and demand His punishment. The phrase before the face of the Most High points to the fact that human judges are viewed as representatives of God.

5. Nothing is done in this world without God's permission. No one is able to make plans about the future and carry out those plans without the permission of the Lord (Lamentations 3:37). God has clearly set forth in His word the conditions of blessing and the consequences of disobedience (Lamentations 3:38). A man is not forced to choose wrong with its resultant punishment. On what basis then does a man complain when he is punished for his sin? (Lamentations 3:39).