_THE FAITHFUL BEWAIL THEIR CALAMITIES. BY THE MERCIES OF GOD THEY NOURISH THEIR HOPE. THEY ACKNOWLEDGE GOD'S JUSTICE, THEY PRAY FOR DELIVERANCE, AND FOR JUSTICE ON THEIR ENEMIES._ _Before Christ 588._ IN this chapter the prophet seems to have had it in view to instruct his countrymen in the lesson... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM THE MAN THAT HATH SEEN AFFLICTION— The prophet here speaks partly in his own character, and partly in that of his countrymen and fellow-sufferers; and throughout the whole in such a manner as agrees admirably with the Lord Jesus Christ, of whom Jeremiah in his sufferings especially was a type.... [ Continue Reading ]
COMPASSED ME WITH GALL AND TRAVAIL— _Broken my head, that I faint away._ Schultens.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ARROWS OF HIS QUIVER— _The sons of his quiver._ Houbigant. It is usual in the Hebrew to call the subject, adjunct, accident, effect, &c. the _son_ of that particular thing. Hence it is that the Hebrew prophets represent nations, countries, and people, under the image of a woman; and it must be a... [ Continue Reading ]
HE HATH—BROKEN MY TEETH— _He hath broken my teeth as a gravel-stone. He hath fed me with dust._ Houbigant. In this and the preceding verse the prophet aggravates the calamities of his people by such expressions as imply that misery and affliction are poured without measure upon the sons of Jacob. Po... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE HAVE I HOPE— Compare this with the 12th, 13th, and 14th verses of the 20th chapter of Jeremiah.... [ Continue Reading ]
IT IS OF THE LORD'S MERCIES— _This is the Lord's mercy, that he hath not entirely consumed me; neither are his companions exhausted._... [ Continue Reading ]
IT IS GOOD FOR A MAN THAT HE BEAR THE YOKE IN HIS YOUTH— We observed in the introduction to this book, that there are some commentators, and Michaelis among the rest, who conceive "that it was composed upon the death of king Josiah." They allege, that on an attentive perusal it will be found, that t... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE HE HATH BORNE IT UPON HIM— _When he shall take up his yoke._ Houbigant.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE PUTTETH HIS MOUTH IN THE DUST— "He prostrates himself even to the ground in token of the deepest humiliation." See Isaiah 29:4. 1 Corinthians 14:25.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE GIVETH HIS CHEEK, &C.— He not only humbles himself in the sight of his Maker, but also bears with patience the ill-treatment of men. See Matthew 26:62.Mark 14:65.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HE DOTH NOT AFFLICT WILLINGLY— Houbigant reads this, _For he doth not afflict willingly, or oppress the sons of men; so far as,_ (Lamentations 3:34.) _To crush under his feet,_ &c. Lamentations 3:36. _To subvert a man in his cause, saying, The Lord seeth not._... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THE PRISONERS OF THE EARTH— _All the prisoners of the land._ By "the prisoners of the land," I am persuaded are meant the poor insolvent debtors, whom their creditors among the Jews, as well as among other nations, were empowered to cast into prison, and oblige to work out the debt; a power too... [ Continue Reading ]
TO SUBVERT A MAN IN HIS CAUSE— That is, to prevent his having justice done him in a law-suit or controversy by any undue interference; as by bearing or suborning false witness, or exerting any kind of influence in opposition to truth and right.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO IS HE THAT SAITH— "The king of Babylon, and such haughty tyrants, may boast of their power, as if it were equal to that of Omnipotence itself. But still it is God's prerogative to bring to pass whatever he pleases, only by speaking or declaring his purpose.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE DOTH A LIVING MAN COMPLAIN— If we consider God's afflictions as a just punishment of our evil doings, we shall never murmur or repine at Providence; and we ought to be thankful, however bitter afflictions may be, for having an opportunity given to repent. This verse may be otherwise interp... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU HAST COVERED WITH ANGER, &C.— _Thou hast fenced about with anger._ The verb סכךֶ _sakak_ appears to have this sense, Job 3:23; Job 10:11; Job 38:8. There seems to be a manifest allusion to the manner of hunting wild beasts in the eastern countries, by surrounding at first a large tract of groun... [ Continue Reading ]
RUNNETH DOWN WITH— _Bathes in._ Schultens.... [ Continue Reading ]
AFFECTETH— _Preys upon._... [ Continue Reading ]
MINE ENEMIES CHASED ME— The prophet in this and the following verses describes his own sufferings, when his enemies seized him, and cast him into the dungeon. See Jeremiah 20:7; Jeremiah 37:15. He compares them to a fowler who is in pursuit of a bird, as they took every opportunity to deprive him of... [ Continue Reading ]
MY BREATHING— _My groaning,_ or _sighing._... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LIPS, &C.— _The words of those that rise up against me, and their daily songs upon me._ Houbigant.... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM THEIR MUSICK— _The subject of their songs._ See Lamentations 3:14 and Houbigant; who renders the three following verses, as do many other versions, in the future tense. REFLECTIONS.—1st, The prophet here mingles his lamentations over his own sufferings with those of the people; or he personate... [ Continue Reading ]