Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Lamentations 3:32
But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.
But though, as a prudent parent, he may see reason to cause grief in and to afflict his own people, yet as a tender good father, that pitieth his children in misery, he will have compassion upon them, having not only mercies, but a multitude or abundance of mercies.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
32. The punishments of the godlyare but for a time.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
But though he cause grief,…. As he sometimes does in his own people; by convincing them of sin, and producing in them godly sorrow, which worketh repentance unto life, not to be repented of; by correcting and chastising them for it, and by hiding his face from them; all which are grievous to them:
yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies; his mercies are many, both temporal and spiritual, and his compassion is answerable; which he shows to his people by an application of pardoning grace, through the blood of Christ, by sympathizing with them under their afflictions, and delivering from them; by granting them his gracious presence, and restoring to them the joys of his salvation; all which is not according to their merits, but his mercies.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
We saw in the last Lecture that the best and the only true remedy for sorrows is, when the faithful are convinced that they are chastised only by the paternal hand of God, and that, the end of all their evils will be blessed. Now this they cannot of themselves assume; but God comes to their aid, and declares that he will not be angry for ever with his children. For this promise extends generally to the whole Church,
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For a moment I afflicted thee, in the time of mine indignation, but with perpetual mercies will I follow thee,” (Isa 54:7)
and again,
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I will visit their iniquities with a rod, yet my mercy I will not take away from them” (Psa 89:0 33, 84.)
When therefore the faithful feel assured that their punishment is only for a time, then they lay hold on hope, and thus receive invaluable comfort in all their evils.
Jeremiah now pursues the same subject, even that God will shew compassion according to the multitude of his mercies, though he causes sorrow to men. This may indeed be generally explained as to all mankind; but, as we have said, God has promised this to his own Church. All miseries, regarded in themselves, are tokens of the wrath and curse of God; but as all things turn out for good and for salvation to the children of God, when they embrace this truth, that God, as the Prophet Habakkuk says, remembers mercy in wrath, (Hab 3:2,) so they restrain themselves and do not despond, nor are they overwhelmed with despair. We now then understand the Prophet’s object in saying, that though God afflicts he yet remembers mercy.
But we must at the same time bear in mind what I have before shewed, that the faithful are exposed to various evils, because it is profitable for them to be chastised by God’s hand. Hence appears the necessity of this doctrine, for were we exempt frown all adversities, this admonition would be superfluous. But as it cannot be but that God will smite us with his rods, not only because we deserve to be smitten, but also because it is expedient, it is necessary to flee to this consolation which is offered to us, even that God having afflicted us with grief will again shew us compassion, even according to the multitude of his mercies He confirms the truth of what he alleges by a reference to the very nature of God himself. Hence, that the faithful might not debate with themselves whether God would be propitious to them, after having inflicted on them a temporary punishment, the Prophet comes to their aid, and sets before them the mercy of God, or rather mercies, in the plural number; as though he had said, that it could not be that God should deny himself, and that therefore he would be always merciful to his people; for otherwise his mercy would be obliterated, yea, that mercy which is inseparable from his eternal essence and divinity.
And hence, when God is pleased briefly to shew what he is, he sets forth his mercy and patience; for except his goodness and mercy meet us, when we come to him, dread would immediately absorb all our thoughts; but when God comes forth as if clothed and adorned with mercy, we may then entertain hope of salvation; and though conscious of evil, yet while we recumb on God’s mercy, we shall never lose the hope of salvation. We not: apprehend the Prophet’s meaning. It follows, —
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
Lam 3:32 But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.
Ver. 32. For though he cause grief. ] As sometimes he doth “in very faithfulness,” and that he may be true to his people’s souls.
Yet he will have compassion.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Lam 3:22, Exo 2:23, Exo 3:7, Jdg 10:16, 2Ki 13:23, Psa 30:5, Psa 78:38, Psa 103:11, Psa 106:43-45, Jer 31:20, Hos 11:8, Luk 15:20
Reciprocal: Num 12:15 – till Miriam Deu 13:17 – and show Deu 30:2 – return unto Deu 30:3 – then the Jdg 16:28 – called Jdg 20:47 – six hundred 1Sa 12:22 – the Lord 2Sa 12:13 – The Lord 2Sa 24:25 – So the Lord 1Ki 11:39 – not for ever 1Ch 21:13 – great Job 33:23 – to Job 37:23 – he will Psa 44:9 – General Psa 51:1 – multitude Psa 60:1 – O turn Psa 77:7 – the Lord Psa 89:33 – Nevertheless Psa 106:7 – multitude Psa 106:45 – to the Isa 63:7 – according to his Jer 45:3 – added Hos 6:1 – he hath torn Mic 7:18 – he retaineth Mic 7:19 – turn Hab 3:2 – in wrath Mat 15:28 – Jesus Luk 7:13 – he 2Co 7:8 – though I made 1Pe 1:6 – if