54<\/strong>. Waters flowed over mine head<\/em> ] figuratively. So in Psa 42:7<\/span>; Psa 69:2<\/span>, which latter Ps. was traditionally ascribed to Jeremiah.<\/p>\n I am cut off<\/em> ] Cp. Psa 31:22<\/span>; Psa 88:5<\/span>; 2Ch 26:21<\/span>; Isa 53:8<\/span>.<\/p>\n Waters flowed over mine head – <\/B>A figurative expression for great mental trouble.<\/P><\/p>\n Afflictions often in Scripture are called waters, Isa 28:17<\/span>,18<\/span>; 59:19<\/span>. <\/P> I am cut off; that is, I am utterly undone, there is no hope for me. <\/P> <\/p>\n 54. Waters<\/B>not literally, forthere was “no water” (Jer38:6<\/span>) in the place of Jeremiah’s confinement, but emblematical ofoverwhelming calamities (Psa 69:2<\/span>;Psa 124:4<\/span>; Psa 124:5<\/span>).<\/P> cut off<\/B> (Isa 38:10<\/span>;Isa 38:11<\/span>). I am abandoned byGod. He speaks according to carnal sense. <\/P> Koph.<\/I><\/P><\/p>\n Waters flowed over mine head<\/strong>,…. As in a pit or dungeon, where there is not only mire and clay, but much water, into which persons being put, sink, and are covered therewith; see Ps 69:1<\/span>; this is to be understood metaphorically of the waters of afflictions, which overflowed and overwhelmed the people of the Jews. Jarchi interprets it of the nations of the world, as much people are often compared to waters; and here the Chaldeans may be particularly intended, whose army overflowed the land of Judea; and, like a mighty torrent, carried away the people, and wealth of it, and brought them into troubles, which were like deep waters:<\/p>\n [then] I said, I am cut off<\/strong>; while the waters are only up to a man’s loins, he does not apprehend himself in danger; but there is hope of his wading through, and getting out; but when they rise above his head, his hopes are gone; he reckons it all over with him, and that he is just perishing, and his life in the utmost danger; there being scarce any probability or possibility of saving him; so it was with these people.<\/p>\n He now adds a third comparison, — that he had been overwhelmed, as it were, with a flood of evils. This similitude occurs often in Scripture, especially in the Psalms; for when David wished to set forth his despair, lie said that he was sunk in deep waters. (Psa 69:15<\/span>.) So also in this place the Prophet complains, that waters had flowed over his head, so that he thought himself lost. Though, indeed, this was the saying of a man in a hopeless state, it is yet evident from the context that the Prophet was firm in the hope of God’s mercy. But he speaks according to the judgment of the flesh; and we know that the faithful are as it were divided; for as they have not put off the flesh, they must necessarily be acquainted with adversities, be stormed by fear and feel anxieties; in short, when death hangs over them, they must in a manner be exposed to fear. In the meantime, faith in their hearts obtains the victory, so that they do not succumb under terrors, or cares, or anxieties. <\/p>\n When, therefore, the Prophet says that in his own judgment he was lost, he does not mean that his faith was so extinguished that he ceased to pray to God; for in the next verse he shews that he persevered in prayer. How, then, did he say or believe that he was lost? even, as I have already said, according to human judgment. And we often see that the faithful complain that they are forsaken, that God is asleep in heaven, that he has turned away from them. All these things are to be referred to the perception of the flesh. While, then, the faithful cast their eyes on dangers, when death comes, they not only tremble, but fear greatly and faint also. In the meantime, as I have said, they struggle by faith against all these temptations. So, then, is this passage to be understood, — that the Prophet believed that he was lost, that is, as far as he could judge by the aspect of things at that time, for no hope appeared then to the Church. But we yet see that the Prophet did not indulge himself in this despair; for he immediately adds, — <\/p>\n 54<\/strong>. <\/strong> Waters flowed <\/strong> Figurative language, but such as would be very naturally suggested from the circumstance of using underground cisterns for dungeons. Jeremiah’s troubles overwhelmed him, and his case was as hopeless as though “waters” had literally “flowed over” his head. This verse is, in thought, similar to that used by Jonah in chap. Lam 2:5<\/span>.<\/p>\n DISCOURSE: 1095 Lam 3:54-57<\/span>. Waters flowed over mine head; then I said, I am cut off. I called upon thy name, O Lord, out of the low dungeon. Thou hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry. Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst, Fear not<\/em>.<\/p>\n THE Prophet Jeremiah was inferior to none in a compassionate regard for his country, whose calamities he bitterly deplored: yet was there no one more injuriously treated than he. He might well say of himself, I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath [Note: ver. 1.]. Of his grief, on account of his countrys sufferings, and of the sad returns which his enemies made to him, he speaks in the preceding context, and in terms peculiarly tender and pathetic: Mine eye runneth down with rivers of water, for the destruction of the daughter of my people. Mine eye trickleth down, and ceaseth not, without any intermission, till the Lord look down from heaven. Mine eye afflicted mine heart, because of all the daughters of my city. [Yet] mine enemies chased me sore, like a bird, without cause. They have cut off my life in the dungeon, and cast a stone upon me. The working of his mind, in this afflictive situation, he delineates in the words of our text: from which we may notice,<\/p>\n I.<\/p>\n To what a state Gods most favoured servants may be reduced<\/p>\n [Jeremiah, for his fidelity in declaring Gods purposes respecting that rebellious people, was cast into a dungeon, where he sunk in the mire, and was left to perish [Note: Jer 38:4-6<\/span>.]. And in this situation he altogether despaired of life, and said, I am cut off, I am cut off out of the land of the living! Distressing as this situation was, it may yet be expected to be endured by the faithful ministers of God in every age. Peter, in his day, was laden with chains in an inner prison, without the slightest hope of surviving the day appointed for his execution [Note: Act 12:6<\/span>.]. Paul and Silas also, with their backs lacerated with scourges, and their feet made fast in the stocks, had the sentence of death in themselves, and expected nothing but a speedy and a cruel death [Note: Act 16:23-24<\/span>.]. And we, too, are warned by our blessed Lord, that we must be ready to lay down our lives for him; and that on no other condition can we hope for a favourable acceptance with him in the last day.<\/p>\n But there are other troubles yet more afflictive than these, to which every child of God is exposed, and under which he may be brought into the depths of despondency. There are seasons of temptation and spiritual desertion, in which the soul is led to say, with Heman, My soul is full of troubles; my life draweth nigh unto the grave. Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps<\/em>. Thy wrath lieth hard upon me; thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves<\/em>. Lord, Why castes thou off my soul? why hides thou thy face from me? I am afflicted, and ready to die. While I suffer thy terrors, I am distracted. Thy fierce wrath goeth over me; thy terrors have cut me off<\/em> [Note: Psa 88:3<\/span>; Psa 88:6-7<\/span>; Psa 88:14-16<\/span>.] Here was a man of consummate piety, and yet thus bereft of consolation, and almost of hope. And such afflictive visitations are experienced by many at the present day. When the spirits have been broken by a long train of misfortunes, and disease of body has still further enfeebled the mind, it is not uncommon for Satan to make a fierce assault upon the soul, and, by his fiery darts, to inflict on it a deadly wound, such as causes it to despair even of life. The Saviour himself, in the depths of dereliction, cried, My God, my God! why hast thou forsaken me? It is not to be wondered at, therefore, if his followers also be called to taste of that cup which he drank even to the dregs.]<\/p>\n In the Prophets experience, however, we see,<\/p>\n II.<\/p>\n What remedy is open to them<\/p>\n [I called upon thy name, O Lord, out of the low dungeon: hide not thine ear at my breathing and my cry. Affliction drove him not from God, but to him: and though his overwhelming calamities disqualified him for that kind of orderly address which, in a season of calm reflection, he might have presented at the throne of grace, yet, by sighs and cries, he made known his desires to the Lord, who understands the language of the heart, though not expressed in clear and appropriate terms by the lips. To the same effect David says, I opened my mouth and panted; for I longed for thy commandments [Note: Psa 119:131<\/span>.]: by which I understand, that his desire to fulfil the commands of God was too great for utterance; so that he was constrained to express it only by deep sighs and ardent aspirations. Thus it was with the prophet at this time, when looking to his God with humble breathings<\/em> and with fervent cries. Like Jonah at the bottom of the sea, he cried, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple [Note: Jon 2:4<\/span>.].<\/p>\n Now, this is our proper remedy at all seasons: Call upon me in the time of trouble, saith the Lord; and I will hear thee; and thou shalt glorify me. Nor need we be discouraged because we are not able so to compose our minds as to pour out our hearts in fluent and connected petitions. Abrupt cries are fitly suited to occasions of great extremity. Our blessed Lord himself, when in an agony in the garden of Gethsemane, cried thrice to his heavenly Father, repeating the same words<\/em> [Note: Mat 26:44<\/span>.]. It is not the fluency of our expressions that God regards, but the sincerity of our hearts: and, for the most part, when his blessed Spirit makes intercession in us with more than ordinary power, it is not by diversified and rhetorical language, but by groans which cannot be uttered [Note: Rom 8:26<\/span>.]. Whatever therefore our trouble be, and however desperate our condition, let us give ourselves unto prayer [Note: Psa 109:4<\/span>.]; and not doubt but that God, who heareth the ravens, will hear the voice of our weeping [Note: Psa 6:8<\/span>.], and fulfil the desire of our hearts [Note: Psa 145:19<\/span>.]. If we do but look unto him, we shall be lightened [Note: Psa 34:5<\/span>.].]<\/p>\n The answer he received will lead us to contemplate,<\/p>\n III.<\/p>\n The efficacy of that remedy, whensoever applied<\/p>\n [In his despondency, the prophet had said, Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, that our prayer should not pass through [Note: ver. 44.]. But he found to his joy, that nothing could intercept either his communion with God, or his communications from God: for God drew nigh to him, and said, Fear not. What marvellous condescension was here! Whilst man was treating him as the offscouring and refuse of the people [Note: ver. 45.], God regarded him with all the tenderness of a Father, and bade him to fear nothing that man could do against him. And will God be less gracious to us<\/em>, in our extremities? No: he will surely hear the cry of the poor destitute, and will not despise their prayer [Note: Psa 102:17<\/span>.]. Hear the experience of David, and in him of the Messiah also: Save me, O God! for the waters are come in unto my soul. I sink in deep mire<\/em>, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. I am weary of my crying: my throat is dry: mine eves fail while I wait for my God. Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters. Let not the water-flood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up; and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me. I am poor and sorrowful: let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high. Having thus pleaded with God, and obtained an answer of peace, he adds, for the encouragement of all future suppliants, The humble shall see this, and be glad; and your heart shall live that seek God: for the Lord heareth the poor, and despiseth not his prisoners<\/em> [Note: Psa 69:1-3<\/span>; Psa 69:14-15<\/span>; Psa 69:29<\/span>; Psa 69:32-33<\/span>.]. Hear ye this, then, all ye who, from whatever circumstances, are brought into deep waters! Call upon the Lord out of the depths [Note: Psa 130:1<\/span>.]; and you shall soon he able to adopt the grateful recollections of David, and say, The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me. In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.<\/p>\n But let me more particularly call your attention to the consolatory voice of God in my text: Fear not. Were you really in the hands of your enemies, you might well fear: but they<\/em>, as well as you, are in the hands of God, who can make even the wrath of man to praise him. Here is a weapon formed against you, and a waster ready to wield it for your destruction: but they can effect nothing without God; since the very smith who formed the weapon, and the waster that threatens your destruction, are the work of his hands, and owe to him all the skill and power of which they are possessed. What then can they do against Him;<\/em> or against those who are under his<\/em> protection [Note: Isa 54:15-17<\/span>.]? Know, that to every soul that trusteth in him is this word addressed; Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.]<\/p>\n Lam 3:54 Waters flowed over mine head; [then] I said, I am cut off.<\/p>\n Ver. 54. Waters flowed over mine head.<\/strong> ] Many and great miseries have overwhelmed and oppressed me, both in body and soul. These are frequently compared to waters. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Then I said, I am cut off,<\/strong> ] sc., <\/em> From the land of the living; but God was better to me than my hopes.<\/p>\n over mine head. Compare Psa 69:2. <\/p>\n I am cut off. Compare Psa 88:5. <\/p>\n Waters: Psa 18:4, Psa 69:1, Psa 69:2, Psa 69:15, Psa 124:4, Psa 124:5, Jon 2:3-5 <\/p>\n I said: Lam 3:18, Job 17:11-16, Psa 31:22, Isa 38:10-13, Eze 37:11, 2Co 1:8-10 <\/p>\n Reciprocal: Deu 30:7 – General 2Sa 22:17 – he drew Job 22:11 – abundance Isa 51:14 – die Jon 2:5 – General Mat 14:30 – Lord Luk 8:24 – Master Luk 11:10 – General<\/p>\n Lam 3:54. Waters of affliction is the meaning of this verse.<\/p>\n Waters flowed over mine head; [then] I said, I am cut off. 54. Waters flowed over mine head ] figuratively. So in Psa 42:7; Psa 69:2, which latter Ps. was traditionally ascribed to Jeremiah. I am cut off ] Cp. Psa 31:22; Psa 88:5; 2Ch 26:21; Isa 53:8. Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Lamentations 3:54”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20419","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-commentary"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20419","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20419"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20419\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20419"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20419"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20419"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible <\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
THE EFFICACY OF PRAYER<\/strong><\/p>\nFuente: Charles Simeon’s Horae Homileticae (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"