SEV Biblia, Chapter 3:39
Mem : ¿Por qué tiene dolor el hombre viviente, el hombre en su pecado?
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Lamentations 3:39
Verse 39. Wherefore doth a living man complain] He who has his life still lent to him has small cause of complaint. How great soever his affliction may be, he is still alive; therefore, he may seek and find mercy unto eternal life. Of this, death would deprive him; therefore let not a living man complain.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 39. Wherefore doth a living man complain ? etc.] Or murmur, or fret and vex, or bemoan himself; all which the word may signify; as the prophet had done in his own person; or as representing the church, ( Lamentations 3:1-19); and here checks himself for it; and especially since the mercies and compassions of God never fail, and are daily renewed; and the Lord himself is the portion of his people, ( Lamentations 3:23,24); and seeing he is good to them that seek him, and it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of God, and to bear the yoke patiently, ( Lamentations 3:25-27); and because of the unwillingness of God to afflict men, and his sympathy and compassion towards them under affliction, ( Lamentations 3:32,33); and especially since all is from the sovereignty of God, who does according to his will; and from whom all good and evil come, ( Lamentations 3:37,38); he is not to be complained of, or against, for anything he does; or to be murmured at; nor should men vex and fret themselves at their own adversity, or at the prosperity of others; or bemoan themselves, as if no case was like theirs, or so bad. It does not become “a man”, a reasonable creature, a man grown up, to behave in this manner; as such should quit themselves like men, and conduct as such; a “man” that God is so mindful of, and cares for, and visits every moment, and follows with his goodness continually; a “man”, sinful man, that has rendered himself unworthy of the least favour; and yet such is the lovingkindness, favour, and good will of God to man, that he has provided his own Son to be his Saviour; and therefore man, of all God’s creatures, has no reason to complain of him; and is a “living” man too, in a natural sense; is upheld in life by the Lord, and has the common mercies of life; is in health, or however in the land of the living; out of hell, where he deserves to be; and therefore should praise, and not complain, ( Isaiah 38:19); especially if he is a living man in a spiritual sense; has a principle of spiritual life implanted in him; Christ lives in him, and his life is hid with him in God, and has a right and title to eternal life: a man for [the punishment] of his sins ? the word “punishment” is not in the text; but, admitting the supplement, if a man is a wicked man (and so the Targum interprets it), and is punished for his sins, no injustice is done him; he has no reason to complain; and especially of his punishment in this world, which is greatly less than his sins deserve, ( Ezra 9:13); and if he is a good man, and is chastised for his sins, he ought not to complain “for the chastisement” of them; since it is the chastisement of a father, is in love, and for his good: but the words may be rendered literally, “a man for”, or “of his sins” f83 ; and be considered as a distinct clause, and as an answer to the former, so Jarchi; if a man will complain, let him complain of his sins; of the corruptions of his heart; of the body of sin and death he carries about with him of his daily iniquities; let him mourn over them, and bemoan himself for them; and if he does this in an evangelic manner, he is happy; for he shall be comforted.
Matthew Henry Commentary
The faithful lament their calamities, and hope in God's mercies. Lam. 3:1-20 The prophet relates the more gloomy and discouraging par of his experience, and how he found support and relief. In the time of his trial the Lord had become terrible to him. It was an afflictio that was misery itself; for sin makes the cup of affliction a bitte cup. The struggle between unbelief and faith is often very severe. But the weakest believer is wrong, if he thinks that his strength and hop are perished from the Lord.
Lam. 3:21-36 Having stated his distress and temptation, the prophe shows how he was raised above it. Bad as things are, it is owing to the mercy of God that they are not worse. We should observe what makes for us, as well as what is against us. God's compassions fail not; of thi we have fresh instances every morning. Portions on earth are perishin things, but God is a portion for ever. It is our duty, and will be ou comfort and satisfaction, to hope and quietly to wait for the salvatio of the Lord. Afflictions do and will work very much for good: many have found it good to bear this yoke in their youth; it has made many humbl and serious, and has weaned them from the world, who otherwise woul have been proud and unruly. If tribulation work patience, that patienc will work experience, and that experience a hope that makes no ashamed. Due thoughts of the evil of sin, and of our own sinfulness will convince us that it is of the Lord's mercies we are not consumed If we cannot say with unwavering voice, The Lord is my portion; may we not say, I desire to have Him for my portion and salvation, and in his word do I hope? Happy shall we be, if we learn to receive affliction a laid upon us by the hand of God.
Lam. 3:37-41 While there is life there is hope; and instead of complaining that things are bad, we should encourage ourselves with the hope they will be better. We are sinful men, and what we complain of is far less than our sins deserve. We should complain to God, and no of him. We are apt, in times of calamity, to reflect on other people' ways, and blame them; but our duty is to search and try our own ways that we may turn from evil to God. Our hearts must go with our prayers If inward impressions do not answer to outward expressions, we moc God, and deceive ourselves.
Lam. 3:42-54 The more the prophet looked on the desolations, the mor he was grieved. Here is one word of comfort. While they continue weeping, they continued waiting; and neither did nor would expec relief and succour from any but the Lord.
Lam. 3:55-66 Faith comes off conqueror, for in these verses the prophe concludes with some comfort. Prayer is the breath of the new man drawing in the air of mercy in petitions, and returning it in praises it proves and maintains the spiritual life. He silenced their fears and quieted their spirits. Thou saidst, Fear not. This was the languag of God's grace, by the witness of his Spirit with their spirits. An what are all our sorrows, compared with those of the Redeemer? He wil deliver his people from every trouble, and revive his church from ever persecution. He will save believers with everlasting salvation, whil his enemies perish with everlasting destruction __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
מה 4100 יתאונן 596 אדם 120 חי 2416 גבר 1397 על 5921 חטאו׃ 2399
