SEV Biblia, Chapter 3:40
Nun : Escudriñemos nuestros caminos, y busquemos, y volvámonos al SEÑOR.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Lamentations 3:40
Verse 40. Let us search] How are we to get the pardon of our sins? The prophet tells us: 1. Let us examine ourselves. 2. "Let us turn again to the Lord." 3. "Let us lift up our heart;" let us make fervent prayer and supplication for mercy. 4. "Let us lift up our hand;" let us solemnly promise to be his, and bind ourselves in a covenant to be the Lord's only: so much lifting up the hand to God implies. Or, let us put our heart on our hand, and offer it to God; so some have translated this clause. 5. "We have transgressed;" let our confession of sin be fervent and sincere. 6. And to us who profess Christianity it may be added, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as having died for thee; and thou shalt not perish, but have everlasting life. Verses 46, 47, 48, beginning with p phe, should, as to the order of the alphabet, follow 49, 50, 51, which begin with [ ain, which in its grammatical position precedes the former.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 40. Let us search and try our ways , etc.] stead of murmuring and complaining, let us search for something that may support and comfort, teach and instruct, under afflictive providences; let us search into the love of God, which, though it cannot be fully searched out, it will be found to be from everlasting to everlasting; and that all afflictions spring from it; and that it continues notwithstanding them: let us search into the covenant of grace, in which provision is made for afflictions in case of disobedience, and for supports under them: let us search the Scriptures, which are written for our comfort; and it is much if we do not find some in the instances, examples, and experiences of other saints therein recorded: let us search after a greater degree of the knowledge of Christ, and of his grace; so shall we be more conformable to his sufferings and death, and patient under our troubles: let us search into our own hearts, and examine ourselves, whether we have true repentance for sin, true faith in Christ; and whether he is in us, or not; and we have a part in him, which will make us easy in every state: let us search into the present dispensation, in order to find out the cause of it, which is sin; and the end of it, which God has in it for our good: let us search “our ways”, and “try them”, by the word of God, the standard of faith and practice; and see what agreement there is between them: let us try our thoughts, words, and actions, by the law of God, which is holy, spiritual, just, and good; and we shall see how abundantly short they come of it: and let us try “our ways”, and compare them with the ways of God, which he has prescribed in his word; and we shall find that the one are holy, the other unholy; the one plain, the other crooked; the one dark, the other light; the one pleasant, and peace is in them, the other not; the one lead to life, the other to death; (see Isaiah 55:7-9); and turn again to the Lord ; by repentance, as the Targum adds; let us turn out of our sinful ways, upon a search and examination of them; and turn to the Lord, his ways and worship, from whom we have departed, and against whom we have sinned; acknowledging our iniquities, who receives graciously, is ready to forgive, and does abundantly pardon.
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
נחפשׂה 2664 דרכינו 1870 ונחקרה 2713 ונשׁובה 7725 עד 5704 יהוה׃ 3068
