Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents

3:48 my eyes flow with . . . tears. Like Jerusalem (1:16; 2:11, 18), the speaker weeps for what has happened to the city. the daughter of my people. A term of endearment for Jerusalem (cf. 2:11). For similar imagery, see 1:6; 2:1, 4, 8, 10, 13, 18; 4:22 ("daughter of Zion"); 1:15; 2:2, 5 ("daughter of Judah"); 2:13, 15 ("daughter of Jerusalem"); and 3:51 ("daughters of my city").

3:49-50 Like Jeremiah (Jer. 14:17), the speaker mourns without ceasing for the people's situation so that God will answer from heaven.

3:51 my eyes cause me grief. What he has witnessed penetrates to the speaker's inner being. the fate of all the daughters of my city. Jerusalem's women were taken into captivity, and many were likely raped or abused in other ways (cf. Jer. 52:28-30; Amos 1:13-15).

3:52-54 hunted like a bird. See vv. 12-13. The speaker has suffered alongside the people. enemies without cause. Like Jeremiah, he endured some measure of persecution by those he tried to help. This may also refer to Judah suffering at the hands of nations like Edom (cf. 4:21; Obad. 10-14). flung me alive into the pit. To silence and punish him (cf. Jer. 37:11-16; 38:4-28). cast stones on me. As if to bury him alive. water closed over my head. An even worse fate than Jeremiah suffered (cf. Ps. 88:6-7; Jonah 2:3-5). I am lost. There seemed to be no hope (cf. Lam. 3:18).

3:55-57 In the depths of the pit (the extremity of his suffering), the speaker called upon the very one who had placed him there. you heard my plea. Cf. Ps. 30:2; 40:2-4; 103:4. God not only came near, offering his comforting and saving presence, but also gave reassuring and empowering words of courage (Do not fear!). Cf. Jer. 1:17-19.

3:58 taken up my cause. God has become the speaker's advocate against his attackers (v. 52). redeemed my life. God's advocacy resulted in deliverance (cf. Lev. 25:47-54; Ruth 4:1-12; Jer. 1:17-19; 39:11-40:6).

3:59-60 God has seen the wrong done to the speaker. Jerusalem prayed for this in 1:9, 11, 20. True relief cannot come until God judges in favor of the speaker and against his enemies for all their plots (cf. Jer. 11:18-12:6; 17:18; 18:23).

3:61-63 taunts. See v. 30; Ps. 69:9; 79:4; Jer. 20:10-12. all their plots. See Lam. 3:60. Behold. Or "look closely" (cf. 1:11; 2:20; 5:1).

3:65 You will give them dullness of heart. God will give them hard hearts, unwilling to repent and avoid judgment (Isa. 6:8-10). your curse. The judgment that comes as the consequences of their actions (cf. Deut. 28:15-68), not some sort of magical incantation.

3:66 You will pursue . . . and destroy them. For "pursue," see 1:3, 6; 3:43; 4:19; 5:5. in anger. Or "wrath" (cf. 1:12; 2:1, 3, 6; 3:43). God will bring the same type of justice to Jerusalem's enemies that Jerusalem has experienced (cf. v. 64).

4:1-22 How the Gold Has Grown Dim. Chapter 4 returns to themes found in chs. 1-2 yet also announces the completion of Jerusalem's punishment. The chapter can be divided into four segments: the suffering of Jerusalem's children (vv. 1-10), God's punishing of Jerusalem's religious leaders (vv. 11-16), the power of Jerusalem's enemies (vv. 17-20), and the end of Jerusalem's suffering (vv. 21-22).