Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 1. And he said unto me] In the last verse of the preceding chapter we find that the prophet was so penetrated with awe at the sight of the glory of God in the mystical chariot, that "he fell upon his face;" and, while he was in this posture of adoration, he heard the voice mentioned here. It is evident, therefore, that the present division of these chapters is wrong. Either the first should end with the words, "This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord," ver. 28; or the first verse of this chapter should be added to the preceding, and this begin with the second verse.
Matthew Henry Commentary
- The Jewish nation supplicating the Divine favour.
Lam. 5:1-16 Is any afflicted? Let him pray; and let him in prayer pou out his complaint to God. The people of God do so here; they complai not of evils feared, but of evils felt. If penitent and patient unde what we suffer for the sins of our fathers, we may expect that He wh punishes, will return in mercy to us. They acknowledge, Woe unto u that we have sinned! All our woes are owing to our own sin and folly Though our sins and God's just displeasure cause our sufferings, we ma hope in his pardoning mercy, his sanctifying grace, and his kin providence. But the sins of a man's whole life will be punished with vengeance at last, unless he obtains an interest in Him who bare ou sins in his own body on the tree.
Lam. 5:17-22 The people of God express deep concern for the ruins of the temple, more than for any other of their calamities. But whateve changes there are on earth, God is still the same, and remains for eve wise and holy, just and good; with Him there is no variableness no shadow of turning. They earnestly pray to God for mercy and grace; Tur us to thee, O Lord. God never leaves any till they first leave him; is he turns them to him in a way of duty, no doubt he will quickly retur to them in a way of mercy. If God by his grace renew our hearts, he will by his favour renew our days. Troubles may cause our hearts to be faint, and our eyes to be dim, but the way to the mercy-seat of ou reconciled God is open. Let us, in all our trials, put our whole trus and confidence in his mercy; let us confess our sins, and pour out ou hearts before him. Let us watch against repinings and despondency; for we surely know, that it shall be well in the end with all that trus in, fear, love, and serve the Lord. Are not the Lord's judgments in the earth the same as in Jeremiah's days? Let Zion then be remembered by u in our prayers, and her welfare be sought above every earthly joy Spare, Lord, spare thy people, and give not thine heritage to reproach for the heathen to rule over them _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew ויאמר559 אלי413 בן1121 אדם120 עמד5975 על5921 רגליך7272 ואדבר1696 אתך׃853
