3:1 I [am] the man [that] hath seen a affliction by the rod of
his wrath.
(a) The prophet complains of the punishments and afflictions
that he endured by the false prophets and hypocrites
when he declared the destruction of Jerusalem, as in
(Jer 20:1,2).
3:5 He hath b built against me, and surrounded [me] with gall
and labour.
(b) He speaks this as one that felt God's heavy judgment,
which he greatly feared, and therefore sets them out
with this diversity of words.
3:8 Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my c prayer.
(c) This is a great temptation for the godly when they do
not see the fruit of their prayers and causes them to
think that they are not heard, which thing God uses so
that they might pray more earnestly and often.
3:9 He hath d inclosed my ways with hewn stone, he hath made
my paths crooked.
(d) And keeps me in hold as a prisoner.
3:10e He [was] to me [as] a bear lying in wait, [and as] a
lion in secret places.
(e) He has no pity on me.
3:15 He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath made me drunk
with f wormwood.
(f) With great anguish and sorrow he has made me lose my
sense.
3:18 And I said, My strength and my g hope hath perished from
the LORD:
(g) Thus with pain he was driven to and fro between hope
and despair, as the godly often are, yet in the end the
spirit gets the victory.
3:20 My soul hath [them] still in remembrance, and is humbled
h in me.
(h) He shows that God thus uses to exercise his, to the
intent that by this they may know themselves, and feel
his mercies.
3:22 [It is of] the LORD'S i mercies that we are not consumed,
because his compassions fail not.
(i) Considering the wickedness of man it is a marvel that
any remains alive: but only that God for his own
mercies sake and for his promise will ever have his
Church remain, though they are never so few in number,
(Isa 1:9).
3:23 [They are] new k every morning: great [is] thy
faithfulness.
(k) We feel your benefits daily.
3:24 The LORD [is] my l portion, saith my soul; therefore will
I hope in him.
(l) The godly put their whole confidence in God, and
therefore look for no other inheritance, as
(Ps 16:5).
3:27 [It is] good for a man that he should bear the yoke in his
m youth.
(m) He shows that we can never begin too soon to be
exercised under the cross, that when the afflictions
grow greater, our patience also by experience may be
stronger.
3:28 He sitteth alone n and keepeth silence, because he hath
borne [it] upon him.
(n) He murmurs not against God, but is patient.
3:29 He putteth his o mouth in the dust; if there may be hope.
(o) He humbles himself as they who fall down with their
face to the ground, and so with patience waits for
comfort.
3:33 For he doth not p afflict willingly nor grieve the
children of men.
(p) He takes no pleasure in it, but does it of necessity for
our amendment, when he permits the wicked to oppress
the poor.
3:36 To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord q approveth not.
(q) He does not delight in it.
3:37 Who [is] he [that] saith, and it cometh to pass, [when] the
Lord r commandeth [it] not?
(r) He shows that nothing is done without God's providence.
3:38 Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not s evil
and good?
