Matthew Henry on Lamentations 3:55–end
We may observe throughout this chapter a struggle in the prophet's breast between sense and faith, fear and hope; he complains and then comforts himself, yet drops his comforts and returns again to his complaints, as Psa 42:1-11. But, as there, so here, faith gets the last word and comes off a conqueror; for in these verses he concludes with some comfort. And here are two things with which he comforts himself: -
I. His experience of God's goodness even in his affliction. This may refer to the prophet's personal experience, with which he encourages himself in reference to the public troubles. He that has seasonably succoured particular saints will not fail the church in general. Or it may in…
Read the whole note in the consoleJamieson-Fausset-Brown on Lamentations 3:57
Thou drewest near--with Thy help (Jam 4:8).
Adam Clarke on Lamentations 3:57
Fear not - How powerful is this word when spoken by the Spirit of the Lord to a disconsolate heart. To every mourner we may say, on the authority of God, Fear not! God will plead thy cause, and redeem thy soul.
John Gill on Lamentations 3:57
Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee,.... When persons draw nigh to God in a way of duty, and particularly in this of prayer, and calling on his name; he draws nigh to them in a way of grace and mercy, and manifests himself to them, and works salvation for them. The Targum is,
"thou didst cause an angel to draw near to deliver me in the day that I prayed unto thee:''
thou saidst, fear not; any of thine enemies; or that thou shouldest not be delivered from them; see Isaiah 41:10.
John Calvin on Lamentations 3:57
Lamentations 3:57
57. Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst, Fear not.
57. Appropinquasti in die in quo clamavi ad te (vel, invocavi te,) dixisti, Ne timeas.
Here the Prophet tells us that he had experienced the goodness of God, because he had not suffered a repulse when he prayed. And this doctrine is especially useful to us, that is, to call to mind that we had not in time past prayed in vain. For we may hence feel assured, that as God ever continues like himself, he will be ever ready to help us when- ever we implore his protection. This, then, is the reason why the Prophet declares here that he had experienced the readiness of God to hear prayer: Thou didst…
