Lamentations 3:43

Commentary on Lamentations 3:43 (KJV)

Lamentations 3:43 is a poignant cry from the prophet, traditionally identified as Jeremiah, reflecting the deep despair and sense of divine abandonment felt by the people of Judah during and after the destruction of Jerusalem and the First Temple by the Babylonians in 586 BC. This verse, part of a larger lament, expresses the overwhelming feeling that God's wrath was fully unleashed upon them, without reservation or compassion.

Historical and Cultural Context

The book of Lamentations is a collection of five poetic laments mourning the devastation of Jerusalem and the exile of its people. Chapter 3 stands out as a personal lament from the prophet's perspective, yet it deeply identifies with the collective suffering of the nation. While earlier verses in this chapter, notably Lamentations 3:22-23, acknowledge God's enduring mercies, the verses immediately preceding and including 3:43 reveal the raw pain and perception of God's severe judgment. The people felt utterly consumed by divine anger due to their persistent sin and rebellion against the covenant.

Key Themes and Messages

• Divine Judgment and Wrath: The verse vividly portrays God's active role in their suffering. "Thou hast covered with anger" suggests an overwhelming, inescapable blanket of divine displeasure. This emphasizes the direct consequence of the nation's idolatry and disobedience.
• Profound Suffering and Persecution: "Persecuted us" and "slain" highlight the severity of the judgment, which felt like an active pursuit and execution by God Himself. It speaks to the immense loss of life and liberty experienced during the siege and subsequent exile.
• Absence of Pity: The phrase "thou hast not pitied" underscores the human perception of God's unyielding wrath in that moment. It expresses the desperate feeling that no mercy was being shown, a stark contrast to God's usual character of compassion, but understood as a necessary part of a holy God's judgment against sin.
• Consequences of Sin: This verse serves as a stark reminder of the grave consequences that can arise from sustained rebellion against God. The suffering described is a direct result of the nation's unfaithfulness.

Linguistic Insights

• The Hebrew phrase for "covered with anger" (kāsîtā bā'ap̄) powerfully conveys a sense of being completely enveloped or hidden by God's wrath. The word 'ap̄ can refer to the nose or nostrils, and by extension, anger (as in flaring nostrils), suggesting an intense, fiery displeasure.
• "Not pitied" translates the Hebrew lō' ḥāmal, where ḥāmal means to spare, pity, or show compassion. The negation emphasizes the perceived complete lack of mercy in the immediate context of their severe judgment.

Practical Application

Lamentations 3:43, while expressing deep despair, also offers profound lessons for believers today:

1. Acknowledging God's Justice: It reminds us that God is holy and righteous, and sin has serious consequences. While we primarily experience God's grace through Christ, this verse underscores the reality of divine justice.
2. Honesty in Lament: The prophet's raw and honest expression of pain and perceived abandonment provides a biblical model for bringing our deepest sorrows and frustrations before God, even when we struggle to understand His ways.
3. Understanding God's Character: Though this verse describes a moment of intense judgment, it's crucial to read it within the broader context of Scripture, which reveals God's ultimate nature as merciful and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love (Psalm 103:8). The judgment, though severe, was intended to lead to repentance and restoration.