Lamentations 3:64

Lamentations 3:64 is a profound plea for divine justice, uttered from the depths of national and personal suffering. This verse captures the human desire for retribution against those who have inflicted harm, appealing directly to God as the ultimate arbiter of right and wrong.

Context

The Book of Lamentations is a collection of poetic laments written in response to the devastating destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonian army in 586 BC. It vividly portrays the anguish, despair, and desolation experienced by the Jewish people. Chapter 3, often attributed to the prophet Jeremiah, stands out for its shift from communal lament to a more personal reflection on suffering, hope, and God's faithfulness. However, even within this chapter of hope, there are cries for justice against the oppressors. Verses 59-63 detail the cruel insults and persecutions endured by the speaker and his people, setting the stage for this fervent prayer for God to "render unto them a recompence."

Key Themes

• Divine Justice: The verse highlights God's role as the righteous judge who will ultimately bring about justice. It is a confident appeal to the Lord's character, believing that He sees and will act upon the deeds of the wicked.
• Retribution According to Deeds: The phrase "according to the work of their hands" emphasizes the principle of just recompense. It suggests that the punishment will fit the crime, a concept deeply rooted in biblical law and wisdom literature. This echoes the biblical principle that what one sows, one will also reap.
• Prayer for Vindicaton: For the oppressed and suffering, this verse represents a legitimate cry for God to intervene and correct severe wrongs. It is a prayer for vindication, trusting that God will uphold the righteous and punish the unrighteous.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "recompence" here is גְּמוּל (gĕmûl), which carries the sense of a just return or requital, whether for good deeds or bad. It's not merely human vengeance, but a divine act of balancing the scales of justice. The phrase "work of their hands" (מַעֲשֵׂה יְדֵיהֶם, *ma'aseh y'deihem*) refers to their actions, schemes, and the cruelties they perpetrated. It signifies the totality of their oppressive behavior for which the speaker seeks divine accountability.

Practical Application

While Christians are called to forgive and not to take vengeance into their own hands (as seen in Romans 12:19, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord"), this verse from Lamentations offers insight into the human experience of suffering and the deep-seated desire for justice. It reminds believers that:

• God is a righteous judge who sees all injustice and will ultimately bring about perfect justice in His time.
• We can bring our deepest hurts and cries for justice to God, trusting Him to handle what is beyond our control or capacity.
• It reinforces the truth that actions have consequences, and no one will escape God's ultimate judgment for their deeds.

This verse provides comfort to the wronged, assuring them that God is attentive to the cries of His people and will act on their behalf according to His perfect will and timing.