TRV
Translation
Complete Jewish Bible
unless you have totally rejected us in a fury that knows no limits. [ADONAI, turn us back to you; and we will come back; renew our days, as they were in the past.]
Berean Standard Bible
unless You have utterly rejected us and remain angry with us beyond measure.
Young's Literal Translation
For hast Thou utterly rejected us? Thou hast been wroth against us--exceedingly?
In the KJVVerse 20,465 of 31,102
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Commentary on Lamentations 5 verses 17–22
17 ¶ For this our heart is faint; for these things our eyes are dim.
18 Because of the mountain of Zion, which is desolate, the foxes walk upon it.
19 Thou, O LORD, remainest for ever; thy throne from generation to generation.
20 Wherefore dost thou forget us for ever, and forsake us so long time?
21 Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.
22 But thou hast utterly rejected us; thou art very wroth against us.
Here, I. The people of God express the deep concern they had for the ruins of the temple, more than for any other of their calamities; the interests of God's house lay nearer their hearts than those of their own (Lam 5:17, Lam 5:18): For this our heart is faint, and sinks under the load of its own heaviness; for these things our eyes are dim, and our sight is gone, as is usual in a deliquium, or fainting fit. "It is because of the mountain of Zion, which is desolate, the holy mountain, and the temple built upon that mountain. For other desolations our hearts grieve and our eyes weep; but for this our hearts faint and our eyes are dim." Note, Nothing lies so heavily upon the spirits of good people as that which threatens the ruin of religion or weakens its interests; and it is a comfort if we can appeal to God that that afflicts us more than any temporal affliction to ourselves. "The people have polluted the mountain of Zion with their sins, and therefore God has justly made it desolate, to such a degree that the foxes walk upon it as freely and commonly as they do in the woods." It is sad indeed when the mountain of Zion has become a portion for foxes (Psa 63:10); but sin had first made it so, Eze 13:4.
II. They comfort themselves with the doctrine of God's eternity, and the perpetuity of his government (Lam 5:19): But thou, O Lord! remainest for ever. This they are taught to do by that psalm which is entitled, A prayer of the afflicted, Psa 102:27, Psa 102:28. When all our creature-comforts are removed from us, and our hearts fail us, we may then encourage ourselves with the belief, 1. Of God's eternity: Thou remainest for ever. What shakes the world gives no disturbance to him who made it; whatever revolutions there are on earth there is no change in the Eternal Mind; God is still the same, and remains for ever infinitely wise and holy, just and good; with him there is no variableness nor shadow of turning. 2. Of the never-failing continuance of his dominion: Thy throne is from generation to generation; the throne of glory, the throne of grace, and the throne of government, are all unchangeable, immovable; and this is matter of comfort to us when the crown has fallen from our head. When the thrones of princes, that should be our protectors, are brought to the dust, and buried in it, God's throne continues still; he still rules the world, and rules it for the good of the church. The Lord reigns, reigns for ever, even thy God, O Zion!
III. They humbly expostulate with God concerning the low condition they were now in, and the frowns of heaven they were now under (Lam 5:20): "Wherefore dost thou forsake us so long time, as if we were quite deprived of the tokens of thy presence? Wherefore dost thou defer our deliverance, as if thou hadst utterly abandoned us? Thou art the same, and, though the throne of thy sanctuary is demolished, thy throne in heaven is unshaken. But wilt thou not be the same to us?" Not as if they thought God had forgotten and forsaken them, much less feared his forgetting and forsaking them for ever; but thus they express the value they had for his favour and presence, which they thought it long that they were deprived of the evidence and comfort of. The last verse may be read as such an expostulation, and so the margin reads it: "For wilt thou utterly reject us? Wilt thou be perpetually wroth with us, not only not smile upon us and remember us in mercy, but frown upon us and lay us under the tokens of thy wrath, not only not draw nigh to us, but cast us out of thy presence and forbid us to draw nigh unto thee? How ill this be reconciled with thy goodness and faithfulness, and the stability of thy covenant?" We read it, "But thou hast rejected us; thou hast given us cause to fear that thou hast. Lord, how long shall we be in this temptation?" Note, Thou we may not quarrel with God, yet we may plead with him; and, though we may not conclude that he has cast off, yet we may (with the prophet, Jer 12:1) humbly reason with him concerning his judgments, especially the continuance of the desolations of his sanctuary.
IV. They earnestly pray to God for mercy and grace: "Lord, do not reject us for ever, but turn thou us unto thee; renew our days," Lam 5:21. Though these words are not put last, yet the Rabbin, because they would not have the book to conclude with those melancholy words (Lam 5:22), repeat this prayer again, that the sun may not set under a cloud, and so make these the last words both in writing and reading this chapter. They here pray, 1. For converting grace to prepare and qualify them for mercy: Turn us to thee, O Lord! They had complained that God had forsaken and forgotten them, and then their prayer is not, Turn thou to us, but, Turn us to thee, which implies an acknowledgment that the cause of the distance was in themselves. God never leaves any till they first leave him, nor stands afar off from any longer than while they stand afar off from him; if therefore he turn them to him in a way of duty, no doubt but he will quickly return to them in a way of mercy. This agrees with that repeated prayer (Psa 80:3, Psa 80:7, Psa 80:19), Turn us again, and then cause thy face to shine. Turn us from our idols to thyself, by a sincere repentance and reformation, and then we shall be turned. This implies a further acknowledgment of their own weakness and inability to turn themselves. There is in our nature a proneness to backslide from God, but no disposition to return to him till his grace works in us both to will and to do. So necessary is that grace that we may truly say, Turn us or we shall not be turned, but shall wander endlessly; and so powerful and effectual is that grace that we may as truly say, Turn us, and we shall be turned; for it is a day of power, almighty power, in which God's people are made a willing people, Psa 110:3. 2. For restoring mercy: Turn us to thee, and then renew our days as of old, put us into the same happy state that our ancestors were in long ago and that they continued long in; let it be with us as it was at the first, and at the beginning, Isa 1:26. Note, If God by his grace renew our hearts, he will be his favour renew our days, so that we shall renew our youth as the eagle, Psa 103:5. Those that repent, and do their first works, shall rejoice, and recover their first comforts. God's mercies to his people have been ever of old (Psa 25:6); and therefore they may hope, even then when he seems to have forsaken and forgotten them, that the mercy which was from everlasting will be to everlasting.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 17–22. Public domain.
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Thomas AquinasAD 1274
Finally, is considered the need for praying. As stated: "Or hast thou utterly rejected us? Art thou exceedingly angry with us?" And as Jeremiah elsewhere states: "Hast thou utterly rejected Judah? Does thy soul loath Zion? Why hast thou smitten us so that there is no healing for us?" (Jer: l4;l9).
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Lamentations 5:22 brings the book to a poignant and stark conclusion, articulating the profound despair and perceived divine abandonment felt by the people of Judah after the destruction of Jerusalem and their exile. This verse encapsulates their overwhelming sense that God has not only judged them severely but has also irrevocably cast them off, expressing a deep and seemingly final experience of divine wrath and rejection, leaving the reader with an unresolved cry of desolation that underscores the depth of their national trauma.
CONTEXT
Literary Context: Lamentations 5:22 serves as the climactic and concluding statement of the entire book, specifically the fifth and final lament. This chapter, unlike the preceding acrostic poems, is a communal prayer (or lament) of the survivors, pleading with God to "remember" their plight and "turn" them back to Him, as expressed in the preceding verse, Lamentations 5:21. The verses leading up to this point in chapter 5 detail the horrific suffering, humiliation, and desolation experienced by the people—their hunger, the loss of their leaders, the violation of their women, and the pervasive absence of joy. The abrupt, despairing ending of verse 22, following a plea for restoration, creates a powerful rhetorical effect, leaving the reader with the raw, unresolved anguish of a people who feel utterly forsaken. This stark conclusion contrasts sharply with the glimmers of hope found earlier in the book, such as in Lamentations 3:22-23. This final verse underscores the depth of their suffering and the perceived finality of God's judgment, making the book a profound expression of grief and unanswered questions.
Historical & Cultural Context: The Book of Lamentations directly addresses the catastrophic events of 586 BC, when the Babylonian army, under Nebuchadnezzar, besieged and utterly destroyed Jerusalem, including Solomon's Temple, and subsequently exiled a significant portion of its population to Babylon. This was not merely a military defeat but a profound theological crisis for Israel. Jerusalem was considered the dwelling place of God, the city of David, and the Temple was the tangible symbol of God's covenant presence among His people. Its destruction, along with the subsequent exile, shattered their understanding of divine protection and covenant promises. Culturally, the act of lament was a recognized and vital form of expressing grief, appealing to God, and processing national trauma within ancient Near Eastern societies, particularly in Israelite worship and prophecy. The intensity of the language in Lamentations 5:22 reflects the profound theological and existential shock of experiencing God's judgment so directly and devastatingly, leading to a questioning of their very identity and relationship with Him, a crisis that would shape their understanding for generations.
Key Themes: Lamentations 5:22 powerfully encapsulates several core themes prevalent throughout the book. Firstly, it highlights the theme of Divine Judgment and Wrath, explicitly stating God's "wrath" as the cause of their suffering. This aligns with the prophetic warnings found in the Mosaic covenant, particularly the curses outlined in Deuteronomy 28, which foretold such devastation for disobedience. Secondly, the phrase "utterly rejected us" emphasizes the profound theme of Utter Rejection and Abandonment. The people feel completely forsaken by God, cut off from His presence, and seemingly beyond the reach of His promises, reflecting the deep spiritual and emotional desolation that accompanied their physical ruin. This sense of abandonment is a recurring motif, contrasting with the historical narrative of God's steadfast loyalty to Israel. Finally, the verse underscores the theme of Profound Despair. Unlike the glimpses of hope and God's enduring mercies mentioned in Lamentations 3:22-23, this concluding verse plunges back into the depths of hopelessness, leaving the plea for restoration seemingly unanswered. It captures the raw, honest human experience of feeling utterly lost and without recourse in the face of overwhelming adversity and the perceived finality of divine judgment.
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Lamentations 5:22 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its profound message of despair. The most prominent is Hyperbole, as the lamenter expresses an "utter" rejection and "very" intense wrath. While reflecting the depth of their anguish and the severity of God's judgment, this extreme language may not be the ultimate theological reality of God's character but rather the overwhelming human experience of His judgment. This verse also exemplifies Personification of God's wrath, treating it as an active, almost tangible force directly impacting the people, emphasizing its devastating effects. Furthermore, the entire verse functions as a powerful example of Lament, a literary form characterized by direct address to God, expressions of suffering, pleas for help, and often, as here, a raw articulation of perceived divine abandonment. The abrupt, despairing ending of the book with this verse is a deliberate Rhetorical Device, leaving the reader with the unresolved tension of human suffering and divine judgment, forcing contemplation on the nature of God's justice and mercy.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Lamentations 5:22, in its raw expression of perceived divine rejection and wrath, serves as a stark reminder of the gravity of covenant disobedience and God's righteous judgment. Theologically, it underscores the principle that sin indeed separates humanity from God's favor and brings about severe consequences, as highlighted in passages like Isaiah 59:2. However, within the broader biblical narrative, this verse represents a moment of profound human despair, not necessarily God's final word. While the people feel utterly rejected, the Old Testament consistently reveals God's steadfast love (Hebrew: hesed) and His ultimate desire for restoration, even after severe judgment. The tension between God's wrath and His mercy is a recurring theme, with judgment often serving as a means to bring about repentance and eventual reconciliation, as seen in the prophetic books. This verse, therefore, highlights the depth of the human experience of alienation from God due to sin, setting the stage for the ultimate divine solution to this separation.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Lamentations 5:22, though concluding the book on a note of deep despair, offers profound insights for believers navigating their own seasons of suffering, consequence, or perceived divine absence. It validates the raw human experience of feeling abandoned or rejected by God, demonstrating that expressing such honest emotions—even anger or despair—in lament is a biblically sanctioned practice. This verse reminds us that while God's judgment for sin is real and can be severe, our feelings of utter rejection, though valid in our human experience, do not always reflect the full scope of God's character or His ultimate intentions. It calls us to acknowledge the pain of consequences while simultaneously holding onto the broader biblical narrative of God's enduring faithfulness, His ultimate desire for restoration, and His willingness to forgive those who genuinely repent. Even when judgment is severe, God's ultimate character is love and mercy, a truth that transcends the immediate anguish expressed in this lament, inviting us to bring our deepest pains to Him, trusting in His greater purposes.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Does Lamentations 5:22 mean God permanently rejects His people?
Answer: While Lamentations 5:22 expresses the profound feeling of utter rejection and intense wrath from the perspective of the suffering people of Judah, it does not represent God's final, permanent rejection of His covenant people in the broader biblical narrative. The book of Lamentations is a work of lament, a raw and honest outpouring of grief and despair. Within the larger context of the Old Testament, God's judgment, even severe, was often a disciplinary act intended to bring His people to repentance and ultimately to restoration, as seen in prophetic books like Jeremiah and Ezekiel. The New Testament further clarifies that God has not permanently rejected Israel (Romans 11:1-2) and that His ultimate plan is one of redemption. The verse captures a moment of intense despair, but it is not the final theological statement on God's relationship with His people.
How can this verse, ending in despair, be spiritually nourishing?
Answer: Lamentations 5:22 can be spiritually nourishing precisely because of its unflinching honesty. It validates the human experience of profound suffering, grief, and even the feeling of divine abandonment. In times of deep personal or communal crisis, this verse provides a biblical precedent for expressing raw, unfiltered emotions to God, demonstrating that true faith includes lament and questioning, not just praise. It reminds us that the Bible does not shy away from the darkest aspects of human experience or the consequences of sin. By acknowledging and giving voice to despair, it helps us process our own pain and points us toward the need for a greater hope that transcends our immediate circumstances, a hope ultimately found in God's redemptive plan and His unwavering love.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Lamentations 5:22, with its cry of "utterly rejected" and "very wroth against us," finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment not in God's rejection of His people, but in the ultimate rejection and wrath borne by Jesus Christ on the cross. The Son of God, who knew no sin, became sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21), experiencing the full weight of God's righteous wrath against humanity's rebellion. His cry, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46), echoes the very sentiment of abandonment found in Lamentations, yet it was not for His own sin, but for ours. In Christ, the perceived rejection of God's people is absorbed and overcome; He endured the ultimate rejection so that those who believe in Him might never be utterly cast off (John 6:37). Through His sacrifice, the wrath of God against sin was fully propitiated, opening the way for reconciliation and the renewal of days, not merely "as of old" (as in Lamentations 5:21), but as a new creation in Christ (Revelation 21:5). Thus, the despair of Lamentations 5:22 ultimately points to the cross, where the deepest human lament is met with God's deepest love, transforming rejection into eternal acceptance through the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).