The Bible

 

Lamentations 3

Study

   

1 I [am] the man [who] hath seen affliction By the rod of His wrath.

2 Me He hath led, and causeth to go [in] darkness, and without light.

3 Surely against me He turneth back, He turneth His hand all the day.

4 He hath worn out my flesh and my skin. He hath broken my bones.

5 He hath built up against me, And setteth round poverty and weariness.

6 In dark places He hath caused me to dwell, As the dead of old.

7 He hath hedged me about, and I go not out, He hath made heavy my fetter.

8 Also when I call and cry out, He hath shut out my prayer.

9 He hath hedged my ways with hewn work, My paths He hath made crooked.

10 A bear lying in wait He [is] to me, A lion in secret hiding-places.

11 My ways He is turning aside, and He pulleth me in pieces, He hath made me a desolation.

12 He hath trodden His bow, And setteth me up as a mark for an arrow.

13 He hath caused to enter into my reins The sons of His quiver.

14 I have been a derision to all my people, Their song all the day.

15 He hath filled me with bitter things, He hath filled me [with] wormwood.

16 And He breaketh with gravel my teeth, He hath covered me with ashes.

17 And Thou castest off from peace my soul, I have forgotten prosperity.

18 And I say, Perished hath my strength and my hope from Jehovah.

19 Remember my affliction and my mourning, Wormwood and gall!

20 Remember well, and bow down doth my soul in me.

21 This I turn to my heart -- therefore I hope.

22 The kindnesses of Jehovah! For we have not been consumed, For not ended have His mercies.

23 New every morning, abundant [is] thy faithfulness.

24 My portion [is] Jehovah, hath my soul said, Therefore I hope for Him.

25 Good [is] Jehovah to those waiting for Him, To the soul [that] seeketh Him.

26 Good! when one doth stay and stand still For the salvation of Jehovah.

27 Good for a man that he beareth a yoke in his youth.

28 He sitteth alone, and is silent, For He hath laid [it] upon him.

29 He putteth in the dust his mouth, if so be there is hope.

30 He giveth to his smiter the cheek, He is filled with reproach.

31 For the Lord doth not cast off to the age.

32 For though He afflicted, yet He hath pitied, According to the abundance of His kindness.

33 For He hath not afflicted with His heart, Nor doth He grieve the sons of men.

34 To bruise under one's feet any bound ones of earth,

35 To turn aside the judgment of a man, Over-against the face of the Most High,

36 To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord hath not approved.

37 Who [is] this -- he hath said, and it is, [And] the Lord hath not commanded [it]?

38 From the mouth of the Most High Go not forth the evils and the good.

39 What -- sigh habitually doth a living man, A man for his sin?

40 We search our ways, and investigate, And turn back unto Jehovah.

41 We lift up our heart on the hands unto God in the heavens.

42 We -- we have transgressed and rebelled, Thou -- Thou hast not forgiven.

43 Thou hast covered Thyself with anger, And dost pursue us; Thou hast slain -- Thou hast not pitied.

44 Thou hast covered Thyself with a cloud, So that prayer doth not pass through.

45 Offscouring and refuse Thou dost make us In the midst of the peoples.

46 Opened against us their mouth have all our enemies.

47 Fear and a snare hath been for us, Desolation and destruction.

48 Rivulets of water go down my eye, For the destruction of the daughter of my people.

49 Mine eye is poured out, And doth not cease without intermission,

50 Till Jehovah looketh and seeth from the heavens,

51 My eye affecteth my soul, Because of all the daughters of my city.

52 Hunted me sore as a bird have my enemies without cause.

53 They have cut off in a pit my life, And they cast a stone against me.

54 Flowed have waters over my head, I have said, I have been cut off.

55 I called Thy name, O Jehovah, from the lower pit.

56 My voice Thou hast heard, Hide not Thine ear at my breathing -- at my cry.

57 Thou hast drawn near in the day I call Thee, Thou hast said, Fear not.

58 Thou hast pleaded, O Lord, the pleadings of my soul, Thou hast redeemed my life.

59 Thou hast seen, O Jehovah, my overthrow, Judge Thou my cause.

60 Thou hast seen all their vengeance, All their thoughts of me.

61 Thou hast heard their reproach, O Jehovah, All their thoughts against me,

62 The lips of my withstanders, Even their meditation against me all the day.

63 Their sitting down, and their rising up, Behold attentively, I [am] their song.

64 Thou returnest to them the deed, O Jehovah, According to the work of their hands.

65 Thou givest to them a covered heart, Thy curse to them.

66 Thou pursuest in anger, and destroyest them, From under the heavens of Jehovah!

   

Commentary

 

What does the Bible say about Peace?

By New Christian Bible Study Staff, John Odhner

by Brita Conroy

Here's an extract from Swedenborg's explanation of the inner meaning of the Book of Revelation, in which he has collected a nice set of passages from the Word, about peace. It's powerful to read them as a set.

This is from Apocalypse Revealed 306:

"[In the Word,] Peace symbolizes everything whatever that comes from the Lord, and so everything pertaining to heaven and the church, and the blessings of life in them. In the highest or inmost sense, these are blessings of peace.

It follows from this that peace means charity, spiritual security, and inner rest, for when a person abides in the Lord, he is at peace with his neighbor, which is a state of charity, and he has protection from hell, which is spiritual security. And when he is at peace with his neighbor and has protection from hell, he enjoys an inner rest from evils and falsities.

Accordingly, since all these blessings come from the Lord, it can be seen what is symbolically meant by peace in general and in particular in the following passages:

...unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; the government will be upon His shoulder. His name will be called... God, Hero, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end... (Isaiah 9:6-7)

(Jesus said,) "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you." (John 14:27)

(Jesus said,) "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace." (John 16:33)

In His days the righteous shall flourish, and much peace... (Psalms 72:3, 7)

Then I will make a covenant of peace... (Ezekiel 34:25, 27; 37:25-26)

How delightful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace..., who says to Zion, "Your King reigns!" (Isaiah 52:7)

Jehovah bless you and... lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace. (Numbers 6:24-26)

Jehovah will bless His people with peace. (Psalms 29:11)

(Jehovah) will redeem my soul in peace... (Psalms 55:18)

The work of (Jehovah) is peace, [and] the labor of righteousness, rest and security forever, that (they) may dwell in a tabernacle of peace, in secure tents, and in tranquil places of rest. (Isaiah 32:17-18)

(Jesus said to the seventy that He sent out,) "Whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this house.' And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it." (Luke 10:5-6, cf. Matthew 10:12-14)

The wretched shall possess the earth, and shall delight themselves in an abundance of peace... ...observe the upright man, for the final state for that man is peace. (Psalms 37:11, 37)

(Zacharias, prophesying, said,) ."..the Dayspring from on high has appeared..., to guide our feet into the way of peace." (Luke 1:78-79)

Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. (Psalms 34:14)

Much peace have those who love Your law... (Psalms 119:165)

"Oh, that you had heeded My commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river...." "There is no peace," says Jehovah, "for the impious." (Isaiah 48:18, 22)

(Jehovah) will speak peace to His people... Righteousness and peace will kiss. (Psalms 85:8, 10)

There is no peace in my bones because of my sin. (Psalms 38:3)

He has filled me with bitterness... ...moved (is) my soul far from peace; I have forgotten goodness. (Lamentations 3:15, 17)

And so on in many other places, from which it can be seen that the aforesaid blessings are meant by peace. Fix your mind on spiritual peace, and you will clearly see.

So likewise in the following places: Isaiah 26:12; 53:5; 54:10, 13; Jeremiah 33:6, 9; Haggai 2:9; Zechariah 8:16, 19; Psalms 4:6-8; 120:6-7; 122:6-9; 128:5-6; 147:14."