Lamentations 3:1-24
With ch. 3 we reach the heart of this little book and at the same time the depths of the prophet’s distress. Although he is innocent, Jeremiah personally takes the iniquities of his people upon himself, so that the punishment is seen as also falling on him alone: "I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath . . ." (v. 1). He thus represents the Lord Jesus accomplishing atonement for our sins. The sufferings endured on the cross for man, which vv. 14, 30 remind us of (cf. Psalms 69:12; Isaiah 50:6 respectively) were followed during the three hours of darkness by the sufferings which God inflicted upon Him when He dealt with Him as with sin itself. These terrible expressions of His wrath were all to be suffered by the Saviour (cf. v. 8; Psalms 22:2). And yet His faith and hope did not falter for a moment; in contrast, Jeremiah’s deserted him (v. 18).
However, from v. 21 onwards, the afflicted one looks for help from the very One who was afflicting him. Now his obedient and trusting faith leads him to find the marvellous compassion of the LORD, which are "new every morning" (v. 23).