\\INTRODUCTION TO LAMENTATIONS 3\\

This chapter is a complaint and lamentation like the former, and on the
same subject, only the prophet mixes his own afflictions and distresses
with the public calamities; or else he represents the church in her
complaints; and some have thought him to be a type of Christ throughout
the whole; to whom various things may be applied. It is indeed written
in a different form from the other chapters, in another sort of metre;
and though in an alphabetical manner as the rest, yet with this
difference, that three verses together begin with the same letter; so
that the alphabet is gone through three times in it. Here is first a
complaint of the afflictions of the prophet, and of the people,
expressed by a rod, by darkness, by wormwood and gall, and many other
things; and especially by the Lord's appearing against them as an
enemy, in a most severe and terrible manner; shutting out their prayer;
being as a bear and lion to them; and giving them up to the cruelty and
scorn of their enemies, \\#La 3:1-21\\; then follows some comfort taken by
them, from the mercy, faithfulness, and goodness of God; from the
usefulness of patience in bearing afflictions; and from the end of God
in laying them upon men; and from the providence of God, by which all
things are ordered, \\#La 3:22-38\\; wherefore, instead of complaining, it
would be better, it is suggested, to attend to the duties of
examination of their ways, and of repentance, and of prayer,
\\#La 3:39-41\\; and a particular prayer is directed to, in which
confession of sin is made, and their miseries deplored, by reason of
the hidings of God's face, and the insults of their enemies,
\\#La 3:42-47\\; and then the prophet expresses his sympathy with his
people under affliction, and declares what he himself met with from his
enemies, \\#La 3:48-54\\; and relates bow he called upon the Lord, and
he heard and delivered him, \\#La 3:55-58\\; and concludes with a
request that he would judge his cause, and avenge him on enemies,
\\#La 3:59-66\\.