John Calvin Commentary Lamentations 3:39

"Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?" — Lamentations 3:39 (ASV)

Some explain the verb יתאונן, itaunen, by giving it the sense of lying, “Why should man lie?” Others, “Why should man murmur?” But I do not see what sense there can be in rendering it lying or murmuring. Others translate it as follows, “Why should man harden himself?” but it is a mere conjecture.

Now, this verb sometimes means to weary oneself, in Hithpael. So in Numbers chapter 11, “The people murmured,” as some render the words; but I think differently. And there is no doubt that Moses meant that the people were wearied, so that they, in a way, pined away; and this meaning is the most fitting here.

For the Prophet had previously rebuked those who imagined that God, having relinquished the care of the world, led an inactive and easy life in heaven. But now, in order to rouse the minds of all, he points out the remedy for this madness: that men should not willingly weary themselves in their sins, but acknowledge that their wickedness is shown to them whenever any adversity comes upon them.

And surely, men would not be so infatuated as to exclude God from the government of the world if they knew themselves and seriously called to mind their own deeds and words, for God would soon show them sure and notorious examples of His judgment.

Why then is it that we are so dull and stupid in considering the works of God? Indeed, why do we think that God is like a specter or an idol? It is because we rot in our sins and develop a voluntary dullness, for we champ the bit, according to the old proverb.

So now we perceive, then, why the Prophet joins this sentence, Why does a living man weary himself? and a man in his sins? For as long as men remain in this way in their own dregs, they will never acknowledge God as the judge of the world, and thus they always go astray through their own perverse imaginations.

If, then, we wish to dispel all the mists that prevent us from seeing God’s providence (that is, by the eyes of faith), let everyone be his own witness and the judge of his own life, and carefully examine himself. We will then immediately realize that God is not angry with us without reason, and that we are afflicted with so many adversities because our sins will appear before us.

Here we see the cause of that madness that makes men exclude God’s providence from human affairs: it is because they do not look at themselves, but torment themselves to no benefit and grow weary in their sins, and do not lift their eyes to God. The remainder, connected with our subject, I must defer until tomorrow.

Prayer:

Grant, Almighty God, that as we are today tossed about by so many troubles, and almost all things in the world are in confusion, so that wherever we turn our eyes, nothing but thick darkness meets us—O grant that we may learn to surmount all obstacles, and to raise our eyes by faith above the world, so that we may acknowledge that everything that seems to us to happen by chance is governed by Your wonderful counsel, so that we may seek You, and know that help will be ready for us through Your mercy whenever we humbly seek the pardon of our sins, through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.