Matthew Henry Commentary Lamentations 4:13-20

"[It is] because of the sins of her prophets, [and] the iniquities of her priests, That have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her. They wander as blind men in the streets, they are polluted with blood, So that men cannot touch their garments. Depart ye, they cried unto them, Unclean! depart, depart, touch not! When they fled away and wandered, men said among the nations, They shall no more sojourn [here]. The anger of Jehovah hath scattered them; he will no more regard them: They respected not the persons of the priests, they favored not the elders. Our eyes do yet fail [in looking] for our vain help: In our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save. They hunt our steps, so that we cannot go in our streets: Our end is near, our days are fulfilled; for our end is come. Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles of the heavens: They chased us upon the mountains, they laid wait for us in the wilderness. The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of Jehovah, was taken in their pits; Of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the nations." — Lamentations 4:13-20 (ASV)

Nothing ripens a people more for ruin, nor fills the measure faster, than the sins of priests and prophets. The king himself cannot escape, for Divine vengeance pursues him. Our anointed King alone is the life of our souls; we may safely live under His shadow, and rejoice in Him in the midst of our enemies, for He is the true God and eternal life.

Lamentations 4:21–22 Here it is foretold that an end should be put to Zion's troubles. This is not the fullness of punishment deserved, but what God has determined to inflict. An end shall be put to Edom's triumphs.

All the troubles of the church and of the believer will soon be accomplished, and the doom of their enemies approaches. The Lord will bring their sins to light, and they shall lie down in eternal sorrow.

Edom here represents all the enemies of the church. And the corruption, and sin of Israel, which the prophet has proved to be universal, justify the judgments of the Lord. This shows the need of that grace in Christ Jesus, which the sin and corruption of all mankind make so necessary.