Lam 3:19-33 | TNotes | STEP | 3:19 is bitter beyond words (or is wormwood and gall ): Wormwood is a plant with a bitter taste; here it represents the emotional intensity of inner agony (Prov 5:4 ; Rev 8:11 ). Gall is a poisonous plant that causes severe physical pain if eaten; it is a powerful symbol for extremely stressful emotions (Deut 29:18 ; Ps 69:21 ). The author seems to be at a dead end from which he cannot escape.

3:19 ^a is bitter beyond words (or is wormwood and gall): Wormwood is a plant with a bitter taste; here it represents the emotional intensity of inner agony (Prov 5:4 ^b; Rev 8:11 ^c). Gall is a poisonous plant that causes severe physical pain if eaten; it is a powerful symbol for extremely stressful emotions (Deut 29:18 ^d; Ps 69:21 ^e). The author seems to be at a dead end from which he cannot escape.
Summary for Lam 3:22-33: 3:22-33 ^f God’s love and faithfulness never cease. Just as God had been faithful in bringing judgment on Jerusalem for their sins, he would be faithful in bringing restoration to those who returned to him. 3:22 ^g The faithful love of the Lord is the basis for the poet’s recovery from deep depression. As with Jeremiah in the cistern (Jer 38:6-13 ^h) and Jonah in the stomach of the great fish (Jon 2:2-10 ⁱ), the Lord provided salvation from death.
3:23 ^j God’s faithfulness speaks of his absolute reliability, which is evident in his daily mercies. He continually provides a habitable world in which we can live.
3:24 ^k The Lord is my inheritance: The land of Canaan had been regarded as Israel’s inheritance since the time of Moses (Exod 15:17 ^l; Josh 21:19 ^m; 1 Chr 28:8 ⁿ; Ps 47:4 ^o), but the true inheritance of God’s people is really God himself (see Ps 16:5-6 ^p; Eph 1:11 ^q; Heb 9:15 ^r; 1 Pet 1:3-4 ^s).
3:26 ^t Those who are confident of God’s plan can wait quietly for him to grant salvation.
3:28 ^u sit alone in silence: Humble submission stops the tongue and quiets the heart.
Summary for Lam 3:29-30: 3:29-30 ^v In the ancient Near East, lying face down in the dust expressed submission (Gen 17:1-3 ^w; Lev 9:24 ^x; Josh 7:6 ^y; 1 Sam 5:4 ^z; 1 Kgs 18:39 ^aa; 1 Chr 21:16 ^ab; Matt 17:5-6 ^ac).

• To turn the other cheek also expresses submission. Jesus evidently had this verse in mind when he taught his disciples to submit to persecution (Matt 5:39 ^ad). This response recognizes that God is sovereign even over our suffering.
3:31 ^ae Cp. Ps 103:8-11 ^af.