Lamentations , Sarah Barry
WALKING IN DARKNESS
Passage: Lamentations 3:1~18  
Key verse: 2
3 [a]I am the man who has seen affliction(A)
by the rod of the Lord’s wrath.(B)
2 He has driven me away and made me walk
in darkness(C) rather than light;
3 indeed, he has turned his hand against me(D)
again and again, all day long.
4 He has made my skin and my flesh grow old(E)
and has broken my bones.(F)
5 He has besieged me and surrounded me
with bitterness(G) and hardship.(H)
6 He has made me dwell in darkness
like those long dead.(I)
7 He has walled me in so I cannot escape;(J)
he has weighed me down with chains.(K)
8 Even when I call out or cry for help,(L)
he shuts out my prayer.(M)
9 He has barred(N) my way with blocks of stone;
he has made my paths crooked.(O)
10 Like a bear lying in wait,
like a lion(P) in hiding,(Q)
11 he dragged me from the path and mangled(R) me
and left me without help.
12 He drew his bow(S)
and made me the target(T) for his arrows.(U)
Footnotes
- Lamentations 3:1 This chapter is an acrostic poem; the verses of each stanza begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet, and the verses within each stanza begin with the same letter.
Cross references
- Lamentations 3:1 : Jer 15:17-18
- Lamentations 3:1 : S Job 19:21; Ps 88:7
- Lamentations 3:2 : S Job 19:8; S Ps 82:5; S Jer 4:23
- Lamentations 3:3 : Ps 38:2; Isa 5:25
- Lamentations 3:4 : S Job 30:30; La 4:8
- Lamentations 3:4 : Ps 51:8; S Isa 38:13; S Jer 50:17
- Lamentations 3:5 : ver 19
- Lamentations 3:5 : Jer 23:15
- Lamentations 3:6 : Ps 88:5-6; 143:3; Isa 59:10
- Lamentations 3:7 : S Job 3:23
- Lamentations 3:7 : Jer 40:4
- Lamentations 3:8 : Ps 5:2
- Lamentations 3:8 : ver 44; S Dt 1:45; S Job 30:20; Ps 22:2
- Lamentations 3:9 : S Job 19:8
- Lamentations 3:9 : S Job 9:24; S Isa 63:17; Hos 2:6
- Lamentations 3:10 : S Job 10:16
- Lamentations 3:10 : Hos 13:8; Am 5:18-19
- Lamentations 3:11 : Hos 6:1
- Lamentations 3:12 : S La 2:4
- Lamentations 3:12 : Job 7:20
- Lamentations 3:12 : S Job 16:12; Ps 7:12-13; 38:2
- Lamentations 3:13 : S Job 16:13
- Lamentations 3:13 : Job 6:4
- Lamentations 3:14 : S Ge 38:23; Ps 22:6-7; Jer 20:7
- Lamentations 3:14 : S Job 17:2
- Lamentations 3:14 : S Job 30:9
- Lamentations 3:15 : ver 19; Jer 9:15
- Lamentations 3:16 : S Pr 20:17
- Lamentations 3:16 : S Ps 7:5
- Lamentations 3:18 : S ver 54; S Job 17:15
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
1. A man who has seen affliction (1-9)
After two chapters of communal laments, the laments in chapter 3 are personal. The author speaks of his own affliction. God has driven him away and he walks and dwells in darkness. Everywhere he turns, he sees and experiences bitterness and hardship. God is against him and does not answer his prayers. He suffers physically, emotionally and spiritually. The author feels that there is no escape from his suffering.
2. My splendor is gone (10-18)
Though the author once enjoyed peace and prosperity, God has now dragged him from that path. He has been mangled. He feels he is without help. His heart is pierced by God's arrows. He has become a laughingstock, mocked all day long. The author laments that God has trampled him in the dust. His pain and grief are so acute that he no longer remembers his former days of blessing. We feel the same when God removes his blessing from our lives. But when we repent and receive forgiveness in Christ, God restores his blessing.
Prayer: Lord, I walk in darkness without you. Forgive my sins and help me to walk in the light of Christ.
One Word: O Lord, keep me close to you