Lamentations 5:20

20 Why do you never remember us? Why abandon us for so long a time?

Lamentations 5:20 Meaning and Commentary

Lamentations 5:20

Wherefore dost thou, forget us for ever
Since thou art firm, constant, and unchangeable, and thy love and covenant the same. God seems to forget his people when he afflicts them, or suffers them to be oppressed, and does not arise immediately for their help; which being deferred some time, looks like an eternity to them, or they fear it will ever be so; at least this they say to express their eager desire after his gracious presence, and to show how much they prize it:

[and] forsake us so long time?
or, "to length of days" F4? so long as the seventy years' captivity; which to be forsaken of God, or to seem to be forsaken of him, was with them a long time.


FOOTNOTES:

F4 (Mymy Kral) "in longitudinem dierum", Pagninus, Montanus.

Lamentations 5:20 In-Context

18 it's because of Mount Tziyon, so wasted that jackals have overrun it.
19 You, ADONAI, reign forever; your throne endures through all generations.
20 Why do you never remember us? Why abandon us for so long a time?
21 ADONAI, turn us back to you; and we will come back; renew our days, as they were in the past -
22 unless you have totally rejected us in a fury that knows no limits. [ADONAI, turn us back to you; and we will come back; renew our days, as they were in the past.]
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.