Lamentations 3:41

41 Nun Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.

Lamentations 3:41 Meaning and Commentary

Lamentations 3:41

Let us lift up our heart with [our] hands
Lifting up of the hands is a prayer gesture, and is put for prayer itself; see ( Psalms 141:2 ) ( 1 Timothy 2:8 ) ; but the heart must go along with it, or it is of no avail; the soul must be lifted up to God; there must be an ascending of that unto him, in earnest desires after him; in affection and love to him; in faith and dependence on him; and in hope and expectation of good things from him, ( Psalms 25:1 ) ; this is the way in which men return to God, even by prayer and supplication. The Targum is,

``let us lift up our hearts, and cast away rapine and prey out of our hands;''

and Jarchi and Abendana mention a Midrash, that paraphrases it,

``let us lift up our hearts in truth to God, as a man washes his hands in purity, and casts away all filthiness from them;''

see ( Hebrews 10:22 ) ; unto God in the heavens;
who has made them, and dwells in them; and therefore prayer must be directed to him, as being there; so our Lord taught his disciples to pray, ( Matthew 6:9 ) ; and which is a very great encouragement to faith in prayer; when it is considered that God is the Maker and possessor of heaven and earth; and that our help is in and expected from him who made all these; and besides the saints have a High Priest, an Advocate with the Father there, to plead their cause for them; and many great and good things are there laid up for them.

Lamentations 3:41 In-Context

39 Mem Why does the living man have pain, the man in his sins?

40 Nun Let us search out our ways, and seek, and turn again to the LORD.

41 Nun Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.

42 Nun We have rebelled and been disloyal; therefore thou hast not forgiven.

43 Samech Thou hast unfurled anger and persecuted us; thou hast slain, thou hast not forgiven.