Lamentations 3:37,38 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Bible Comments

Who is he that saith That commands an event to take place, or predicts that it shall take place, and it cometh to pass accordingly, when the Lord commandeth not? Or who designs a thing, and brings his designs to effect, when the Lord is against him? “Haughty tyrants may boast of their power as if they were equal to Omnipotence itself; but still it is God's prerogative to bring to pass whatever he pleases, without any let or impediment, only by speaking, or declaring his purpose, that the thing should be done, as he did at the beginning of the creation: see Psalms 33:7. And as he makes men the instruments of his vengeance when he sees fit, so he can restrain their cruelty whenever he pleases.” Lowth. Out of the mouth of the Most High proceedeth not evil and good? Do not calamities, as well as prosperous events, happen by God's will and pleasure? The sum is: Nothing comes to pass in the world but by the disposal of the divine providence, which is directed by infinite wisdom, justice, and goodness. The inspired writer seems to be arguing himself and the people of God into a quiet submission to the divine will in their afflictions, from the consideration of the hand of God in them.

Lamentations 3:37-38

37 Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?

38 Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?