Lecture 14

^3:40^ Nun. Let us search our ways, and let us seek and return to the Lord.

^3:41^ Nun. Let us lift up our hearts with our hands to the Lord in the heavens.

^3:42^ Nun. We have done wickedly, and provoked you to wrath: therefore you are inexorable.

58. Here now, having taken confidence, he begins to implore the divine mercy; and concerning this, he does two things.

First, he presents the preparation for prayer;

second, there is the prayer, at we have done wickedly (Lam 3:42).

Concerning the first, he does two things.

First, a place for prayer is prepared through the amendment of life: let us search our ways, by inspecting our past sins; and let us seek, the Lord, by the desire of the heart; and asking for help and having received it, let us return, by acting well. See your ways in the valley, know what you have done (Jer 2:23).

Second, the place is prepared by devotion: let us lift up our hearts. I will therefore that men pray in every place, lifting up pure hands (1 Tim 2:8).

We have done wickedly. Here begins the prayer:

and first, he seeks to capture good will;

second, he denounces their fault, at you have seen, O Lord, their iniquity (Lam 3:59);

third, he claims vengeance, at you shall render them a recompense (Lam 3:64).

Concerning the first, he does three things.

First, he captures good will in his own person and that of the lamenting people;

second, in the person of their adversaries, at all our enemies have opened their mouths against us (Lam 3:46);

third, from the person of the judge, at I have called upon your name, O Lord (Lam 3:55).

He captures good will in his own person and in the name of the people by setting forth their misfortunes: whence concerning the first, he does two things.

First, he sets forth the affliction of the people;

second, his own compassion, at my eye is afflicted (Lam 3:49).

Concerning the first, he does two things.

First, he confesses their fault, lest the punishment to follow should incline toward the cruelty of the judge: wickedly, by sinning against neighbor; provoked you to wrath, by sinning against God; you are inexorable, because you are not turning toward our prayers. Therefore, do you not pray for this people, and do not take up praise and prayer for them: for I will not hear them (Jer 11:14). God does not hear sinners: but if a man be a server of God, him he hears (John 9:31).

Second, he sets forth their sin.