Lamentations 3:37
Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
This question would have resonated powerfully with exilic Israel. Babylon's kings claimed absolute authority—Nebuchadnezzar's pride led him to declare, "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built?" (Daniel 4:30). Persian kings would later claim their word was law that couldn't be altered (Daniel 6:8). Yet Lamentations insists that even imperial decrees occur only as God permits.
The principle appears throughout Scripture. Pharaoh claimed authority over Israel, but God brought plagues and deliverance (Exodus). Sennacherib threatened Jerusalem, but God destroyed his army (2 Kings 19). Babylon seemed invincible, but Daniel 5 shows God's hand writing judgment. Human rulers speak and plan, but God's counsel alone stands.
This doctrine also addresses false prophecy. Prophets claimed to speak for God, promising peace when destruction loomed (Jeremiah 23:16-17). But their words didn't come to pass because "the Lord commandeth it not." True prophecy always fulfills because it reveals God's decreed will (Deuteronomy 18:22, Isaiah 46:9-11). The exile proved which prophets spoke for God—Jeremiah's warnings came true; the optimists were exposed as frauds.
Questions for Reflection
- How does this verse's assertion of absolute divine sovereignty provide comfort rather than fatalism when facing suffering?
- What is the difference between God's decretive will (what He ordains) and His preceptive will (what He commands as right)?
- How should understanding that no one can speak and bring events to pass unless God commands it affect our prayer lives and plans?
- In what ways does Romans 8:28 build on this truth, assuring that God works all things together for good for those who love Him?
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Analysis & Commentary
A rhetorical question asserting divine sovereignty: "Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?" The Hebrew mi zeh amar vatehi Adonai lo tsivvah (מִי זֶה אָמַר וַתֶּהִי אֲדֹנָי לֹא צִוָּה) establishes that nothing occurs apart from God's sovereign decree. The question expects the answer: "No one." Human words have no power to bring events to pass unless God commands it.
This verse follows directly from verses 33-36, which established what God does not approve. Now comes the complementary truth: nevertheless, God remains sovereignly in control of all that occurs. This resolves potential tension—God doesn't approve all that happens, yet nothing happens without His permission or decree. The distinction between God's decretive will (what He ordains to occur) and His preceptive will (what He commands as right) is crucial here.
Theologically, this affirms absolute divine sovereignty over history. No Babylonian commander, no false prophet, no human authority can speak and bring something to pass unless the Lord commands it. This provides comfort in suffering—our affliction isn't random or outside God's control. It also brings sobriety—we cannot manipulate outcomes through our words or plans apart from God's will. Proverbs 19:21 states: "There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand." James 4:13-15 similarly teaches that all our plans depend on God's will.