Matthew Poole and continuators on Lamentations 1:20

20 Behold, O LORD , for I am in distress; my bowels are troubled; mine heart is turned within me, for I have grievously rebelled; abroad the sword bereaveth, at home there is as death .

The Petition is of the same nature as before, a petition for mercy as the product of that pity and compassion which extream misery begets in good souls (and is ascribed unto God though found in him in a much more perfect degree, Psal. 78.38. and 86.15. and 111.4.) through the eyes affecting the heart.

The argument the Prophet useth is drawn from the misery this people was now in which he expresseth metaphorically telling us their bowels were troubled, their heart turned signifying the more inward disturbance of their mind, or more plainly, and that both generally saying they were in distress, and more particularly by the great judgments of the Sword, and Famine. the Sword in the Field, the Famine in the City, unless the Sword alone be meant both without and within the gates of the City. In all this the Church justifieth God, confessing thi[illegible: 1 letter] was but the righteous product of her sin, by which she having [illegible: 1 letter]ormerly subjected her self to God had grievously rebelled, for as all men are born subjects to God. so by their sins they are become Rebels, so it is a great aggravation of mens Rebellion against the Lord, when they have formerly taken an Oath of fealty to the Lord, and as Moses said, avouched the Lord as their God.

Marginal references: Isa. 16.11. Jer. 48.36. chap. 2.11. Hos. 11.8.; Deut. 32.25. Ezek. 7.15.