Lamentations 3:55

Lamentations 3:55 says, I called upon thy name, O LORD, out of the low dungeon.  When he was in the dungeon, Jeremiah called out to the LORD, by name.  I believe this indicates a personal relationship with God, or at least a personal belief in God.  If we call out to God by name, we have to at least believe that He exists, and if He is to hear our prayers, we must pray in faith believing He will answer, which makes the relationship personal.  Verse fifty-six adds, Thou hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry.  Jeremiah asked God to not hide from hearing him.  Matthew Henry points out that his prayer was as natural as breathing, as should our prayers be today.  This should be the way of our prayer life at all times, and not just in times of distress.  Verse fifty-seven continues, Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst, Fear not.  Jeremiah said when he cried out to God in prayer that God told him not to fear.  We are not told that Jeremiah's condition changed, but that God simply told him to not be afraid.  If we put our faith in God, then we never have a need to be afraid, no matter what is happening in life.  Verse fifty-eight states, Lord, thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; thou hast redeemed my life.  Jeremiah said God had interceded for his soul and redeemed his life.  Through Jesus Christ, God has interceded for anyone who will accept His gift of salvation and will save that person's soul.  Verse fifty-nine adds, O LORD, thou hast seen my wrong: judge thou my cause.  Jeremiah didn't say that he was guiltless but placed his life in God's judgment.  We cannot claim to be guiltless of sin today, but we can ask that God judge us through our relationship with Jesus Christ, which is the only way that we can have hope.  Verse sixty continues, Thou hast seen all their vengeance and all their imaginations against me.  Jeremiah said that he knew that God was aware of what was going on in his life and of the vengeance that people felt against him.  Many of these were God's chosen people who not only refused to listen to Jeremiah but also imprisoned him.  Verse sixty-one says, Thou hast heard their reproach, O LORD, and all their imaginations against me;  Jeremiah really didn't have to state that God knew of his afflictions, but even so he acknowledged that God knew.  We should always have faith that God knows what is going on in our life, whether good or bad.  Verse sixty-two adds, The lips of those that rose up against me, and their device against me all the day.  Verse sixty-three continues, Behold their sitting down, and their rising up; I am their musick.  Jeremiah said that the people spoke against him all day long and that they plotted against him all the time as well.  Verse sixty-four declares, Render unto them a recompence, O LORD, according to the work of their hands.  Jeremiah asked that God punish his enemies according to their works.  We are called to a higher standard, where we ask that God forgive our enemies, because if we are judged by our works we are all guilty and deserving of death.  Verse sixty-five adds, Give them sorrow of heart, thy curse unto them.  Verse sixty-six concludes, Persecute and destroy them in anger from under the heavens of the LORD.  Again, we may know that God will one day punish those who refuse His gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, and they may mistreat us continually, but our prayer should be for their salvation.  This is the example that Jesus Christ set for us.