January 11, 2023 – Wednesday
Lamentations 3:21-24 NIV
21 Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:
22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”
Lamentations 3:22-24 NET
21 But this I call to mind; therefore I have hope:
22 The Lord’s loyal kindness never ceases; his compassions never end.
23 They are fresh every morning; your faithfulness is abundant!
24 “My portion is the Lord,” I have said to myself, so I will put my hope in him.
Comments
Lamentations is a difficult read, as it is all about the pain and suffering during and after the conquest and destruction of Jerusalem and the Kingdom of Judah. It is unusual in the admittance of its own sin as the cause of the downfall of Jerusalem and Judah. Jeremiah is believed to be the author of Lamentations as it is likely he wrote this compilation of five poems after Jerusalem was conquered by the Babylonians.
Literally in the midst of all the lamenting about what was lost and how Israel caused it all with all of its sin are verses of hope. They were unfaithful but they have hope of mercies from their faithful God because of His great love or His loyal kindness.
As the result of His great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. Jeremiah says it would have been easy for God to end Israel then and there, but because His compassions never fail, we are not consumed. An amazing statement of trust at what had to be an incredibly low point during which he sees God’s justified punishment of Israel.
Just by being awake every morning he sees that They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. There is hope every day. Guzik notes,
·Every morning ends the night.
·Every morning brings a new day.
·Every morning brings new provision for the day.
·Every morning brings new forgiveness for new sins.
·Every morning brings new strength for new temptations, duties, and trials.
On our good days and especially on our worst days we would do well to do the same. Jeremiah continues stating, My portion is the Lord, I have said to myself, so I will put my hope in him. With all he has been through, he takes solace in his hope in the Lord. This brings to mind what Paul said in Philippians 4:11, I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. Jeremiah may not have been content, but as bad as everything was, he still had hope in God and that is a form of being content.
Bottom Line: No matter how bad it is or will get, we can continue to put our hope in God. As Christians we know what our future will be no matter how bad it is here.
Prayer: Almighty God, Thank You for Your wonderful mercies that extend to this day, two millennium after Jesus died, rose again, and ascended into heaven. We await His return with incredible hope. – In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
RileyD, nwJ
Riley D. Driver – Pastor
Calvary Chapel of Dayton
in Beavercreek