Scripture:
Lamentations 3:21-29 NKJV
[21] This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. [22] Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. [23] They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. [24] “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!” [25] The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him. [26] It is good that one should hope and wait quietly For the salvation of the Lord. [27] It is good for a man to bear The yoke in his youth. [28] Let him sit alone and keep silent, Because God has laid it on him; [29] Let him put his mouth in the dust— There may yet be hope.
Observation:
I was reading this weekend and came across the book of Lamentations again. After allowing the Holy Spirit to lead me, studying, and listening to others who have knowledge in the Bible for a number of years. I know that Lamentations was written by Jeremiah. The title itself tells a lot about the book. The word lament means to passionately express sorrow, pain, or grief, often involving structured prayer to GOD that leads to trust. As you read through this short book l. You can see some very important shifts in the heart of Jeremiah. This chapter, in particular, is quite important, and I would always encourage you to read the entire chapter. It won’t take long and will allow you to see exactly what we are about to discuss. Jeremiah was a prophet. Most of us know him from his self-titled writing. However, he is also the author of the book of Lamentations. A heartfelt book that follows its name. It was written during the destruction of Jerusalem. GOD’S people are being taken into captivity, and the land they had been promised was being destroyed.
I’m sure you can see how that would call for what Jeremiah was doing by writing this book. As he starts writing here in chapter 3, he feels as though he has been affected by GOD HIMSELF. Years of pleading with HIS chosen people to change had brought on exactly what Jeremiah had been prophesying about. All the warnings that had gone unheard, and the anger from the people that he had endured, ridiculed, laughed at, thrown into a cistern and told to shut up, now its all coming to pass. However, Jeremiah wasn’t sitting there pointing fingers or blaming. You can see the root of his heart right here in verses 21 through 29. Calling to mind hope, steadfast love, mercy, and the faithfulness of GOD. He knew that just because he was looking out over the destruction of Jerusalem. That didn’t mean it was over. He knew that the LORD was merciful and true to HIS promises, and he began to express that. This time did not rattle his faith. It only increased it. As he looked at what was going on. His decision to say that the LORD was his portion solidified his trust in GOD. As Jeremiah waited. His faith and trust needed to be built up. Salvation was sure and without question. Waiting seemingly alone and silent was the hard part. As the correction came to Jerusalem through its destruction and captivity. Jeremiah began to see that as a good thing. Verses 27 through 29 express his positive outlook and trust in the LORD over what he was watching. Yes, it looked horrible. His homeland was being destroyed, and all his people were being dragged away. But that didn’t change his understanding of who GOD is. Let’s just recap how he starts his shift in thinking. He makes a decision to recall hope, steadfast love, mercy, and faithfulness. Knowing that everything he was looking at was the only way that HIS people were going to look up.
Application:
As I look back over my life. I see so many times when it all could have ended. Times when I was chasing after things that were not good for me, and telling everyone who tried to warn me to just shut up they didn’t know what they were talking about. Heading straight for destruction and not even seeing it. It’s amazing how GOD’S promises never change. As I burned my life to the ground. HE gave me beauty for the pile of ashes I gave HIM. So merciful, so gracious. A love that is beyond our own understanding. Now that didn’t mean that I wouldn’t have to face the yoke of my youth. As the smoke from the fire of my life was still smoldering, I sat in a cell thinking about the choices I had made. I reached for the one thing that I knew in my heart never changed… GOD’S word. That was the beginning of a long process. I remember how it all began. I would like to say that from that day, I never sinned again, but that would be a lie and therefore a sin. Over the next 25 years, God would continue to show me mercy, grace, and steadfast love. Pouring out HIS faithfulness as HE showed me time and time again exactly who HE is. Every time I would burn my life to the ground, landing in a cell. HE would say to me are you done yet. HE knew the plan HE had for me was not the life I was living. That day in the cell, on my knees as I asked HIM to prove that HE was real, and HE did, was still more of his drawing me to where HE has me today. Still not perfect, but willing to try things HIS way. Looking for HIS mercy every morning and enjoying new opportunities to live a better life than the one I kept igniting with the gas of addiction and self-sabotage. It takes a lot for some of us, and I was pretty hard-headed. But that didn’t change HIS promises. It didn’t change who HE is. It’s only my path to HIM a lot more thorny and painful. Not because of anything HE had done. But because I had to come to HIM, and the pain of where I was had to outweigh what I thought the pain of change would be. The thing is HE never gave up, and HE won’t give up on you. Listen, I don’t know where you’re at right now. Maybe you are on the heels of a mistake and you don’t know what’s going to happen as a result. I want to tell you GOD’S mercy is new every morning. That won’t change. Come to HIM when HIS mercy is new. GOD’S love for you does not end. HE loves you right where you are. HIS plan for your life is better than whatever you are facing right now, and HIS faithfulness doesn’t end. HIS love for you is relentless. Chasing you to the ends of the earth. You are HIS not because you say so, but because HE said so. His voice is calling out to you right now. As I said, I don’t know where you’re at, but the LORD has you reading this for a reason. Surrender, put your hands up, and give HIM your all. You will not be disappointed.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your pursuit. You will stop at nothing to show us what real love is. Even to the point of giving us what we think we want so that we will see your mercy is never ending. I want help but thank you enough for bringing me to the end of myself. I don’t know why you had me bring this SOAP to the end that you did, but I want the thank you for doing so. I know it will end up in the hands that you have intended it for. Because that’s just the kind of GOD you are. We trust you, and we trust that you know best. You have never left us and you will never forget about us. Thank you for your grace and mercy, may we come to you every morning seeking after you with all our hearts. Looking at your faithful love as the catalyst to change. You are everything you say you are we can see that speak directly to our hearts as we read what you have said to us. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus we pray, amen.