Ask a dozen people their favorite book of the Bible, and it's unlikely that even one will name Lamentations. It's not really one of those feel-good uplifting books that we typically cling to. It describes the state of Judah after facing God's wrath, and the imagery that it uses isn't pretty. Here's the amazing thing, though. Smack dab in the middle of images of desperation, famine, and death, lies a message of miraculous hope only possibly because of the great God that we serve.
19 I remember my affliction and my wandering,
Wow! Jeremiah's faith astounds me. At this point in time, his nation has gone to pot, they had been multiple attempts on his life, and there appeared to be little hope for a better tomorrow. BUT because Jeremiah knew God's character, knew that He served a God of love (1 John 4:8), he had hope. Despite the devastating circumstances that surrounded him, Jeremiah chose to trust in the faithfulness, love, and power of His God. He rested assured, knowing that "because of the LORD's great love, [he would not be] consumed, for [God's] compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is [God's] faithfulness!"
LORD, teach me to have a faith like that.
19 I remember my affliction and my wandering,
the bitterness and the gall.
20 I well remember them,
and my soul is downcast within me.
21 Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope:
20 I well remember them,
and my soul is downcast within me.
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.”
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.”
25 The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;
26 it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the LORD.
27 It is good for a man to bear the yoke
while he is young.
to the one who seeks him;
26 it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the LORD.
27 It is good for a man to bear the yoke
while he is young.
28 Let him sit alone in silence,
for the LORD has laid it on him.
29 Let him bury his face in the dust—
there may yet be hope.
30 Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him,
and let him be filled with disgrace.
for the LORD has laid it on him.
29 Let him bury his face in the dust—
there may yet be hope.
30 Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him,
and let him be filled with disgrace.
31 For no one is cast off
by the Lord forever.
32 Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,
so great is his unfailing love.
33 For he does not willingly bring affliction
or grief to anyone.
by the Lord forever.
32 Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,
so great is his unfailing love.
33 For he does not willingly bring affliction
or grief to anyone.
LORD, teach me to have a faith like that.
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