Lamentations 3:21-23 - Hope Springs from Gods Faithful Love and Compassion Every Morning.
Lamentations 3:21-23 (NKJV) 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.
Lamentations 3:21-23 (NLT) Yet I still dare
to hope when I remember this: 22 The faithful
love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never
cease. 23 Great is his faithfulness; his mercies
begin afresh each morning.
INTRODUCTION
In Jerusalem's darkest moment, Jeremiah's
heart was strengthened with one ray of hope: "The
faithful love of the LORD never ends! ... Great is
his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each
morning." God had promised Israel that punishment
would follow disobedience, and it did. But God
also had promised future restoration and
blessing, and Jeremiah knew that God would keep that
promise also. God had been faithful in bringing
judgment on the people of Jerusalem for their sins,
and he would also be faithful in bringing
restoration to those who returned to him. God is
faithful - both in punishment and grace.
Perhaps you feel broken by God - maybe
even abandoned. Let each new day be a reminder to
you that God is faithful. With each new day, he
has given you a new opportunity to respond to
his grace, to change, to love him more, and to
give up the sins you've cherished.
God's steadfast love and mercy are
greater than any sin, and he promises forgiveness.
Submit to the yoke of his discipline, and trust in
him for the forgiveness and restoration that he
has promised. [One Year NLT SB re Lam.
3:19-27]
COMMENTARY PEARL
Dare to Hope
I think it's important to recognize what
the writer of these verses was saying directly
before this declaration. It was, in fact, a long
lament that ended with, "I will never forget this
awful time, as I grieve over my loss" (3:20). Have
you ever felt that way, being filled with the
bitterness of your suffering and pain?
Yet this is not where the writer leaves
his sentiments. It is reminiscent of the
psalmist's declaration: "and yet I will praise the
Lord." Even through the suffering and pain, we can
still dare to hope when we remember that the
faithful love of the Lord never, ever ends! His
mercies are new every morning! Let's take hope and
courage from this truth. Wherever we are, the Lord
covers us with new mercy. We cannot escape the
overflow of his loving-kindness from pouring over
us.
When you are discouraged, dare to end
your lament with, "Yet, I still dare to hope."
[365 Days of Courage by Sara Perry of Broadstreet
Pub]
COMMENTARY
Two beautiful Chinese hibiscus plants are
displaying all their glory on our deck this summer.
Their bright yellow flowers attract hummingbirds,
butterflies, and bees. My husband, Hal, and I enjoy
watching the pollinators dart among the blooms. But
what I find most interesting about the hibiscus
is that each day a lovely bloom withers away -
only to be replaced by another one the next
morning.
The flowers bring to mind one of my
favorite hymns, Great Is Thy Faithfulness, and
the songs lyric, Morning by morning new
mercies I see. For me, those blooms represent the
new mercies granted to me every single day. My
eyes opened this morning. New mercy. Im able
to get out of bed and move about. New mercy.
Hal and I have good health. New mercy. My home
is intact after heavy rains overnight. New
mercy. I have food, shelter, clothing, and clean
water. New mercy. No harm came upon us as we slept.
New mercy.
The writer of Lamentations recognized
that despite all the difficulties and
disappointments he and his people had endured, he still has
hope because of Gods faithful love. Just as
Jesus grants new hibiscus blooms to spring forth
each day, He also allows His new mercies, His
hope, to fall upon me. His mercies are a gift
given daily, beautiful, fragrant, and full of
promise, just like our hibiscus. Barbranda Lumpkins
Walls
Faith Step: Look around and take stock.
What new mercies has Jesus granted you just since
youve awakened? What words of thanksgiving will
you offer Him? [Mornings With Jesus 2023
Devotional by Guideposts and Zondervan]
Truth That Refuels You
Emotional exhaustion isnt new. Its
also not something foreign to the Bible. Just
read the book of Lamentations.
When Jeremiah wrote the book, Jerusalem
had been captured. The Israelites were in exile.
Everything Jeremiah held sacred had been destroyed.
He was emotionally exhausted, and for an
entire book of the Bible, Jeremiah releases his
frustrations and expresses his emotions to God.
In the midst of these complaints, he
refocuses on God. He writes, Yet I still dare to
hope when I remember this (Lamentations 3:21
NLT).
What brought Jeremiah hope during this
very difficult time? He answers immediately:
The Lords kindness never fails! If
he had not been merciful, we would have been
destroyed. The Lord can always be trusted to show mercy
each morning. Deep in my heart I say, The Lord
is all I need; I can depend on him!
(Lamentations 3:22-24 CEV).
Jeremiah refocuses on five truths about
God that help to refuel him in the midst of his
exhaustion. He remembers:
Gods Steadfast love
Gods Unfailing mercy
Gods Great faithfulness
God is Always kind
God is my Real hope
When life overwhelms you, dont focus
on your problems. Dont give in to despair.
Instead, focus your attention on God himself.
Many people reach for chocolate or other
sweet treats when theyre emotionally exhausted.
But those cant truly comfort you.
But notice the acronym above: SUGAR. It
will help you remember the truth about God, even
when youre exhausted. Its the only kind of
SUGAR that will actually refuel you. It wont
give you a sugar high, make you gain weight, or
make you more depressed.
Build your life around those character
traits of God, and youll be ready for whatever
setback comes your way. [Daily Devotional by Rick
Warren: https://pastorrick.com/devotional/]
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY
Lamentations 3:21-23 - Hope Springs from
Gods Faithful Love and Compassion Every Morning.
https://www.abible.com/devotions/2023/20230810-0959.html
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2022/20220424-0932.html
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2021/20211104-0851.html
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2019/20190829-1101.html
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
https://abible.com/links/
