There is hope in the midst of darkness.
The Book of Lamentations is one of the darkest periods of Israel’s history in the whole Bible. The nation had been taken into exile and the streets of Jerusalem were empty. Yet even in such sad times the author(possibly Jeremiah, the weeping prophet) finds a reason to be hopeful.
In the middle of the third chapter, which is in the middle of the book there are some wonderful lines of hope;
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail(Hallelujah).
They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. Lam 3:22,23
Israel had been carted off to Babylon, they’d turned their backs on God as a people and come under severe judgement. But right at the heart of it all, the writer begins to talk about God’s great love and His compassions being new every morning.
The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him(hope in God when all else fails), to the one who seeks Him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. V25,26
Perhaps the most difficult thing for us to do, particularly in a crisis, is for us to ‘wait quietly’ on the Lord and yet there is often no alternative. Mankind’s resources are finite and that is being demonstrated today like never before.
For men are not cast off by the Lord for ever.
Though He brings grief, He will show compassion, so great is His unfailing love.
For He does not willingly bring affliction or grief on the children of men. V 31-33
David, even when he’d sinned, incited to count the army and was facing judgement asked the prophet that he would fall into the hands of God because He was compassionate, the same word used above. Be thankful we serve a good and compassionate God, who renews His mercies every morning!
Take some time today to read and ponder these verses and get some comfort for our souls. There’s also a little chorus on these verses which is good to sing. YouTube, The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end
God’s blessings to you today from the Emerald Isle(Ireland).