Scripture: Lamentations 3: 22-25

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.” ²⁵ The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him;

Scripture Commentary:

Our world is consumed with injustice, poverty, war and rebellion against God. All of this should move us to tears and to action. The book of Lamentations, written by Jeremiah in 586 B.C., is calling to us today.

Jeremiah is referred to as the weeping prophet. He wept because the people rejected God. He would weep today if he were here to see how people, out of selfishness and sinfulness, bring suffering to their fellow citizens.

Lamentations allows us to see what made Jeremiah sorrowful as well as shines a light on how we are today. Jeremiah saw a ray of hope in all the wrong that surrounded him, which is God’s love.

We have God’s love in us today.

We must turn from the wicked path we are on. If we do not, then punishment will come with our disobedience as it did with Jerusalem. God promised to restore and bless the people if they repented.

Lamentations is a funeral chant or song, so the people committed suicide rather than turn from their wicked ways.

God forgives when we repent. Are you going to repent and turn to God? He will forgive you.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Lamentations 3

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Lamentations:

God’s Compassion Never Fails

Praise God In His Sanctuary

Scripture: Lamentations 2: 7

The Lord hath cast off his altar, he hath abhorred his sanctuary, he hath given up into the hand of the enemy the walls of her palaces; they have made a noise in the house of the LORD, as in the day of a solemn feast.

Scripture Commentary: The sanctuary is only the building; we are God’s light in the world

Our place of worship is not as important to God as our pattern of worship.  The church sanctuary may be beautiful to the eye but if its people don’t sincerely follow God, the church and the people in it will decay from within.

Are you merely reciting words you don’t really mean or understand when you worship?  Do you pray for help that you don’t really believe will come?

What do you do when God answers your prayer?  Do you thank Him but continue to live your life without change?  Do you express love for God that you don’t really have?  Or do you tell the people around you how God has answered your prayer?

You are the true temple of God

The building is the central place of worship, but we are the carriers of His Word.

Don’t substitute symbols, even so called good ones, for the reality of a living, personal relationship with God himself.  Earnestly seek God and catch a fresh vision of His love and care.

Have you forsaken Him?  God hasn’t forsaken you.

We are His and He is our Father, and He is waiting for you.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Lamentations Chapter 2

Scripture: Lamentations 3: 1, 20-24

I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath.(1)  My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.  This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.  It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.  They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.  The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.(20-24)

Scripture Commentary: God is full of compassion, grace, truth and mercy*

In Jeremiah’s darkest hours, his hope was strengthened with this assurance: God had been faithful and would continue to be so.  Because of God’s great love, you are not consumed.  His compassion never fails.

Have you given up on the Lord, or do you think the Lord has given up on you?

Our Lord Jesus Christ will never give up on you so do not give up on Him.  When you don’t live in a godly way and are disobedient to God’s will, He may chastise you  out of love.

Jeremiah knew from personal experience about God’s promise that punishment would follow disobedience, and it did.  But God also promised future restoration and blessing, and Jeremiah knew that God would keep his promise.

When you ask God for help and promise Him you will do better, do you keep that promise?  You must not complain about being disciplined by God; you must learn and trust in Him.

We must allow God’s correction to bring about the kind of behavior in our lives that pleases Him.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Lamentations Chapter 3

*Additional reading:
Psalms Chapter 86