Friday, October 15 2010
Lamentations 3
Verse of the Week: V23 “They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness.”
1. Suffering Reflects Love (V1-36)
V22 “It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.”
Prophet Jeremiah warned the nation of Israel to repent of their sins and turn to God. Yet time and again, the people of Israel refused to repent of their sins, and it grieved and hurt Jeremiah to see the anger and judgment of the Lord upon His people. Jeremiah suffered together with his people as God allowed their enemies to attack and destroy them and brought them into captivity in foreign lands. God allowed the Assyrians, the Babylonians, the Persians, the Romans, etc., to attack and destroy the people of Israel because of their unbelief and rebellion. Yet throughout history and till today, God has never forsake or leave Israel, because great is the LORD’s faithfulness, mercies, compassion and love.
V23 “They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness.”
2. Sufferings Reflects Hope (V37-63)
V39 “Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?”
When we have life, we have hope. Let us who have hope in God, be thankful to God that we are alive and blessed of God. Many times, we fail to realize that it is God who gives us the breath and heartbeat of our precious life. We complain about everything and anything including the house we live and the food we eat when there are many who have no roof over their heads or food to eat. Let us thank God for everything including our sufferings and know that our sufferings shall come to pass when we see God in heaven. Let us lift up our hearts and praise God for our sufferings!
V41 “Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.”
3. Suffering Reflects Judgment (V64-66)
V64 “Render unto them a recompence, O LORD, according to the work of their hands.”
There is one suffering and judgment that is reserved only for the wicked. God has warned the enemies of Israel that suffering and judgment will be upon them if they refuse to believe in the true and living God of Israel. The Day of Judgment will come upon the wicked and they shall surely be persecuted and destroyed in God’s anger.
V66 “Persecute and destroy them in anger from under the heavens of the LORD.”
Prayer of the Week
Dearest God, please help me to thank You for Your great faithfulness and know that my suffering is for my good.
