Lamentation 3:31-32

 

"For the Lord will not cast off forever, but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of His steadfast love;"

Jeremiah is believed to have written Lamentations, although no author is named.  Lament is defined as an expression of grief and sorrow and mourning.  This book is divided into 5 poems, 4 of which are acrostics of the Hebrew Alphabet.  (This happens way more often in the Bible than I realized!) Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed by the Babylonians from 589-587 BC, and the book of Lamentations was written the next year.  It's main purpose is to lead the people in a public lament-a public expression of grief and sorrow-for the fall of Jerusalem. Lamenting is encouraged in God's Word.  There is no place in His kingdom for "silent suffering".  "Grief is an important part of our journey in a broken world."  (Tim Mackie, The Bible Project)  Leading up to chapter 3, the author is going over the events that led to the unleashing of God's wrath on Jerusalem.  The justice, not explosive anger, of God is justified according to the author--"The LORD is in the right, for I have rebelled against His word." Lamentations 1:18a  Although the author may understand that it's deserved, he still mourns the situation.  He very orderly puts his chaotic thoughts down--using phrases like God has cast down, swallowed up, broken down, brought down, cut down, withdrawn from them, laid waste, scorned, disowned...and on and on.  The city of Jerusalem has become a laughingstock.  The author is pouring out his grief and sorrow about God- TO God.  His eyes are spent with weeping, he vomits as a result.  Lamentations 2:11 He finally says "My endurance has perished; so has my hope from the LORD." 😢😭 Lamentations 3:18 But...arguably my favorite line in the whole Bible.... "But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope." The steadfast (stubborn, abiding, unwavering, adamant, single-minded) love of the LORD never ceases , His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulfulness.   He is good to those who wait for and seek Him.  The Lord will not cast off forever.  His discipline may cause us grief, but even in discipline, He has compassion.  He disciplines us to draw us near.  He always does what is best and right.  According to the ABUNDANCE of His steadfast love. 

This is not my normal blog layout, but these verses have me in tears.  It's times like this I wish I could talk to you all, instead of type.  (I'm typing so fast, the keyboard is about to catch fire 🔥) We have all done some lamenting the past two years.  Did we do it right?  I know I didn't.  I did waaay more lamenting to people--family and friends who could listen, but who could not act.  And that's ok, for a time. We are called to bear each others burdens.   But we NEED to mourn to God, who can both listen and act.  The cries of our heart need to terminate with God, at His feet, in His hands.  He alone can carry them.  We have individual sorrows (I've been mourning my mom's death for almost 5 years); and we've had global sorrow-pandemic, wars, rumors of wars.. The whole world is groaning with it.  (Romans 8:18-25) I'm not saying we can't "vent" to each other (I'm the literal QUEEN of venting 😑), but we are human.  We do not always do what's best and right.  If I call to mind the best advice I've ever gotten, it will still be lacking.  If I call it to mind when I'm down, I'll still be down.  And so will you.   But when we call THIS to mind--the steadfast, compassionate, faithful, love, and mercy of our strong God--therefore, we WILL have hope.  💓