Lamentations 3:21-22
This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. The Lord's loving kindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail.
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That Book of Lamentations is an expression of the grief that Jeremiah the prophet felt over the very bad spiritual state of the people of God, and specifically of Jerusalem, the city of God. It was that grief that led him to become known as the weeping prophet. All of that said, he remembered the love of God, the mercy of God, and that sustained him and gave him hope!
While this whole period was a horror with the people of God worshiping false gods {Jer.2:11-13}, Jeremiah personally did indeed find hope and more just as he said: “Thy words were found and I ate them, and Thy words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; For I have been called by Thy name, O Lord God of hosts.” {Jer.15:16} Quite like John the Baptist who later would say that his joy had been made full because he heard the voice of the bridegroom, Jesus Christ. {Jn.3:29}
God’s Word was true then and it is just as true today—for Jesus who is the Word, is the same yesterday, today and forever. {Heb.13:8} And He will bring the fulness of hope, joy and love into our lives through His Word. The need for those blessings revealed by Jesus and the Scriptures, the light of His voice, are as great as ever today and increasing daily. That should move us to 'taste and see that the Lord is good' as David wrote, (Ps.34:8} to feast on the Scriptures. The Word of God is truly the breakfast (lunch, dinner and snacks) of champions, it is not a cereal—it is our necessary food as Job said! {Job 23:12}
Today, as the world continues to descend further and further into darkness we need the hope and the love that can only come from God. These times clearly demonstrate that we are in, or closing in, on the perilous last days described by Paul in his letter to Timothy. {2Tim.3+4} It is a sad fact the hope that so very many people have today, a lottery ticket for example, will fail and disappoint 99.9% of the time, while we have a hope that does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts. {Rom.5:5} Why not sing a quick chorus of Blessed Assurance, I'll wait.
Speaking of which, knowing that patience is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, {Gal.5:22} remember this bit of good news from David. No matter what is going on at the moment, God's favor is for a lifetime; so weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning! {Ps.30:5} Be encouraged by the love and the hope of the Lord. Press on, persevere, don't quit, don't give up, don't give in, do not lose heart. Rejoice in the Lord always and shout the victory! As Jesus said:
"But the one who endures to the end, he shall be saved.” (Matthew 24:13)
HOPE IN THE LORD AND RENEW YOUR STRENGTH |
