The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“Therefore I hope in Him!”
Lamentations 3:24
I was challenged to read the book of Lamentations this week and I don’t remember reading it through at one time. I never thought it to be a “go-to-book” in the Bible like Genesis, Psalms, Proverbs or the New Testament are to me. I soon realized the wealth of this book.
It is a book of great lament and suffering, but the reason for the nation’s pain was because of their sins towards God. Chapter one starts with, “How lonely is the city which was once filled with people”. Destruction came to Jerusalem because they rejected God.
Lamentations comes after the book of Jeremiah. It’s almost a poetic continuation by Jeremiah of a people who rejected God. Although Jeremiah was a godly prophet, he too was caught up in the suffering and demise of Jerusalem. Many of the verses are unpleasant and are a reminder of a holy God who also judges and restores.
My greatest surprise was this passage, “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.” (3:22-23)
Whatever you are facing this week God can be there for you. Don’t go your own way or reject Him, but accept His tender mercies.
Patti Wolf 