A Re-Post on Lamentations 3

Lamentations finds it’s “fame” in our hearts because of Chapter 3 where the author would say “his mercies are new every day”.

This book is made up of 5 poems showing grief and sorrow over the fall of Jerusalem. These poems morn the loss of the great nation, however this book gives us great hope in the person and the plan of our King. The author of the book is not identified, but is thought to be the prophet Jeremiah because of 2 Chronicles 35:25 where he was said to have “uttered a lament for Josiah”.

In my mind, chapter 3 can be broken up as follows: v. 1-20: Turmoil; v. 21: Pivot; v. 22-40: Hope; v. 41-66: Plea. The gems I will refer to are found in verses 22-40.

The Gems:

1. The steadfast love of the Lord NEVER ceases (v.22)

• If we believe this statement then why do we sometimes question God “why are you doing this to me? Where did you go? Why haven’t you heard me?”
• If we believe this statement why do we base our worth or value on what others think of us?
• If we believe this statement then why do we sometimes feel like we are “unloved” by people or even by God?

2. His mercies NEVER come to an end (v. 22)

• God is quick to forgive, slow to anger. Through the blood lens of His Son we are seen as holy, blameless and above reproach (Col 1:22)

3. His mercies are new EVERY morning (v. 23)

• This idea is similar to God providing manna to the Israelites daily. He only gave them enough for the day, it wasn’t suppose to last longer than that. It showed a complete and daily dependence on the Father.
• His mercy is the same to us today. It is enough for today.
• If this statement is true, why to we lay in bed at night with the weight of the world on our chests? Do we not believe that his mercies will be new the very next day? Will manna truly show up to sustain us or not?

4. He is good to those who wait for Him and to the soul who seeks Him (v. 25)

• To wait on Him through pain, through fear, through uncertainty, through confusion, through sin, through doubt, through insecurities, through failure… through life.
• “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” -Psalm 46:10

5. He does not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men (v. 33)

• This verse is not to say that he doesn’t do it, rather that he does not do it willingly. In other words, God takes no pleasure in it, but sin would force a mighty and holy God to be just. Edward Welch would say it this way: “Holiness is not one of the many attributes of God. It is his essential nature and seen in all his qualities.”

6. Things the Lord does not approve: (vv. 34-36)

a. To crush underfoot all prisoners of the earth

b. To deny a man justice in the presence of the Most High

c. To subvert a man in his lawsuit

• So God disapproves of injustice in all forms and of brutal oppression of prisoners… which again points towards the unjust.

Notes on Lamentations from Dr. Constable:

I thought about stealing this, but I’d better give Dr. Constable the creditJ. I thought this was a great breakdown of the faithfulness of God shown in this book:

"Jeremiah wrote seven principles about the nature of Israel's affliction:

(1) Affliction should be endured with hope in God's salvation, that is, ultimate restoration (Lam. 3:25-30).

(2) Affliction is only temporary and is tempered by God's compassion and love (vv. 31-32).

(3) God does not delight in affliction (v. 33).

(4) If affliction comes because of injustice, God sees it and does not approve of it (vv. 34-36).

(5) Affliction is always in relationship to God's sovereignty (vv. 37-38; cf. Job 2:10).

(6) Affliction ultimately came because of Judah's sins (Lam. 3:39).

(7) Affliction should accomplish the greater good of turning God's people back to Him (v. 40)." –From Dr. Constable, DTS.