LEARNING DAILY

 

Lamentations 3:2-24, Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are renewed every morning; great is Your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore hope in Him!”

 

Jerusalem and probably all of the land of Israel had been destroyed by Assyrian armies in 722 B.C.; the elite of Judah had been taken to Babylon.  This included Daniel and his three Hebrew friends. The temple had been obliterated and the walls of Jerusalem had been flattened. The city had been destroyed with only the weakened survivors and wild animals left to inhabit it. The prophets had warned of this happening for years; it was the consequence of continued sin by the people, their leaders, and their religious leaders (David Jeremiah Study Bible).  

 

This was time for national mourning. Jeremiah’s message to the people was to know that all was not lost. He offers hope in a time of dark times for the Israel – God is faithful and will not punish His people forever. Every day, every morning He shows His mercy and compassion. Even in this time of trouble and judgment, God has not stopped loving His chosen people. His discipline comes not to destroy the people but in mercy, grace, and compassion that they might repent and return to Him. Later God restores them and blesses them in the land of Jerusalem and Israel.

 

Know that the word mercy in the Bible means God is withholding the punishment one (Israel here) rightly deserves. Here it has to do with the love of God for His people. It is new every day because God does not change; His mercies toward Israel never stopped, were never put on pause. He always kept His covenant with Abraham concerning his descendents.

 

I read a statement that God does not have an expiration date on His mercy toward us. I am thankful and each of you should be as well! The book of Lamentations is a writing about the hope that God gives His people during times of great trouble. Too often in those times we hurt or trouble seems to be all around us, we might be tempted to wonder if God really loves us. Look back to the verses and know that God never stops loving us; He is always with us during every difficulty and trial we face. Some translations write of God’s steadfast love. That is a love that is unmovable; God’s love for His people never leaves us. We must never lose sight of what that means! Because of that, His compassion for us never fails! Regardless of what we face, He is with us! Because His love for us never ends, His compassion will know no end because it is the result of His love. That means we can wake up each morning with God’s mercies being new. We woke up today and God’s mercies were new; we will wake up tomorrow and God’s mercies will be new! Be careful this is not the “get out of jail free card” used in the game of Monopoly. It is not an opportunity to live like we want or a license to sin. It is an opportunity to ask for forgiveness for sin and know that we can be back in God’s presence even when we mess us up (1 John 1:9).

 

Live in God’s mercy by living in faith as we walk the narrow way. “Great is Your faithfulness” Father! Our faith should have a direct impact as to how we live our lives every day! Stay focused on prayer when facing difficult days. It will help us to remember that God’s mercies are new every day. We also need to remember God’s mercies He has given to us in past situation; it has to help us through the present situation(s). Staying focused on the Lord will also help us. Remember Peter walked on the water when he kept his eyes on Jesus! Focus on Him and not the distraction that are always present when we walk the narrow way!

 

We walk on a narrow way that is filled with attempts to get us to walk on that broad way. What a great thought to know that we are not headed to God’s kingdom and eternal life with Him alone! He is always with us, to pick us up no matter what we have done. What a help it has been for me to know that His steadfast love will never fail!