I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I remember them and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him.” Lamentations 3:10-24
Lamentations is not exactly a book we would turn to when we open our Bibles for study or for inspiration. The name itself is a turn-off - to lament - to cry out loud. It is a dirge, a wailing. Its authorship is attributed to Jeremiah, “the weeping prophet.” It is set is one of the lowest times in the history of God’s people - Jerusalem has been destroyed. They are under the control of a foreign king. All seems to be lost.
And yet, in this collection of “poems” is found a seed of hope, this reminder of God’s love. "His compassions never fail. They are new every morning." The Israelites would have recognized this symbolism. The manna in the wilderness supplied them with food when there was no other source. God provides. God remembers. Therefore there is hope. And "we are not consumed.”
Still, sometimes we feel like we are consumed, when every time we get our heads above water, a wave crashes over us and we go under - again. To know that God is faithful, that His love never fails, gives us hope to continue. And therefore, we wait for Him.
But waiting is difficult. It tries our faith and leaves time for doubt and fear. When our lives take a turn for the uncertain and what has always been constant becomes unclear, our steps become confused.
“The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your strength.” These words were written on the doorframes of the houses of the Children of Israel. They were given specific instructions that the words of the commandments were to be visible on a constant basis and, as such, were a part of the everyday conversation and lifestyle. When our circumstances seem out of control, we, too, can benefit from a constant reminder from the scripture of God’s presence, His power and His love, words of faith written on the doorframes of our hearts.
Jeremiah reminds us that God’s love is “steadfast” - unwavering. His grace is not exhausted. Jehovah is our dearest treasure (verse 23) and so our hope is in Him. We follow in the path of His choosing. We hear His voice and are satisfied. It is, perhaps, our time to be wholly and completely His. And in the waiting, He makes us new.