Babylonia (southern Mesopotamia) has surpassed Assyria (northern Mesopotamia) as the dominant Mesopotamian Plus, there’s an added dimension to all this: To experience the harsh realities of life in faith is, in a way, to participate in Jesus’ own passion and death. Already as early as the writing of 2 Esdras (ca. Hope comes from calling on the name of the Lord, turning to him in prayer without rest. So, what Jeremiah is recalling to mind is found in at least the two verses immediately following Lamentations 3:21 (KJV). The despair is so great that it is as if water has closed over his head and he is drowning. In giving our lives for others we expose ourselves to the full spectrum of pain and loss. 1. Please keep up the good work.”. Bow before the Lord and be humble in heart and mouth (3:29). The fact that these promises of God’s compassion and faithfulness are sandwiched between verses of hope (Lam. Think about how God has been faithful to you. Wherefore to you I leave it all.” | 2,776 … For years, whenever I read this part of the passage, I took the liberty to say, “though there is grief” instead of, “God causes grief.” I can accept the fact that bad things happen to good people, but I can’t believe God causes them to happen. LCMS Sermons - Pastor Robin Fish Sermon on Lamentations 3:18-26. The prophet had been meditating, considering, pondering. The Battle to Remind. God’s people recognize that their lives are not determined by some cold, impersonal fate or destiny. Today's Mercies for Today's Troubles Tomorrow's Mercies for Tomorrow's Troubles. The gate that so many Christians think they have walked through but never… The author recalls the multiple proofs of God’s faithful love. Think about how God has done good for you repeatedly in the past. Psalm 34:20; contrast Isaiah 38:13). God sees what has happened to this one who cries out to God. Our helper He amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing.”. There’s a hymn that captures the essence of God’s faithfulness as beautifully as anything I know, and it goes like this: “O God, what you ordain is right, your holy will abiding; 21 Yet this I call to mind. In the Old Testament the bones of the righteous are not broken which means they have hope in the future of what God will do (cf. “For the Lord will not cast off forever, but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love.” Even in grief, God will have compassion because of his abundant steadfast love. We are a nondenominational congregation of Christians located in West Palm Beach aiming to be faithful in every way to Jesus Christ. Collectively these five little books became known the Megilloth , the Five Rolls. Good Words for Today: December 27 – Sunday, December 27; His grief is incalculable, his strength is gone, and his hope is lost. Therefore, the author’s conclusion is: “Therefore I will hope in him.” We have a saying in our culture: “Hope springs eternal.” If you have been in sorrow and grief then you will know that this is not the case. Or if he asks for a fish, who will give him a serpent? You see this idea in verses 37-39. Who are we to complain against God? A sovereign God pours out his blessings on you both when you’re at your best and when you fall short. Broken bones picture a loss of hope in the future. Sure, in a moment of weakness, we’re tempted to believe that the world would be better off if we called the shots. Great passages come to mind, almost without thinking; passages like, “Yahweh is my light and my salvation. God is going to take care of all of this suffering, pain, and grief one day. Verses 22-24 record what he is going to think about. “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-33) “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”: The hymn our choir sang earlier and which we all will sing at the end of this service–this is definitely an appropriate hymn of thanksgiving and praise on this Day of Thanksgiving. If there’s one thing you can count on in the life of a congregation, it’s that there will be accidents and illnesses and unexpected tragedies. A Memorial Service is planned for Monday afternoon at 1:30. So the author will continue to pour out his tears and prayers to the Lord until the Lord from heaven looks down and sees. In a word, Jeremiah equated the fall of Jerusalem with the sinfulness of Israel and the judgment of God. Sermon Series: Finding God Sermon Title: God Is Good, No Matter What Text: Lamentations 3:22-30 Date September 21, 2008 The beginning of a path is always the most important. We might even do away with storms altogether. The first 20 verses of this poem describes the intensity of the author’s pain. for I am with you I will strengthen you. Yet, think of it this way: Just as the sun comes up every morning, God pours out his love on us. This is how we give ourselves the hope and courage we need in times of pain and grief. Joel 2:13). We are so surrounded by the darkness that there seems no hope for the future. God’s love is the foundation for every other thing that He does. Even though he feels that all hope is lost, he is able to tell himself and others that God’s faithfulness is great and his mercies are new every day. Further, the author is swallowed up in bitterness (3:5). Even though our days are filled with bitterness and tears, we cannot end our day on this note. This is the heart and soul of our faith: Jesus suffered and died for the forgiveness of our sins. Here is the author’s hope: God will repay (3:64-66). Lamentations contains “laments” or “loud cries” for Jerusalem and many expressions of anguish and pain, but in chapter 3, right in the middle of the book, there is a beautiful passage of confidence and hope. Chuck Smith :: Sermon Notes for Lamentations 3:21-26 ← Back to Chuck Smith's Bio & Resources "THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD" Intro: Jeremiah is sitting amidst the ruins of a shattered nation. Thank God for the Mercies of Christ Festival of Thanksgiving. He does not want to have to judge people but he must because God is just. because his compassion doesn’t fail…”. SERMONS ON LAMENTATIONS. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. All we have to do is turn to God and trust God to order and provide. ◄Lamentations 3:22 ► Because of the LORD's loving devotion we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. Depravity Lamented Series. But we are learning that this is not where we stop! He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. (Presbyterian Hymnal, p. 284). The outlook could not be any more bleak. Lamentations 3:24 "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in Him." Our praise and hope are motivated by the knowledge of this truth: the Lord is good and the Lord is faithful. This takes us back to the first point the author made in the first poem. It’s not a matter of if, but when. The Apostle Paul put it this way: ” For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are children of God…and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him.” (Romans 8:14-17), • “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4), • “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.” (Matthew 5:10), • “He who seeks his life will lose it; and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.”(Matthew 10:39). Essentially, the author is going to preach to himself in his time of despair. In the depths of his despair he cried to the Lord and the Lord heard his plea (3:55-57). Not at all! John Piper Mar 13, 1994 825 Shares God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him Learn more about Desiring God This is the knowledge we have to help us in our time of grief and despair. (Micah 7:18–19 ESV). “The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.” Verses 25-26 proclaim the need to wait for the Lord and seek the Lord. Sermon Message. God is faithful toward us each and every day. I believe in love even when I cannot feel it; Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible (WEB), a public domain (no copyright) modern English translation of the Holy Bible. Bow and have hope. Oh, there will always be those who equate good fortune with God’s blessings and misfortune as a sign of God’s wrath, just as there will always be those who, one moment, feel close to God and the next moment wonder where God is when they need him most. The grace, mercy, and peace of Christ Jesus rest upon each and every one of you this day. Third, you will notice that the author speaks to himself again in verse 24. Now his flesh was not falling off of him nor were his bones literally broken but he is using imagery to describe the physical anguish he feels for the pain he is in. Lamentations 3:21-23 on God’s mercies Scripture: Matthew 6:34, Lamentations 3:22–23. Just see the mercy of God for today. We must see the devastation the author is feeling. Good Words for Today: December 28 Monday, December 28. Discover More About Pain & Suffering A Gospel Perspective for Life’s Trials. I don’t have to tell you, this has been a traumatic week in the life of our church family. While the future looks dark and all seems hopeless, each day is another day to see the steadfast love of the Lord. Contributed by Paul Apple on Oct 18, 2000. based on 16 ratings. How to Experience Good Days (in the Midst of Bad Ones) Sermon Message. Accept God’s will and refuse to complain (3:28). A loving God wouldn’t do that. The punishment for the people’s sins is not from his heart. God’s faithful, covenant love never stops. You are my God; though dark my road, you hold me that I shall not fall; Yet, we do it gladly, not only knowing that this God’s will for our lives, but that, in so doing, we walk with Christ. So I say, “My endurance has perished; so has my hope from the Lord.” (3:18). The Paperback Bible presents the Bible by the Book and is designed to be portable, readable, and truly personal with ample margins for notations. Click here for more messages from the book of Lamentations. His compassion and his mercies never come to an end. Lamentations 3:22-25 - OUR FAITHFUL GOD - sermon by Brian Bill Our Faithful God In the country of Armenia, in 1988, Samuel and Danielle sent their young son, Armand, off to school. He remains in critical condition. Here is what he preaches to himself: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. SermonAudio.com - Lamentations 3 Sermons. As God said to Isaiah: “Don’t you be afraid, Tom Ed suffered a major stroke Sunday night. This is the nature of seekers, that they often seek in a very unwise way; but still, they do seek; and it is a mercy that they do seek, for "the Lord is good to the soul that seeketh Him." Used by permission. Great is the faithfulness of God! Yahweh is my portion, says my soul; therefore will I hope in him…For the Lord will not cast off forever. Notice that the author says the Lord is his portion. The crowning statement for this section is in verse 18. Hope and Lament. WHEN OUR WORLD CRUMBLES Lamentations 3:22-26 INTRODUCTION Life is not as secure as we would want it to be. Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? Do not worry about tomorrow’s difficulties and issues. Mar 13, 1994. Paul put it this way: “…We also rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering works perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope: and hope doesn’t disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (Romans 5:3-5). I believe in God even when He is silent. His message continues by building faith. He smells the stench of decaying bodies. Though some might blame the wicked Nebuchadnezzar, as far as Jeremiah was concerned, the Hebrews brought it on themselves. Jan 20, 2012. So we turn to the Lord, tearing our hearts before our God (cf. This keeps our minds in the right frame of mind. We have forgotten what happiness is. Remember this was what the author cried in the first poem. In doing so, we draw from that great reservoir of scriptural witness passed down to us from one faithful generation to the next. It’s hard to believe that God is there by your side when the rug is pulled out from under you. God’s love, God’s compassion, God’s infinite mercy are constant, unchanging and dependable – something you can count on when everything around you is falling apart. Next: Lamentations 4, Time To Reflect, West Palm Beach church of Christ4236 Haverhill RoadWest Palm Beach, FL 33417, Sunday  Services9:30 am / 10:30 am & 6:30 pm, Lamentations Bible Study (Faith in Great Grief). Why, we would’ve shielded the folks in northeast Arkansas from all the tornadoes that hit on Friday. We were totally unprepared.”. The reason Jeremiah said that God causes grief is because, as far as the Hebrews were concerned, nothing could happen apart from God. The purpose of the Book of Lamentations is to help the People of God have faith in God in the midst of grief and sorrow and sadness. Chuck Smith :: Sermon Notes for Lamentations 3:21-23 ← Back to Chuck Smith's Bio & Resources "THE COMPASSIONATE GOD" I. He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. Lamentations 3:25 ... some are waiting to hear a very extraordinary sermon, and to feel very singular emotions. Knowing this, we seek to live together in the unity of God’s Spirit as we prepare for the time – like this week – when our faith will be tested. He weeps as he sees the rubble of the once glorious city that men called the perfection of beauty. Lamentations 4.1 -Again this fourth song commences with the exclamatory "How!" The good news is that God would be with them to restore their homes and use their downfall to draw them back to himself. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. 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