Sunday, July 20, 2025
Our scripture for today is taken from Lamentations 3:21-24.
“This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!””
Lamentations 3:21-24 NKJV
Series Introduction:
Last week we began with Tunnel Vision. In Tunnel Vision, we found Jeremiah didn’t limit his vision of the devastation of the city. He saw everything, including God. Today, we continue with “A Vision Of Hope”.
Read Lamentations 3:1-16 for background context.
“I am the man who has seen affliction by the rod of His wrath. He has led me and made me walk In darkness and not in light. Surely He has turned His hand against me Time and time again throughout the day. He has aged my flesh and my skin, And broken my bones. He has besieged me And surrounded me with bitterness and woe. He has set me in dark places Like the dead of long ago. He has hedged me in so that I cannot get out; He has made my chain heavy. Even when I cry and shout, He shuts out my prayer. He has blocked my ways with hewn stone; He has made my paths crooked. He has been to me a bear lying in wait, Like a lion in ambush. He has turned aside my ways and torn me in pieces; He has made me desolate. He has bent His bow And set me up as a target for the arrow. He has caused the arrows of His quiver To pierce my loins. I have become the ridicule of all my people— Their taunting song all the day. He has filled me with bitterness, He has made me drink wormwood. He has also broken my teeth with gravel, And covered me with ashes.”
Lamentations 3:1-16 NKJV
Lamentations Chapter 3 is filled with despair. Jeremiah speaks like a defeated man. He portrays God as an adversary in some ways. His brokenness and feelings of being victimized are on full display. His last few sentences in this section is most discouraging.
Jeremiah says “He has filled me with bitterness, He has made me drink wormwood. He has also broken my teeth with gravel, And covered me with ashes.”
As an inhabitant of the city of Jerusalem, Jeremiah is keenly aware of his troubles. But now, he needs to see a vision of Hope. Here are 3 things we need to see to help us maintain our hope. The first is God’s Will.
God’s Will
“You have moved my soul far from peace; I have forgotten prosperity. And I said, “My strength and my hope Have perished from the Lord.” Remember my affliction and roaming, The wormwood and the gall. My soul still remembers And sinks within me.”
Lamentations 3:17-20 NKJV
Here, in verse 17, the third Lamentation makes a turn. Jeremiah does not speak about God. Instead, he speaks to God. He says “You have moved my soul far from peace;”
Last week I told you God is still God. God is still sovereign. And one of the most powerful expressions of God’s sovereignty is his perfect will. It was God’s will that Jerusalem fell. But God wasn’t working alone.
God has given us a free will. That means God has made room for us to exercise our imperfect will along side his perfect will. How can that be so if God is sovereign? Our will operates under his permissible will.
God gives us choices and allows us to make decisions. He permits us the privilege of making life decisions on our own. And even when we exercise our own will, he’s still Lord.
“We could’ve done better!”
God’s Mercy
“This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not.”
Lamentations 3:21-22 NKJV
While speaking to God, Jeremiah can see both sides of his situation. On one hand, God himself has caused Jeremiah’s and Jerusalem’s suffering. But on the other hand, God is the source of all of the goodness they enjoyed in the past.
Jeremiah remembers. He recalls to his mind the mercies of God. And it’s because of all the times he received God’s mercies, he has hope.
“It could’ve been worse!”
God’s Compassion
“Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.”
Lamentations 3:22-23 NKJV
Judah should’ve been consumed but God’s compassions fail not.
“God could’ve given up on us!” But he didn’t because God still cares.
Jeremiah broke out in praise. He said “Great is Your faithfulness!”
Great is thy faithfulness, O God, my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with thee.
Thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not;
As thou hast been, thou forever wilt be.
Great is thy faithfulness,Great is thy faithfulness,
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed thy hand hast provided;
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.
Conclusion
““The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!””
Lamentations 3:24 NKJV
Jeremiah’s soul came to a conclusion. He says the Lord is my portion.