Great Is Thy Faithfulness

“The thought of my suffering and homelessness is bitter beyond words. I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!’ The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him. So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord. (Lamentations 3:19-26) (Also read Lamentations 1:1-6; Psalm 137; 2 Timothy 1:1-14; Luke 17:5-10) In this text, Jeremiah calls us to a renewed life at the beginning of each new day: “But this I call to mind: and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:21-23, NRSV).

I.) The prophet had, as do we at times, every reason to despair. Yerushalayim, the holy city, had fallen into the hands of the Babylonians. The land had been pillaged and the city laid waste; apparently many had been killed and many others of the leading citizens had been carried away into exile. Jeremiah lamented the sadness of his nation’s and his own, predicament. But as he poured out his heart in anguish over what had been done to YAHVEH’s people and over what YAHVEH’s rebellious people had done to bring about YAHVEH’s judgment, he came across a magnificent notion. Elohim’s love and mercy had not ceased. Elohim’s faithfulness to His own people had not diminished. Just the opposite: each day YAHVEH offered anew mercy and compassion necessary to meet the challenges of the new day.

II.) Such an insight into the nature of YAHVEH’s love and justice has a lot of New Testament written all over it. Grace it seems, really is not a discovery of the early Church; YAHVEH’s people long before Yeshua HaMashiach was born knew about grace. The very thought of such unmerited and unending favour overwhelms our minds. YAHVEH calls on us to forget our failings; even as YAHVEH Himself has forgotten them. We are instead, to dwell on thoughts of YAHVEH’s ultimate goodness. Such thoughts of Elohim’s goodness come to us because of YAHVEH’s prior thinking of us. YAHVEH has taken the first steps toward us; steps in creation and in re-creation. He made us in the divine image and poured Himself into us. Because of our personal rebellion and sinfulness, He came in the person and work of Yeshua HaMashiach to reclaim us as His own. And because YAHVEH so graciously took such giant steps toward us, we can now think about YAHVEH in terms of grace and mercy. He first loved us before we loved Him.

III.) Don’t miss this: YAHVEH comes to us in such thoughts at the beginning of each new day. Think what this offer means. As each new day begins and in each epoch of human life, we are reminded of YAHVEH’s unconditional love. YAHVEH has forgiven our every sin and washed clean the slate. We begin the day refreshed in the Spirit! Because YAHVEH’s Holy Spirit is with us always, we are encouraged and energized to make the most of each new day. YAHVEH’s presence is guaranteed: He will never leave or forsake His people. Now these thoughts about YAHVEH, taught and assured in scripture, are no surety of an easy or untroubled life. Just the opposite is true. We are taught that disappointment and difficulty may well come to faithful believers even as to unbelievers; yet we are assured that in times of struggle we are not left alone. Elohim’s presence with us builds confidence as we face the trials, even those by fire.

IV.) Now think about life lived at its best with such assurances; despite the circumstances. Whatever may come this day, this week, this month, this year or in this lifetime, we are assured of YAHVEH’s love and care. This promise is not intended to treat superficially the very difficult and troubling times we encounter as individuals, families, churches and even nations. We are wrong to treat lightly the hurts through which some of the best of YAHVEH’s people go. Yet as we face honestly the hurt we experience in the valley of the shadow, we cannot negate the courage and confidence that come to us through YAHVEH’s continued creative work on our behalf. We truly look forward to that grand day, in the final consummation of the ages, when all things are made right. What a day that will be! But between now and then, we are called to live hopefully anticipating the presence of YAHVEH to guide our ways. Each day the promise is made new. Elohim’s Spirit of love and grace reaches out and touches our human spirits and we find grace sufficient for the need of the day.