Remember The Faithfulness Of God

Lamentations 3:21–23 (KJV 1900)

This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.

It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

Introduction

This passage of scripture is the inspiration for the great and powerful hymn of the church entitled, Great Is Thy Faithfulness. The song was written in 1923 by Thomas Chisholm, a methodist minister who identified with the heart-wrenching experiences of Jeremiah’s ministry.

Despite the fact that Jeremiah was chosen, called, and commissioned by God to do a great work, he encounter trial and hardships that more than justifies the emblematic name he has been given, and that is why we know Jeremiah as - The Weeping Prophet.

Jeremiah’s tears are deeply reflective of the condition of his people, and the circumstances they were forced to endure as a consequence for their choices.

Jeremiah shed tears because the people were unfaithful to God.

Jeremiah shed tears because the Babylonians were delivering God’s punishment through war.

Jeremiah shed tears because the Jerusalem had fallen.

Jeremiah shed tears because the Holy Temple was destroyed and desecrated.

Jeremiah shed tears because the war was so bad that mothers ate their own children.

Jeremiah shed tears because his own life was threatened because he preached the truth.

And everyone in this building tonight should be able to understand what Jeremiah is going through, because within the context of our modern existence, there is plenty to shed tears about.

We shed tears because…

It’s 2023 and we’re still dealing with racism in America.

The biblical rainbow of promise has been hijacked by the rainbow colors of pride.

Millions of babies are dead because abortion is considered healthcare.

Souls are dying an going to hell because churches have replaced worship with entertainment.

Despite the tears, Jeremiah was able to see some light at the end of the proverbial tunnel as he began to reflect on the faithfulness of God. Jeremiah says in verse 21 of our text, “This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.” The word recall in the Hebrew is shoob, which has the connotation of turning back. This is how the prophet is able to deal with the onslaught of tears that has overwhelmed his life, by remembering what he already knows about the faithfulness of God.

This is what we know…

God’s Faithfulness Protects - v.22a - “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed”

Even though we may experience life in sometimes uncomfortable ways, whatever it is we have to endure, God will not allow it to take you out.

1 Corinthians 10:13 - “…but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

God’s Faithfulness Prevails - v.22b - “because his compassions fail not.”

God’s love is faithful, meaning that there is no failure in God’s capacity to love us through whatever challenges we face in life.

This is important to know because God’s love is what activates His protective power over our lives, which gives us the victory in every situation.

God’s Faithfulness Persists - v.23a - “They are new every morning…”

This means that God always creates a new opportunity to bless us. Each new day brings about a new mercy and a new grace, for which we can give God praise!

God always does something amazing in our lives to give us something to recall about His faithfulness.

Closing

Remember…