The Lord is Faithful

Lamentations - Learning to Lament The Lord is Faithful - Lamentations 3:1-66 August 24, 2025 Have you ever heard someone tell a personal story? I'm sure most of us have. There is a significant difference in telling your story versus telling a story. When someone tells a personal story, there's more emotion. There's more detail. There's more authenticity. Right? Would you agree? For example, many of you know about my 2004 car accident, but even my own wife and daughter would not be able to tell you about the events as well and as detailed as I would, because I lived it. I experienced it. I still experience some of the effects of it to this very day. There's something about a personal account that adds to the power of the story. Jeremiah - the presumed author of Lamentations - will be telling his side of the story of Jerusalem's demise in chapter 3 of Lamentations. We will see his raw, personal process of lament. That's really what I want to do this morning with this account. Now, if you have looked ahead, you may have noticed that there's a lot of verses. However, the length is probably just about the same as the rest of the book. There's a slight difference in how this chapter was arranged. Again, this chapter, as the prior two are written in an acrostic - a literary device where it's organized by each letter the Hebrew alphabet. Here's how one author described the difference from chapters 1-2 to chapter 3: "Chapters 1 and 2 presents twenty-two verses of three lines each with each verse beginning with a letter in alphabetical order." "Chapter 3, however, presents an intensification of the alphabet acrostic producing sixty-six verses with each letter of the alphabet repeated three times." He added that this is designed this way to emphasize the climax of this book. The book reaches this peak in the middle of chapter 3, before we see closing sections in chapters 4-5. Noting yet another purpose of this literary style of writing, he said was to "impose order and organization" in chaos. That's really what we're going to attempt this morning. That is, to bring order to this chapter. So, let's frame it first with our main idea, which is ... Through it all, the Lord remains faithful. As mentioned previously, the prophet will be sharing his process of lament. So, in my attempt to be faithful to his process, we will review each part of his process, with each section of the passage this morning. In doing so, we will use his example to shape ... A PERSONAL PROCESS OF LAMENT: So, let's begin this process by reading the first section, verses 1-18 of Lamentations 3. 1 I AM THE MAN WHO HAS SEEN AFFLICTION UNDER THE ROD OF HIS WRATH; 2 HE HAS DRIVEN AND BROUGHT ME INTO DARKNESS WITHOUT ANY LIGHT; 3 SURELY AGAINST ME HE TURNS HIS HAND AGAIN AND AGAIN THE WHOLE DAY LONG. 4 HE HAS MADE MY FLESH AND MY SKIN WASTE AWAY; HE HAS BROKEN MY BONES; 5 HE HAS BESIEGED AND ENVELOPED ME WITH BITTERNESS AND TRIBULATION; 6 HE HAS MADE ME DWELL IN LIKE THE DEAD OF LONG AGO. 7 HE HAS WALLED ME ABOUT SO THAT I CANNOT ESCAPE; HE HAS MADE MY CHAINS HEAVY; 8 THOUGH I CALL AND CRY FOR HELP, HE SHUTS OUT MY PRAYER; 9 HE HAS BLOCKED MY WAYS WITH BLOCKS OF STONES; HE HAS MADE MY PATHS CROOKED. 10 HE IS A BEAR LYING IN WAIT FOR ME, A LION IN HIDING; 11 HE TURNED ASIDE MY STEPS AND TORE ME TO PIECE SHE HAS MADE ME DESOLATE; 12 HE BENT HIS BOW AND SET ME AS A TARGET FOR HIS ARROW. 13 HE DROVE INTO MY KIDNEYS THE ARROWS OF HIS QUIVER; 14 I HAVE BECOME THE LAUGHINGSTOCK OF ALL PEOPLES, THE OBJECT OF THEIR TAUNTS ALL DAY LONG. 15 HE HAS FILLED ME WITH BITTERNESS; HE HAS SATED ME WITH WORMWOOD. 16 HE HAS MADE MY TEETH GRIND ON GRAVEL, AND MADE ME COWER IN ASHES; 17 MY SOUL IS BEREFT OF PEACE; I HAVE FORGOTTEN WHAT HAPPINESS IS; 18 SO I SAY, "MY ENDURANCE HAS PERISHED SO HAS MY HOPE FROM THE LORD." So, we see from this section, the first part of the process, which is ... * Tell the Lord how you feel (vv.1-18) o We talked about this a little bit last week. o Notice how Jeremiah has personalized this anguish. o What an example we have through him, to know that in those moments, where all is hope is lost (see verse 18), that instead of running away. Or, instead of turning his back on the Lord. He ran to the Lord. And he faced His Lord. o I'm sure we've all done this. Where our hearts become heavy with something. And it is not until we let it all out. Full surrender. Full vulnerability. That is where we can begin the process of recovery. o Of course, God knows. But this part of process allows us to know that He knows. It's to remember that He knows. To come to the point where we can begin to trust Him again, or perhaps for the first time. o So, our personal process of lament begins with telling the Lord how we feel. o Let's read verses 19-33 to see what is revealed next. 19 REMEMBER MY AFFLICTION AND MY WANDERINGS, THE WORMWOOD AND THE GALL! 20 MY SOUL CONTINUALLY REMEMBERS IT AND IS BOWED DOWN WITHIN ME. 21 BUT THIS I CALL TO MIND, AND THEREFORE I HAVE HOPE: 22 THE STEADFAST LOVE OF THE LORD NEVER CEASES; HIS MERCIES NEVER COME TO AN END; 23 THEY ARE NEW EVERY MORNING; GREAT IS YOUR FAITHFULNESS. 24 "THE LORD IS MY PORTION," SAYS MY SOUL, "THEREFORE I WILL HOPE IN HIM." 25 THE LORD IS GOOD TO THOSE WHO WAIT FOR HIM TO THE SOUL WHO SEEKS HIM. 26 IT IS GOOD THAT ONE SHOULD WAIT QUIETLY FOR THE SALVATION OF THE LORD. 27 IT IS GOOD FOR A MAN THAT HE BEAR THE YOKE IN HIS YOUTH. 28 LET HIM SIT ALONE IN SILENCE WHEN IT IS LAID ON HIM; 29 LET HIM PUT HIS MOUTH IN THE DUST-THERE MAY YET BE HOPE; 30 LET HIM GIVE HIS CHEEK TO THE ONE WHO STRIKES, AND LET HIM BE FILLED WITH INSULTS. 31 FOR THE LORD WILL NOT CAST OFF FOREVER, 32 BUT, THOUGH HE CAUSE GRIEF, HE WILL HAVE COMPASSION ACCORDING TO THE ABUNDANCE OF HIS STEADFAST LOVE; 33 FOR HE DOES NOT AFFLICT FROM HIS HEART OR GRIEVE THE CHILDREN OF MEN. Notice how the tone begins to shift here. The next part of this personal process of lament is to: * Remember the Lord (19-33) o Notice how the process of complaint begins to shift to a process of remembering - really - Who we're addressing. Who we are talking to. o When we begin to remember the One who holds it all together, we begin to remember His promises. His deeds. His works. His mercies. His blessings. That's exactly what we see in verses 22-27. o As Pastor Pat mentioned a couple of weeks ago, this is likely the passage that people are most familiar with in this book. o Why? Remember verse 18? No hope. Look at verse 21. Hope. o Here is where we find hope. o Hope returns when we remember the promises of the Lord. o What are those promises? * Verse 22 says that His love never ceases * Verses 22-23 says that His mercies are new every morning * Verse 24 says that the Lord is our portion. * This is probably a direct reference to the land portion of the covenant with Israel. * But the picture is also that of the Levites, who had no portion, because the Lord is that portion. * Then, in verse 25 it says that the Lord rewards those who wait for Him. * Wait? For what? * Part of that is revealed in verse 26: His salvation. o But sometimes it is also waiting for His response. o Waiting for the trial to pass through. o Waiting even for lessons to be learned. * We are also to wait quietly according to verse 26. * So, we've seen that on one hand, we are to share our pain with Him, but we should follow that sharing with waiting. o This is, in many ways, where faith and trust are most evident in our lives. In those difficult times. In those times when we feel most isolated. Most defeated. o The Lord says, "come." o The Lord says, "I have been faithful." o The Lord says, "remember and trust." o Next, we see the personal process of lament continue in verses 34-54. Let's see what it says: 34 TO CRUSH UNDERFOOT ALL THE PRISONERS OF THE EARTH, 35 TO DENY A MAN IN THE PRESENCE OF THE MOST HIGH, 36 TO SUBVERT A MAN IN HIS LAWSUIT, THE LORD DOES NOT APPROVE. 37 WHO HAS SPOKEN AND IT CAME TO PASS, UNLESS THE LORD HAS COMMANDED IT? 38 IS IT NOT FROM THE MOUTH OF THE MOST HIGH THAT GOOD AND BAD COME? 39 WHY SHOULD A LIVING MAN COMPLAIN A MAN, ABOUT THE PUNISHMENT OF HIS SINS? 40 LET US TEST AND EXAMINE OUR WAYS, AND RETURN TO THE LORD! 41 LET US LIFT UP OUR HEARTS AND HANDS TO GOD IN HEAVEN: 42 "WE HAVE TRANSGRESSED AND REBELLED AND YOU HAVE NOT FORGIVEN. 43 "YOU HAVE WRAPPED YOURSELF WITH ANGER AND PURSUED US, KILLING WITHOUT PITY; 44 YOU HAVE WRAPPED YOURSELF WITH A CLOUD SO THAT NO PRAYER CAN PASS THROUGH. 45 YOU HAVE MADE US SCUM AND AMONG THE PEOPLES. 46 "ALL OUR ENEMIES OPEN THEIR MOUTHS AGAINST US; 47 PANIC AND PITFALL HAVE COME UPON US, DEVASTATION AND DESTRUCTION; 48 MY EYES FLOW WITH RIVERS OF TEARS BECAUSE OF THE DESTRUCTION OF THE DAUGHTER OF MY PEOPLE. 49 "MY EYES WILL FLOW WITHOUT CEASING, WITHOUT RESPITE, 50 UNTIL THE LORD FROM HEAVEN LOOKS DOWN AND SEES; 51 MY EYES CAUSE ME GRIEF AT THE FATE OF ALL THE DAUGHTERS OF MY CITY. 52 "I HAVE BEEN HUNTED LIKE A BY THOSE WHO WERE MY ENEMIES WITHOUT CAUSE 53 THEY FLUNG ME ALIVE INTO THE PIT AND CAST STONES ON ME; 54 WATER CLOSED OVER MY HEAD; I SAID, 'I AM LOST.' Once again, we are reminded to ... * Acknowledge the Lord's sovereignty (34-54) o This section, particularly verses 34-39, reminds us that the Lord is in complete control. o Statements are being made and questions are being asked, and again, it's his way of processing the devastation that is going on. o Because of this, he comes to this realization in verses 40-42. o What do we see there? o Jeremiah calls for three things: * Examine ourselves. * Lift up our hands and hearts. * Confess. o Let's run through this. o Jeremiah is telling us that part of this process is to look at yourself. o Let's make this practical: * Are you broke? * Look at your budget and your bank account. * Where is your money going? * Are you out of shape? * What are your eating habits? * What are your activity levels? * Are you struggling with addiction? * Where are you seeking refuge or relief? * How are you dealing with your stress? * Are you not connecting with the Lord? * Are you reading the Bible? * Are you going to church? * Are you praying? o Sometimes. Not all the time. Sometimes, we are suffering because of our own selves. o Jeremiah says, look in the mirror. o What does he say next in verse 41? * Respond in worship. o What does he say in verse 42? Confess! * If you think about it, this little section is a repeat of the first two steps in the process: telling the Lord what's going on, remembering the Lord, then responding appropriately. o When we have these raw conversations with the Lord, we see a bit of why Jeremiah seems to go back to voicing his complaints in verses 43-54. o It's almost like he is acknowledging the "why." o Finally, let's read verses 55-66 to see this final process of lament. 55 "I CALLED ON YOUR NAME, O LORD, FROM THE DEPTHS OF THE PIT; 56 YOU HEARD MY PLEA, 'DO NOT CLOSE YOUR EAR TO MY CRY FOR HELP!' 57 YOU CAME NEAR WHEN I CALLED ON YOU; YOU SAID, 'DO NOT FEAR!' 58 "YOU HAVE TAKEN UP MY CAUSE, O LORD YOU HAVE REDEEMED MY LIFE. 59 YOU HAVE SEEN THE WRONG DONE TO ME, O LORD; JUDGE MY CAUSE. 60 YOU HAVE SEEN ALL THEIR VENGEANCE, ALL THEIR PLOTS AGAINST ME. 61 "YOU HAVE HEARD THEIR TAUNTS, O LORD ALL THEIR PLOTS AGAINST ME. 62 THE LIPS AND THOUGHTS OF MY ASSAILANTS ARE AGAINST ME ALL THE DAY LONG. 63 BEHOLD THEIR SITTING AND THEIR RISING I AM THE OBJECT OF THEIR TAUNTS. 64 "YOU WILL REPAY THEM, O LORD ACCORDING TO THE WORK OF THEIR HANDS. 65 YOU WILL GIVE THEM DULLNESS OF HEART; YOUR CURSE WILL BE ON THEM. 66 YOU WILL PURSUE THEM IN ANGER AND DESTROY FROM UNDER YOUR HEAVENS, O LORD." The last part of our personal process of lament from verses 55-66 is an encouragement to ... * Trust the Lord for the results (55-66) o We are to also trust His process. o This entire section is the full acknowledgement of the Lord's control over all that is happening. o That is a huge step in the believer's relationship with Him o In many ways, how you wait through the suffering is a witness of your faith. o Those who are unable to process through lament will have a difficult time dealing with what's in front of them. o Once we get through the process of lament, as seen here, we could realistically come to a place of peace. And - dare I say - joy. o A peace and joy that is otherwise impossible to achieve. o Trusting the Lord for the results is giving Him control, allowing Him to work. Accepting the results, no matter what the outcome may be. I don't know about you, but that is the sort of faith that I need. So, how do we arrive there? It begins with the Lord and continues with the Lord until He calls us home. Today, we have His Son, who tore the vail, giving us direct access to the Father. Because of the Son we can have a relationship with the Father. Where He urges us to rely on Him. To speak with Him. To depend on Him. Without Jesus, this is impossible. But with Jesus, all things are possible. Do you believe? It's not too late. Let's pray. 2