The Glimmer of Hope

Lamentations 3:1 CSB

I am the man who has seen affliction under the rod of God’s wrath.

INTRO—

Matthew 11:28–30 ““Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.””

I love the opportunity to re-emphasize what we have talked about previously (even when previously was four years ago)…when we studied together…

“Gentle & Lowly” — Dane Ortlund… ‘The Heart of Christ for Sinners & Sufferers’: The heart of God for his people (especially).

A question Ortlund addressed in his book = do we see any instances in the OT which show a picture of God like we see in Matthew 11.28-30? Ortlund cites OT passages from the Prophets more than any others to answer that question…and Jeremiah heads up his list.

In Lamentations (authored by Jeremiah) we see THE glimmer of hope beginning to shine through the seriously significant lament of Jeremiah and God’s people in the wake of Jerusalem’s fall in the period of the Exile in Israel’s history. Specifically we (have) turn(ed) to Lamentations 3.

[[Focal passage = Lamentations 3.19-33; THE glimmer of hope]]

Lamentations 3.1-18. [Start with v. 1, summarize-ish up to v. 16]

Jeremiah, the Prophet…forthrightly states the lamentable condition he—and all of God’s people with him—experienced due to their sin(s).

The “kicker” = Lamentations 3:16–18 “He ground my teeth with gravel and made me cower in the dust. I have been deprived of peace; I have forgotten what prosperity is. Then I thought, “My future is lost, as well as my hope from the Lord.”” [U = v. 18; only time the covenant name of God (YHWH) is used in these first 18 verses]

“My future is lost, as well as my hope from the LORD”…[The fall of Jerusalem brought on seriously serious lament (& confusion, maybe doubt, ‘maybe’ hopelessness…).]

Remember This [Lamentations 3.19-21]

First, remembering ’that’ (something other than our focus…our glimmer of hope).

God, please remember ‘that’ (3.19)…my pain, wandering, and bitterness (taste of)

Because I remember, remember ‘that’ (3.20)…and I am tanked, overwhelmed, weighed down [ = lit., bowed down in the inner self; ‘cause me to collapse;’ have become depressed]

YET, I call this [our focal truth] to mind (3.21)…therefore I have hope [am able to wait in place for God]

SOOO, what is ‘this?’

This Is [Lamentations 3.22-24]

…THE THIS is…

God’s faithful love (3.22)...commitment, covenant commitment [this verse starts in the Hebrew with chesed].

The marriage covenant (example for us), and GOD is far more committed to covenantal faithfulness than we are…greatly so (3.23)

We don’t perish…his mercies never end, new every morning!

The LORD is my portion (3.24)…therefore I put my hope in him.

AAANNNDDD, knowing this, how do I respond?

Response to This [Lamentations 3.25-30]

It is good to wait quietly (3.25-26)…for God and his salvation [waiting is expectation, anticipation…and is actively].

It is good for a man to bear the yoke (3.27-30)…of discipline and disgrace [ = GODLY SORROW].

God’s loving mercies invite conviction and repentance and a reminder.

Because of This [Lamentations 3.31-33]

[[REMINDER: Because of this, God…]]

Won’t reject us forever (3.31)…AANNDD…

Will show compassion (3.32)…because of [according to the aforementioned reasons] his abundant (great) faithful love (faithfulness).

Does not enjoy (3.33)…bringing affliction or suffering on mankind. [the structural center of chapter 3…and possibly the whole book]

Jeremiah asserts, positively, the exact opposite…Jeremiah 32:41 “I will take delight in them to do what is good for them, and with all my heart and mind I will faithfully plant them in this land.” [in context, God is speaking of his covenant with Jerusalem (Israel) even in the time of it’s fall to Babylon]

I believe the major point Jeremiah desires to ‘drive home’ to God’s people is, “For he does not enjoy bringing affliction or suffering on mankind.” [Make no mistake, God will not abdicate his holiness and justice in bring forth the consequences of sin in people’s (especially, his own peoole’s) lives; BUT, BUT…his delight is mercy, grace, salvation, restoration.

CONCL—

[[Jeremiah: “The Weeping Prophet”…I will risk saying that many (most, all?) of the prophets wept over sin (responsibility) and Judgment (consequences of sin).]]

Lamentations 3.34-66. [These verses just might be personal for Jeremiah (rather than personification of the prophet as Israel)]

3.34-51 — Corporate awareness of sin and required repentance. [ — highlight vv. 34-36, 39, 40-42, 49-51]

3.52-66 — Seeking [[personal]] justice (God as defender and avenger of his child [leader, prophet]). [— highlight vv. 55-57, 61-66]

Lamentations 3:58–60 “You championed my cause, Lord; you redeemed my life. Lord, you saw the wrong done to me; judge my case. You saw all their vengefulness, all their plots against me.”

[[1 Peter 4.12-19. — 1 Peter 4:19 “So then, let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust themselves to a faithful Creator while doing what is good.”]]

INVITATION:

Salvation

Repentance

Trust

Lamentations 3:66 CSB

You will pursue them in anger and destroy them under your heavens.