Sermon Tone Analysis

Opening Prayer

Reading of the Text

Lamentations 3:22-23

Contrary to the way neighboring peoples viewed their gods, the Jews now understood their God to be faithful to them, and there is no greater hope than knowing that God is totally reliable.

God had always been faithful (), but the point here is that the people finally realized it.

Background

The book of Lamentations is made up of five poems, each an expression of grief over the fall of Jerusalem so we should view this passage a Song/Poetry or also known as a Psalm.

This is why it is so similar to the roller-coaster ride of emotions found in David's writings in the Psalms.

Even in the same Psalm you will hear David crying out to God for help, complaining of his situation and then, without warning, sings of the Lord's praises and his confidence in the Lord.

We see the same with the book of Lamentations, written by Jeremiah who was known as the weeping prophet.

Jeremiah is in a state of sorrow over the recent destruction of Jerusalem in 587 B.C. since he loved God's people and their country.

In modern America, where the secular world is going further away from God, we can relate to Jeremiah’s morning of watching the fall of a great country that once had such high values for the Lord.

Despite this sorrow, Jeremiah reminds us to have hope and to focus on God’s “Steadfast Love” and “Great Faithfulness.”

This should be our focus too when we are in the midst of any sorrow.

Contrary to the way neighboring peoples viewed their gods, the Jews now understood their God to be faithful to them, and there is no greater hope than knowing that God is totally reliable.

God had always been faithful (), but the point here is that the people finally realized it.

In the midst of chaos and depression, the poet revealed a deep faith (vv.

22–24) in the trustworthiness of God: “Great is your faithfulness” (ʿěmûnâ)

Author: Jeremiah, the weeping prophet

Genre: Song/Poetry/Psalm

Setting: Written recently after 587 B. C.

After the destruction of the first Temple

After the fall of Jerusalem

Turning Away from God

Leading up to Israel's downfall

Chosen to be a nation of Priests to the world ()

Prospered (with God) over enemies ()

After the fall of Jerusalem

God’s commands and promises

Broke His commands and open rebellion

Open rebellion against God

God’s Wrath - Destruction and Exile ()

Similarities to our current age (Isreal turning from God and America turning from God)

Similarities to America

The fall of Jerusalem represents the spiritual falling away of Isreal from God.

In out current age, America, a modern day Isreal in a lot of ways due to it's origin on being built on a biblical foundation, is now also going through a time of falling away from God.

Despite this great sorrow, we still have hope in our God's past acts of love and mercy.

Genre: Song/Poetry/Psalm

America turning from God)

Built on Judeo-Christian Foundation

Prospered (with God) over enemies

Showed the world Freedom and Liberty

Broke His commands and open rebellion

God’s Wrath???

Hope in Time of Sorrow

Often in life people do not realize the faithfulness of God until the “bottom has fallen out” of their lives.

The unbroken mood of despair was displaced by a beautiful affirmation of hope in spite of suffering (cf.

; ; ).

God’s Love

God’s Mercy

God’s Greatness

God’s Love

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases

“Steadfast Love” - In Hebrew it is pronounced: "He-Sed"

It also means: loyalty, joint obligation, faithfulness, goodness, graciousness, and godly action.

"Steadfast love" in the ESV is translated in many other ways in various Bible translations.

Some of these terms are: lovingkindness (NASB), faithful love (CSB/NLT), and great love (NIV).

Additionally, regarding His mercies, in the ESV the passage is read as "his mercies never come to an end" but another way for translating this statement is " For His compassions never fail" as rendered by the NASB and NIV.

God is Love ()

God’s past acts of love (Joseph and Exodus)

God’s love has no end ()

God's Mercy

His mercies never come to an end

“Mercy” can also be translated as “compassions” which in the Hebrew is raḥămîm.

This is from a word related to the womb, it describes the tender, caring love of a mother.

We don't realize how sinful we are or how merciful God is to us.

His patience with us is a reflection of His great mercy that has no end.

Regardless of one's past sinful life, there is no limit to what God will forgive.

We just need to accept His free gift of grace.

We just need to surrender to God and make Jesus the Lord of our life.

God is Patient (Jonah and people of Nineveh)

God is willing to begin anew with those who repent.

God’s wrath toward His people must come to an end because His compassion cannot end ().

God’s mercy never fails ()

God has not made a complete end to his people (the plural we is used), despite their terrible plight, because he is still a God of compassion and ‘loving kindness’ ( ).

They are new every morning

Every day presents a new opportunity to experience a fresh outpouring of God’s great love and compassion, as well as his faithfulness, his steadfast consistent loyalty ()

God’s love will bring the morning of salvation (; ; ; ).

God's Greatness

God's Greatness

Great is your faithfulness

This quality of Yahweh’s character is cause for praise (; .

).

God’s is Sovereign () so He can keep His promises

God’s past acts of faithfulness (Abraham’s promise)

Past acts of faithfulness

Waiting upon God’s will was as important for the Old Covenant (; ; ) as the New (; ).

God’s greatest act of faithfulness: Jesus

The Lion and the Lamb

The ultimate example of God the Father's faithfulness to His people was displayed in the offering up of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, as the ultimate and final sacrifice that washes our sins so we can have a restored relationship again with our Heavenly Father.

Jesus is the answer to all God’s promises ()

The Lion and the Lamb

Greatest act of sacrifice, mercy, love and faithfulness ()

The will of the Father to have Jesus be the atoning sacrifice for His people is the greatest act of steadfast love and faithfulness.

God the Father’s will included His wrath falling on Christ instead of us ()

Jesus’ willingness to lay down His life for us ()

Great

Closing Thoughts

God's faithfulness and steadfast love can conquer any anxiety and fear that the world presents us.

Despite our sorrows, we must remember the loyalty and faithfulness of the Lord, especially when the Father gave us Jesus to pay our insurmountable debt.

Jesus is the hope an answer to a life distant from God, which without a doubt will be filled with great sorrow.

Debt is now paid, but when the debt collector comes, will you have cash the free check offered?