Great is Thy Faithfulness

Lamentations 3:19–26 KJV 1900

Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall. My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me. 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. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.

Pre-Sermon Ice Breaker

A man buys a parrot, only to have it constantly insult him. He tries everything to make the parrot stop, but nothing works. frustrated, the man puts the parrot in the freezer. After a few minutes the insults stop. The man thinks he might have killed the parrot, so he opens the freezer and takes the parrot out. the parrot is shivering. It stammers, “S-s-sorry for being r-r-rude Please f-f-forgive me.” Then after a moment asks, “W-w-what exactly d-d-did the turkey do?

Introduction

I. Depression and Anxiety

Not surprisingly, the coronavirus pandemic and resulting economic downturn have taken a toll on the mental health of adults of all ages. Overall, one in four adults reported anxiety or depression in 2020. The rate is substantially higher than the one in 10 who reported depression or anxiety in 2018.

Today we will learn about what helped one man in the Bible find hope.

II. Review of Series

We have been reading through the Old Testament in 2020.

This week we have read the 34 of 39 Books as we have read the book of Lamentations

III. Our Text

Lamentations is a five-poem lament for the fall of the great city - Jerusalem- to the Babylonian Empire. Each poem is an acrostic, masterfully describing the sorrow of the catastrophe.

The book was written by Jeremiah, “The weeping prophet.”

Three themes stand out in Lamentations: mourning, confession and hope.

Jeremiah mourns over the seige and burning of the city and the wrath of God triggered by their unrepentance. Jeremiah confesses the sins of Judah.

The Key to understanding our Text is the LORD. Throughout 2020 we have been looking for Jesus in the O.T.

Once again in the midst of this book of mourning, sadness and depression we discover Jesus in the center of the only verses in the book that speak of hope. Here we find hope as Jeremiah remembers four important truths about the Lord. Let’s look at them together.

Body

The Lord’s Love

Lamentations 3:22–23 KJV 1900

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.

The Hebrew word for mercies is Hesed - it literally means “Great or Loyal Love”

Romans 5:8 KJV 1900

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

John 3:16 KJV 1900

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Ephesians 2:4 KJV 1900

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

The Lord’s Inheritance

Lamentations 3:24 KJV 1900

The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.

Psalm 142:5 KJV 1900

I cried unto thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my refuge And my portion in the land of the living.

Psalm 73:26 KJV 1900

My flesh and my heart faileth: But God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

The Hebrew word for my portion - Heleg it is sometimes translate inheritance.

Saying God is your portions is another way of saying he is your inheritance.

Deuteronomy 10:9 KJV 1900

Wherefore Levi hath no part nor inheritance with his brethren; the Lord is his inheritance, according as the Lord thy God promised him.

Romans 8:17 KJV 1900

And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

The Lord’s Goodness

Lamentations 3:25 KJV 1900

The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.

1 Chronicles 16:34 KJV 1900

O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; For his mercy endureth for ever.

Psalm 34:8 KJV 1900

O taste and see that the Lord is good: Blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

James 1:17 KJV 1900

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

The Lord’s Salvation

Lamentations 3:26 KJV 1900

It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.

Conclusion

What about you? Are you one of the 25% of adults who are battling with depression.

Could you like Jeremiah sit down and write a 5-poem lament about your troubles. If so there is hope.

It is found in Jesus.

Titus 2:13 KJV 1900

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

We can find hope in the:

…Lord’s Love

…Lord’s Inheritance

…Lord’s Goodness

and the Lord’s Salvation

Have you made Jesus the Lord of your life.

If not you should do so today.

If you have, then like Jeremiah, you should remember these truths, for they will help you. In Jesus Name. Amen.