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Rev. Peggen Jerusalem Nettleton 07/19/2020 Pericope: Lamentions 3 Lesson Text: Lamentations 3:19-23 Behavioral Purpose: To move the people to know that each day is a new day filled with new mercies. Another Chance To Get It Right Lamentations 3:19-23 (KJV) 19  Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall. 20  My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me. 21  This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. 22 It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.   

My brothers and sisters, here we find ourselves in the book of Lamentations. Written shortly after 586 B.C. and no later than 538 B.C. And even though there is no author mentioned, it has been accredited to the Prophet Jeremiah. This book's original audience we the Jewish exiles and to all believers.    The name Lamentations simply means to wail or mourn. So fitting that it would be credited to Jeremiah, better known as the weeping prophet. Simply because he countiniously weeped for his people. All because they were in a bad place.    But yet in his weeping for his beloved city Jerusalem, and telling of God's judgement. He still managed toremind the people of God's faithfulness.    When we find the writter of this book here in chapter his tells of, why he remains confident in God, even though God has caused many problems in his life. Through the ups and downs in his life, he is still hopeful because he understands, God is faithful. And with each new day, God gives him Another Chance.    There are many things we get to do all over again. We mis count and therefore we recount. We miss a scene in a movie, so we rewind. And when we do so, we get a chance to replay.    May I press on just a little bit further? In this year 2020, a lot has been revealed. A lot of things has been reviewed. Many people have responded. Some have reacted. And some history is being rewritten.    Yet it is in times like these, the believer stands in a place where he or she may find themselves in need of a few things. Every once and awhile our soul needs to be: Revived, refreshed, restored, renewed, refilled.    And not only that but sometimes we have to do just as Jeremaih did here in our text of attention and Reflect. Reflect:    Look what he says in verses 19 and 20.   Lamentations 3:19-20 (KJV) 19  Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall. 20  My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me. He has been looking back at the things God has done to him and what has happened in his life as a result of God's wrath. Look at these 16 things he had dealt with in his life. vs 2.. Jeremiah felt alienated from God, vs3..Jeremiah was suffering the pain of adversity all day long vs 3.. Jeremiah was aging faster than normal due to being physically weary, broken in spirit, and deeply anguished (v.4).. It was as though Jeremiah and the whole nation were wasting away under God's hand vs 5.. Jeremiah was suffering from bitterness and hardship vs 6 Jeremiah was stricken with a sense of purposelessness vs 7.. Jeremiah was stricken with a deep sense of bondage, as though he could not escape from the suffering vs 8.. Jeremiah felt as though his prayers were unanswered vs 9.. Jeremiah felt like a man who was being trapped or forced to walk in a maze vs 10,11 Jeremiah felt that his life had been mangled, torn to pieces. Like a person who has been crushed or torn apart by a lion or bear, vs 12.. Jeremiah's heart felt pierced, wounded. He felt as though the Lord had made him a target of His judgment and discipline. vs 14.. Jeremiah was ridiculed, mocked by the wicked unbelievers of the nation. ⇒ Jeremiah suffered bitter misery (herbs) and deep sorrow (wormwood, a cup of gall). ⇒ Jeremiah experienced brutal treatment (broken teeth) and humiliation (v.16). He felt as though the Lord had trampled him in the dust. vs 17.. Jeremiah's peace of heart was stripped away, leaving him in a constant state of inner turmoil. He was also stripped of wealth and whatever possessions he had ⇒ Jeremiah was gripped with a sense of deep hopelessness. His strength and the splendor of his hope in the Lord were stripped away. vs 19,20. Jeremiah was gripped with a downcast, helpless spirit. His mind was filled with nothing but sad memories and a deep sense of depression, despair, and grief.    He had all of these things going on with him. Enough for the average person to just throw in the towel. Not only that, but it gives us insight into why he would get to the point where he would say. Jeremiah 20:8-9 (KJV) 8  For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the LORD was made a reproach unto me, and a derision, daily.    Jeremiah felt like, everytime he opened his mouth to speak on behalf of God, It was always about violence and destruction. And all he get from the people are insults and contempt.    No wonder he would go through a period where felt like he would never speak on God's behalf. In verse 9 he says: 9 I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name.    Yet I love the conclusion he came to, he said:  But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay. He says, it's like fire shut up in my bones, and he couldn't stay there in that same state of mind. Even though he had trouble on every side, he was still going to tell it, like it is, what thus saith the Lord. But yet, as Jeremiah took a stroll down memory's lane. Not only did he remember or reflect. But his hope, is also Renewed. Renewed:    In verse 21 he says: Lamentations 3:21 (KJV) 21  This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.    In this thing we call life, when we are under pressure we look for relief. When we lose something we hope it is replaced. When something is not written correctly, we rewrite. When the car doesn't start, we try to restart. When we leave, we expect to return. And when our spirits are low, we turn to the Lord to be renewed.   When Jeremiah, remembers all these things that he's gone through, he is humbled within. even though it has been rough, even though my life hasn't always been what I wanted it to be.    That's not the only thing I remember. He says This I recall to my mind. In other words, there is another thing I keep before me. There is something else that keeps me going.    There is something else that gives me hope. There is something else I can draw from. There is something else I reflect on that gives me hope. Something that revives me.    Here it is in verse 22: Lamentations 3:22 (KJV) 22 It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.    He's saying, it's by God's mercy we are not completly wiped out and His compassion is never limited.    In the midst of the struggles in our lives, we can still have hope, because God's mercy is great.    I wonder is there anybody that knows God's Mercy endureth forever? Psalm 136:1-26 (KJV) 1  O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. 2  O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever. 3  O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever. 4  To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever. 5  To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever. 6  To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever. 7  To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever: 8  The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever: 9  The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.  Oh I got to get out of here...... 23  Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever: 24  And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever. 25  Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever. 26  O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever. Not only do we find Jeremiah Reflecting, and not only do we see him being Renewed but also he's letting us know that every day is a Redo. Redo: Look at verse 22: Lamentations 3:23 (KJV) 23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. Simply put, His love and His mercy are brand new evry morning.    Each day is another day, to be a little bit better than we were yesterday. because his mercy is new each morning.    Every morning is a redo. We start all over again. Yesterday is in the past, yet with each morning, there are brand new mercies on the horizion. The kids use to watch a cartoon called Fairly Odd Parents. This cartoon was about a little boy named Timmy Turner. And what made his so special is the fact that he had two special fish in his fishbowl.    And when no one was around the fish would change to their true form, which were his odd parents, better yet his ferries. Named Cosmos and Wanda. Their job was keep lil Timmy in line and grant nearly any wish he wanted.    And when Timmy wanted to do something, either Cosmos or Wanda would grant the wish. Wanda would almost always get the wish right. But poor ole Cosmos was just the opposite.    Cosmos would try to grant the wish, and mess it up. But the oone thing about Cosmos, is no matter how bad he messed up the wish. No matter how bad he messed, and no matter how mant times he messed up. He would simply say ReDo.    In other words, he would try it again. He would mess up and say ReDo. He would mess that up and again say, ReDo.    And I have discovered, that's how it is with God's love and mercy. No matter what we did, or have done, God's mercy is brand new every morning.    We get a chance to start all over again. How do I know, each day is a redo? Simply because we've done some stuff that should have been punishable by death.    But God's Grace and Mercy keeps our golden hour rolling on, just a little while longer.    There's some stuff God should have killed us for, but his Mercry stepped in. His Mercy stepped in, way out on a hill called Calvary.    It was on Calvary, His Grace stepped in.    It was on Calvary, His Mercy stepped in.    It was on Calvary, His Love stepped in.    It was on Calvary, Jesus stepped in and saved a wretch like me..........Oh ya'll know what he did don't you?