Hope in the Midst of Lament
By Dean Collins
The book of Lamentations reminds us that God is faithful to his covenant promises, but that does not mean that we are immune from suffering. In chapter 3 of these pages of lament, we find a centerpiece of hope, but not before Jeremiah offered his personal suffering.
It grieved the prophet to watch Jerusalem fall. Throughout his lifetime, Jeremiah had been faithful to God’s call on his life. Jeremiah and other prophets had warned and pleaded for repentance, yet repentance did not come. God’s justice had come on the nation, and it was felt corporately and personally.
While this 5-chapter lament is hard to read we are given a wonderful example of the importance of lament. Jeremiah appears to draw from Isaiah, the psalms of lament, and Isaiah as he offers his protest and his pain to God. Jeremiah makes clear that we do not just cry out for the sins of others that bring about God’s judgment. We cry out because we too have sinned and we also suffer.
Jeremiah finds his hope in the midst of his lament:
“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”
This is a powerful reminder of where we find our hope. We may seek hope and a path forward from many places: hope in government and our leaders, hope in medical advancements, hope in treatment plans, hope in our savings, and on and on. But Jeremiah was clear after much prayer and crying out for help; he stated his reason and our reason for hope: The steadfast love of the Lord that never ceases!
As Jeremiah continues his lament, he gives us another reminder of God’s faithfulness: “You came near when I called on you; you said, ‘Do not fear!’ “You have taken up my cause, O Lord; you have redeemed my life.”
God does come near when we call. At the end of the powerful words of Psalm 91, we read this:
“Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”
The psalmist offers a great reminder that Jeremiah had found to be true as well. As we hold fast to God in our love, God holds fast to us as well. And as God holds us, he also promises that we will experience his deliverance, his protection, his rescue in our time of need and will ultimately know the full satisfaction of our salvation.
Father, today we cry out for all who suffer because of the sins of humanity. We acknowledge that we too have sinned in ways that have caused the sufferings of others. Forgive us for neglecting you and your kingdom ways. Today we look beyond everything we have placed our hope in and declare that you and you alone are our hope and the hope of the world. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Your Time with God’s Word
Lamentations 3:1-66; Psalm 91:14-16 ESV
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