While There Is Life, There Is Hope

[Christ4Ever]

The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the person who seeks him. It is good to wait quietly for salvation from the LORD. Lamentations 3:25-26 CSB

The title above is quoted from old-time Bible commentator Matthew Henry (1662-1714). In his discussion of Lamentations 3, Henry suggested, “Instead of complaining that things are bad, we should encourage ourselves with the hope they will be better.” That’s what Jeremiah, “the weeping prophet,” did in today’s scripture.

Lamentations is dreary overall. Describing the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians, it contains graphic accounts of violence and despair, including cannibalism (Lamentations 2:20). In chapter 3, Jeremiah reported his own struggle, the overwhelming feeling that God has turned against him: “H has made me dwell in darkness like those who have been dead for ages” (Lamentations 3:6).

But somehow—and we must attribute this to God’s goodness—Jeremiah could stop and say, “Yet I call this to mind, and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness! I say: The Lord is my portion, therefore I will put my hope in Him” (Lamentations 3:21-24). Jeremiah continued with today’s scripture, commending a quiet waiting for God’s deliverance.

May we follow his example today and everyday.

Prayer: Lord, You have given me life and therefore hope. May I wait quietly for Your deliverance.

 

[complete]

Hello @Christ4Ever,

I have grown fond of Jeremiah. I love the opening chapters of the book that bears his name. He was called to a difficult task, and on receiving word of it, his heart was in his boots. But God fortified him with assurances of deliverance, and put steel in his backbone, by giving him a godly fear. Which kept his mind and heart stayed upon God, in the face of those to whom he had to stand and give God's word of judgment faithfully. He was told,

'Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,​

Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee;​

and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee,​

and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.'​

(Jer 1:4-5)​

​

'Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.​

(Jer 1:6)​

​

'But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child:​

for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee,​

and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.'​

(Jer 1:7)​

Be not afraid of their faces:​

for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.​

Then the LORD put forth His hand, and touched my mouth.​

And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put My words in thy mouth.​

See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms,​

to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy,​

and to throw down, to build, and to plant.'​

(Jer 1:8-10)​

​

'Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee:​

be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them.​

For, behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brasen walls against the whole land,​

against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land.​

And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee.'​

(Jer 1:17-19)​

* Jeremiah was not to be dismayed at their faces. His fear of God was to be greater than his fear of man if he was to do all what God desired of him. God had spoken, He had assured Jeremiah both verbally and graphically that He would deliver him: Jeremiah was surrounded by God's defenses, and nothing would prevail against it. On the strength of that assurance Jeremiah was to stand and deliver the message that God would give him, in faith and trust believing that what God had said He would assuredly do. Otherwise God would confound him before them. Total faith in God's word, and in His faithfulness to perform all that He has spoken was, and still is, the requirement of all who place their trust in Him. Whether for salvation, or service.

Thank you
In Christ Jesus
Chris