Remember That

Read Lamentations 3-5
 
Lamentations 3:21-23 Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: 22 The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. 23 Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. 24 I say to myself, “The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!”
 
BE sure to read Lamentations 3:21-40. These verses read as a series of proverbs – of wisdom sayings – teaching us how to understand God’s goodness. Jeremiah instructs how we “will hope in him!” through seeking God, waiting for him, submitting to his authority, understanding our grief and seeing God’s compassion. We have hope because the LORD sees all things (verse 36), even as people oppress us. We are always under God’s presence because he has made us to be his inheritance. There is no room for complaints when he punishes our sins. Instead, we must examine our ways to adjust our lives to the LORD’s truth. Instead, let us test and examine our ways. Let us turn back to the LORD. (Lamentations 3:40)
   When we do not, God often afflicts his people, so they will return to him. Often, too, affliction is the result of our own choices. There are seven truths about the nature of affliction: 1) Affliction should be endured with hope in God’s salvation, his ultimate restoration. 2) Affliction is only temporary and is tempered by God’s compassion and love. 3) God does not delight in affliction. 4) If affliction comes because of injustice, God sees it and does not approve of it. 5) Affliction is always in relationship to God’s sovereignty. 6) Affliction ultimately came because of sin. 7) Affliction should accomplish the greater good of turning God's people back to him. (from Bible Knowledge Commentary)
   Jeremiah laments the affliction because it could have been avoided. The Righteous God is eternal. His Word is constant. In Judah’s downfall, God fulfilled his blessing and curses promises spoken in Deuteronomy 28. The Word has been in Israel for many centuries. Sadly, God needed to afflict his inheritance to draw them back to him.
   The LORD’s will is that you obey his commands. He knows you will sin. That’s why he’s given us this lesson to help us understand our afflictions. Then be comforted in this eternal Word: Lamentations 3:32 Though he brings grief, he also shows compassion because of the greatness of his unfailing love.
   If you doubt that, consider the Son’s afflictions for you.