Saturday
Saturday
The Steadfast Love of the Lord
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.
Lamentations 3:21–22 NRSV
The book of Lamentations is an ancient poem called a dirge. It is anonymous, although both Jewish and Christian tradition have long attributed it to Jeremiah. It was obviously written in or after 587 BC, when Jerusalem was besieged and its temple destroyed. Lamentations belongs to the aftermath of that overwhelming calamity.
The description is graphic. The city walls have been broken down, and the buildings are in ruins. The streets are deserted. A tiny handful has survived and is resorting even to secret cannibalism. The city is like a widow, bereft of her husband and children. She is friendless, defenseless, comfortless, helpless, and hopeless. Worse still, “The Lord has rejected his altar and abandoned his sanctuary” (2:7). That is, sacrifices, festivals, and Sabbaths are no longer being observed. The fearful judgment of God has fallen on his people. The prophet describes his experience as “darkness rather than light” (3:2). Now listen to his account of what happened:
My soul is bereft of peace; I have forgotten what happiness is…. 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.
verses 17, 21–23 NRSV
Jeremiah uses three words—steadfast love, mercy, and faithfulness; all three refer to God’s covenant with Israel and express his fidelity to it. It is this that the prophet calls to mind and that gives him hope. Around him lies utter devastation. Within him are doubt, fear, and pain. Only the assurance of God’s covenant faithfulness can give him security.
In verse 20 Jeremiah thinks of his afflictions, but in verse 21 he calls to mind God’s covenant love. It is the same with us. To think about ourselves and our suffering brings despair; to think about God and his faithfulness brings hope: “For the Lord will not reject forever. Although he causes grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love; for he does not willingly afflict or grieve anyone” (vv. 31–33 NRSV).
For further reading: Lamentations 3:17–33