When Trouble Comes
The book of Lamentations is a difficult book to study. The emotions of the prophet Jeremiah are raw as he writes about the forty years he spent prophesying to God’s people and suffering at their hands. God had not promised him success, but had told him that he was born for this purpose and He would be with him (Jeremiah 1).
Lamentations comes after Judah is overcome by Babylon and Jerusalem is destroyed by Babylonian forces. In chapter 1 and verse 1 we see a great contrast drawn between what is and what was. The city of Jerusalem (symbolic of the people of God) is described as a lonely widow and a slave. In contrast to this sad state, Jerusalem is described as a city that was once full of people, great among the nations, and a princess among the provinces.
Jeremiah continues to lament the state of this once great nation and city in the second chapter. He describes over and over scenes of the city that the Lord has destroyed. It makes him sick to recall all that has happened (Lam. 2:11). Chapter 3 begins with 18 verses that are personal to Jeremiah. The Lord (He and His) and Jeremiah (me and my) are described. The humanity of Jeremiah is on display. He was human and hurt emotionally and physically during this forty years of work for the Lord.
However, Jeremiah calls something to mind and it gives him hope. What Jeremiah remembered was his great faith in the goodness and mercy of God. We then read the words of a beautiful song which we often sing in our worship to God (Lam. 3:22-24).
“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.”
I don’t know about you, but the words of this song bring peace to my heart and soul. They “re-center” me, if you will. When it seems as if God is not hearing my prayers or answering my requests, these words from the scriptures, following a list of all that Jeremiah had suffered, open my eyes to a deeper faith in the One who made me.
Thousands of people sing this song in worship, but if asked where it is found in the Bible, they might not be able to answer that question. It seems illogical that this beautiful faith-building scripture would be found in a book that laments all that has happened to God’s people and especially Jeremiah. However, this Holy Spirit inspired passage is placed right where it is needed because it reminds us that trouble comes to all of us…so when trouble comes to you as a faithful Christian…remember these beautiful words…”the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases…”
AUTHOR: Donna Faughn
