By Janice Gentles-Jones
How can one who causes grief also be recognized as one who will have compassion and an abundance of steadfast love? Some would say this is twisted, especially if God is the one who has allowed this grief. People often speak of God’s love but what about His judgment? This is what the author of Lamentations 3 writes of as he observes both the judgement and mercifulness of God.
Israel was warned of what would happen if they turned away from God. They chose to disobey even though God warned them that, “if you will not obey the voice of the LORD your God or be careful to do all his commandments and his statutes that I command you today, then all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you” (Deuteronomy 28:15).
Israel choosing to disobey God is now in exile after they have fallen to the Babylonians, but not before experiencing famine, thirst, cannibalism, rape and slaughter, all of which was foretold in Deuteronomy 28: 16-58 when God warned of the curses that would befall them if they chose disobedience.
Written after the fall of Jerusalem, the author of Lamentation 3 describes the deep suffering felt as the justice of God is carried out (vv. 1-20). All hope seems to be gone, as the author writes, “though I call and cry for help, He shuts out my prayer;” (verse 8) and “My endurance has perished; so has my hope from the LORD” (verse 18).
But a remarkable thing happens in verses 21-24 when the author conveys the following:
“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.”
While there is judgement there is still hope for compassion and mercifulness, as these are also part of God’s character. The author reminds us in verses 31-33:
“For the Lord will not cast off forever,
but, though He cause grief, He will have compassion
according to the abundance of His steadfast love;
for He does not afflict from His heart
or grieve the children of men.”
Lamentations 3 gives us a glimpse of what life can look like if God issues judgement for our disobedience. As the author writes, “Why should a living man complain, a man, about the punishment of his sins? Let us test and examine our ways and return to the LORD!” (vv. 39- 40).
So, going back to my initial question of how can one who causes grief also be recognized as one who will have compassion and an abundance of steadfast love? Because this is what happens when we sin and encounter a God who is both righteous and merciful. So let us indeed examine our ways and return to the Lord. For though He may cause grief through judgment that is rightly deserved, He is also merciful and forgives us of our sins through the grace and blood of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
Prayer
Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways to the glory of your holy name. Amen.