GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS, O GOD. Lamentations 3:22-23

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; [23] they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness.

Lamentations was written by Jeremiah after the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC to the Babylonians. The fall of this city was a consequence of the sinful life of the people of Israel and, most importantly, the many prophetic warnings from Jeremiah himself. The Babylonians were among the most heartless and ruthless imperial leaders the Israelites had to endure. Once they conquered a city, they deported everyone and brought in foreigners to take over their lands.

At one point, the people came to Jeremiah to seek the counsel of the Lord. This is recorded in Jeremiah 42 and 43:

- The military and tribal leaders, the priests, and all the people—from the least to the greatest—sought Jeremiah’s guidance.

- In verses 5 and 6, they told him they were ready to obey whatever instructions the Lord gave, whether pleasant or not, and that God should hold them accountable if they disobeyed.

- After 10 days, Jeremiah received instructions from the Lord, including that they should not attempt to flee to Egypt. However, the people accused Jeremiah of lying and decided to go to Egypt anyway. Unfortunately, they took Jeremiah along with them. This was one of the many sufferings Jeremiah endured as a prophet at that time in history (Jeremiah 43:6). Even in Egypt, God spoke through Jeremiah of the impending doom.

Lamentations is no ordinary book of the Bible. The word means "a passionate expression of grief or sorrow; weeping." These writings are not joyful expressions of prophetic inspiration but rather the burden and travail of the prophet’s soul, leading him to cry out bitterly for days and nights. The one who prophesied the fall was also the one who cried bitterly over its fulfillment when he witnessed the devastating effects. 

It is not a pleasant book, but it showcases grief—not only for the sinful state of the people but also for the justice of God.

Some of the expressions of this sorrow include:

Jerusalem, once full of people, is now deserted. She who was once great among nations now sits alone like a widow. Once the queen of all the earth, she is now a slave. She sobs through the night; tears stream down her cheeks. Among all her lovers, there is no one left to comfort her. All her friends have betrayed her and become her enemies. Judah has been led away into captivity, oppressed by cruel slavery. She lives among foreign nations with no place of rest. Her enemies have chased her down, and she has nowhere to turn. The roads to Jerusalem mourn because crowds no longer come to celebrate the festivals. The city gates are silent, her priests groan, and her young women cry. How bitter is her fate! Her oppressors have become her masters, and her enemies prosper, for the LORD has punished Jerusalem for her many sins. Her children have been captured and taken away to distant lands. All the majesty of beautiful Jerusalem has been stripped away. Her princes are like starving deer searching for pasture. They are too weak to run from the pursuing enemy. Amid her sadness and wandering, Jerusalem remembers her ancient splendor. But now she has fallen to her enemy, and no one helps her. Her enemy struck her down and laughed as she fell. Jerusalem has sinned greatly, so she has been tossed away like a filthy rag. All who once honored her now despise her, for they have seen her stripped naked and humiliated. All she can do is groan and hide her face. She defiled herself with immorality and gave no thought to her future. Now she lies in the gutter with no one to lift her out. 

“LORD, see my misery,” she cries. “The enemy has triumphed.” The enemy has plundered her completely, taking every precious thing she owns. She has seen foreigners violate her sacred Temple, the place the LORD had forbidden them to enter. Her people groan as they search for bread, selling their treasures for food to stay alive. 

“O LORD, look,” she mourns, “and see how I am despised. Does it mean nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look around and see if there is any suffering like mine, which the LORD brought upon me when he erupted in fierce anger. He sent fire from heaven that burns in my bones. He placed a trap in my path and turned me back. He left me devastated, racked with sickness all day long. He wove my sins into ropes to hitch me to a yoke of captivity. The Lord sapped my strength and turned me over to my enemies; I am helpless in their hands. The Lord treated my mighty men with contempt. At his command, a great army came to crush my young warriors. The Lord trampled his beloved city like grapes in a winepress.

For all these things, I weep; tears flow down my cheeks. No one is here to comfort me; those who might encourage me are far away. My children have no future, for the enemy has conquered us.”

Jerusalem reaches out for help, but no one comforts her. Regarding his people Israel, the LORD has said, “Let their neighbors be their enemies! Let them be thrown away like a filthy rag!” 

“The LORD is right,” Jerusalem says, “for I rebelled against him. Listen, people everywhere; look upon my anguish and despair, for my sons and daughters have been taken captive to distant lands. I begged my allies for help, but they betrayed me. My priests and leaders starved to death in the city, even as they searched for food to save their lives.

“LORD, see my anguish! My heart is broken and my soul despairs, for I have rebelled against you. In the streets, the sword kills, and at home, there is only death.

Others heard my groans, but no one turned to comfort me. When my enemies heard about my troubles, they were happy to see what you had done. Oh, bring the day you promised, when they will suffer as I have suffered. Look at all their evil deeds, LORD. Punish them as you have punished me for all my sins. My groans are many, and I am sick at heart.”  

—Lamentations 1:1-22

Imagine the gravity of this devastation. See how quickly suffering and pain can overwhelm a person. Imagine how the conqueror can become the conquered. Jeremiah was devastated imagining how Jerusalem and its inhabitants were destroyed in the blink of an eye. Restoration and hope for survival seemed impossible.

But after many days of crying and mourning, a ray of hope shone forth. Jeremiah was to remember the mercies of the Lord in the past. What He had done before, He could do again. Jeremiah proclaimed: 

“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”  

—Lamentations 3:22-23

Yes, we suffer because of our sins, disobedience, and persistent stubbornness. Yet, there are divine attributes that will find us and bring restoration: steadfast love and mercy. This mercy is not occasional or outdated. It is new every morning. Our sins cannot overcome His steadfast love. His love endures forever. 

In the midst of crisis, the Lord speaks: 

“The LORD answered and said to his people, ‘Behold, I am sending to you grain, wine, and oil, and you will be satisfied; and I will no more make you a reproach among the nations. I will remove the northerner far from you, and drive him into a parched and desolate land, his vanguard into the eastern sea, and his rear guard into the western sea; the stench and foul smell of him will rise, for he has done great things. Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice, for the LORD has done great things! Fear not, you beasts of the field, for the pastures of the wilderness are green; the tree bears its fruit; the fig tree and vine give their full yield.

Be glad, O children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God, for he has given the early rain for your vindication; he has poured down abundant rain, the early and the latter rain, as before. The threshing floors shall be full of grain; the vats shall overflow with wine and oil. I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you.

You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame. You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God; there is none else. And my people shall never again be put to shame.’”  

—Joel 2:19-27

That is why, like Habakkuk, we can joyfully say:

“Even though the fig trees have no blossoms and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign LORD is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.”  

—Habakkuk 3:17-19

Rejoice, brethren, for weeping may endure for a night,  

but joy comes in the morning.

God will give you restoration over devastation. Amen.

Peter Abdul-Razaq OLAYINKA

A Serving Missionary with Living Grace Christian Missions, Ilara.  

WhatsApp: (+229) 0194139130  

Mobile No.: (+234) 8066540987, (+234) 8028495639

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