Mercy in the Midst of Misery

How many times have you heard the verse “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness”? If you’ve grown up in the church chances are this is a common verse, but how many of us know the verse in its full context?

It comes from Lamentations chapter three when the author, Jeremiah, wrote down a series of poems to lament the fall of Jerusalem and the captivity of God’s people in Babylon in the 6th century B.C. The Reformation Study Bible describes the purpose of the book this way: “In a sense its production was itself a way of coming to terms with the destruction of Zion. The center of gravity is the wrath of God against His people. God’s wrath is taken to be just. Judah had sinned, and the prophets had given God’s warning”.

It is in this context that the prophet calls out in chapter three verse nineteen: “Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall! My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me. 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.” – Lamentations 3:19-24

Lord, thank you that despite our sin and rebellion your mercies are new every morning. Thank you for such a sweet comfort even in the context of such a deep and dark situation. We know that just as it brought comfort to Jeremiah in the midst of his affliction so this verse brings comfort to us today. Forgive us for trivializing your word and your promises and help us to be brought to repentance just as Jeremiah was. Amen.