Scripture Reading: Lamentations 3:1-24
“Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.”—Lamentations 3:22-23
Lamentations is the author’s response to witnessing Jerusalem’s fall and Judah’s migration into Babylonian captivity in 586 BC. The book provides an individual and national outcry over the tragedy of the captivity experience and mourns the loss of national identity. In the shadow of that despair, Lamentations 3:1-20 is particularly somber as the author paints a dark and foreboding scene for himself and the nation as he watched the disintegration of Judean society.
Despite these tragic events, the author takes on a new perspective at verse 21, even proclaiming there’s a reason to have hope. With all that has happened—the destruction of the temple, the ruin of Jerusalem and enslavement of the Judean leadership—the author declares the LORD faithfully ushers in hope, mercy and compassion each dawn.
Somewhere along the way, today may bring an ample portion of turmoil and trouble designed to wear us down. Untold challenges may try to color our thoughts and aspirations with splashes of fear, doubt and worry. Against that backdrop, today’s scripture proclaims the joys of a new day. Every morning awakens with new possibilities and opportunities. Like the manna from heaven that fed the Israelites during the exodus, new mercies and compassions are a daily allotment. Yesterday’s mercy and compassion have expired, tomorrow’s portion hasn’t arrived yet. But we have today, a new day, brimming with potential.
A friend records a voice mail announcement that says (paraphrased): “Yesterday is gone, it’s in the past. Tomorrow is not promised, it’s in the future. Live in today because that’s all we have. Today is a gift; that’s why it’s called the present.”
You have been assigned new mercies and compassions as God’s present (gift) for today, specifically provided as proof of the LORD’s unfailing love, designed for you to overcome every obstacle you face.
Despite these tragic events, the author takes on a new perspective at verse 21, even proclaiming there’s a reason to have hope. With all that has happened—the destruction of the temple, the ruin of Jerusalem and enslavement of the Judean leadership—the author declares the LORD faithfully ushers in hope, mercy and compassion each dawn.
Somewhere along the way, today may bring an ample portion of turmoil and trouble designed to wear us down. Untold challenges may try to color our thoughts and aspirations with splashes of fear, doubt and worry. Against that backdrop, today’s scripture proclaims the joys of a new day. Every morning awakens with new possibilities and opportunities. Like the manna from heaven that fed the Israelites during the exodus, new mercies and compassions are a daily allotment. Yesterday’s mercy and compassion have expired, tomorrow’s portion hasn’t arrived yet. But we have today, a new day, brimming with potential.
A friend records a voice mail announcement that says (paraphrased): “Yesterday is gone, it’s in the past. Tomorrow is not promised, it’s in the future. Live in today because that’s all we have. Today is a gift; that’s why it’s called the present.”
You have been assigned new mercies and compassions as God’s present (gift) for today, specifically provided as proof of the LORD’s unfailing love, designed for you to overcome every obstacle you face.
Lesson to Remember: God awakens us each day with the potential to meet any challenge that comes our way
“O Lord, be gracious to us; We have waited for You. Be their arm every morning, Our salvation also in the time of trouble.”—Isaiah 33:2
I like that connection of “today” as a “present”. A great gift that we often take for granted.