Lamentations 3:22-33 (NRSV)
Read Lamentations 3:22-33 on biblegateway.com
Verse 22The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; Verse 23they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Verse 24"The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him." Verse 25The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul that seeks him. Verse 26It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. Verse 27It is good for one to bear the yoke in youth, Verse 28to sit alone in silence when the Lord has imposed it, Verse 29to put one's mouth to the dust (there may yet be hope), Verse 30to give one's cheek to the smiter, and be filled with insults. Verse 31For the Lord will not reject forever. Verse 32Although he causes grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love; Verse 33for he does not willingly afflict or grieve anyone.
Devotion
The Book of Lamentations is a poetic book whose original name in Hebrew is “How!” Or is it, “how?” Or, “how…”? We all have felt times where we could fill in the blank after the word “how” in our journey of following Jesus. What comes to mind today?
We are given five poems of grief in the book of Lamentations over the destruction of Jerusalem. How could this destruction happen? Yet, the words we hear in the midst of “how could you, [God]” are reassuring words: “Because the Master won't ever walk out and fail to return. If he works severely, he also works tenderly. His stockpiles of loyal love are immense.” (The Message)
In the midst of the “how could you,” be patient! The God of promise, whose Spirit sends the Church, is with us. This Church, this Body, resonates and lives between “how…” and “how great thou art.”
Prayer
God who meets us in the questions of life, how great is your faithfulness! How … (you fill in the blank) Amen.