“Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3v22-23).
The context for many in today’s world may not be as devastating as the destruction of Jerusalem that provided the basis for Jeremiah’s Lamentations. Following its desolation and captivity by King Nebuchadnezzar, people in the context experienced significant suffering and deep sorrow as they faced exile and an uncertain future. It was in that situation of despair that the prophet Jeremiah in his lament provided glimpses of hope rooted in God’s mercies, compassion and enduring love.
This message remains relevant for our world today. These are days of devastation, of war and political instability which have left several people internally or externally displaced. It is a time of economic hardship, health hazards and other challenges which makes people uncertain of what the New Year holds for them. Yet, in the midst of his lament, Jeremiah declares that “through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not”. How could he have declared “they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness?” A recent experience reminded me that the Lord, maker of heaven and earth, remains the same unchanging God regardless of the state of the world or our circumstances.
