August 2 | Lamentations 3:27-37, 55-57

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DAILY READING

Lamentations 3:27-37; Lamentations 3:55-57

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REFLECTION

Daily Mercy

By Elaine Pierce

Thomas Chisholm wrote the beloved hymn "Great is Thy Faithfulness" in 1923. It became very popular in the 1950s when Billy Graham began featuring it in his worldwide crusades. Mr. Chisholm was inspired by Lamentations 3:22-23:

Because of the Lord's great love, we are not consumed, but his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Today's passage starts just after these verses, and verses 31-33 echo this refrain of God's faithfulness even in the face of our sinful faithlessness:

For men are not cast off by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men.

[Most scholars believe that Jeremiah wrote this short book, and he wrote it in grief over Judah's fall and Jerusalem's destruction - sometime between 586 and 516 BC.]

We deserve God's wrath - we most certainly do. And we have many examples in scripture of his people experiencing the consequences of their actions. A few come to mind:

• Adam and Eve are banished from the garden after eating the forbidden fruit

• God doesn't allow Moses to enter the promised land after leading his people out of Egypt.

• King David doesn't build the temple he so desperately wants to build.

• The kingdom of Judah is conquered by the Assyrians

• The Kingdom of Babylon is conquered by the Babylonians

In verse 57, the poet (possibly/probably Jeremiah) tells us what happens when he calls out to God, when he recognizes his need for forgiveness:

You came near when I called you, and you said, "Do not fear."

God is ever-ready to meet us, to grant us mercy, to show compassion and love. Yes, his compassions are new every morning! Yesterday we might have blown it with a friend, a family member, or a colleague. We may forget to show mercy to a stranger. We may forget to be kind. To be honest. To be a light in a dark world. But, today and each day, his mercies are new and unending. Indeed, great is his faithfulness unto you, and unto me.

PRAYER

Spend some time meditating on this beautiful hymn: Great is Thy Faithfulness by CeCe Winans

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ELAINE PIERCE

It is a delight and joy to write Sunday's UALC Blog post. I have been a UALC member for 20+ years and I value our community of believers. I draw strength from God's Word, and it is my hope that you join me in seeking to grow closer to Him as we read, study, and pray together. I've been married to Gene for 47 years, and we have four grown children and nine grandchildren. It is an exciting time to be alive, and I count it all joy to serve him, even in the midst of challenges. To God be the glory, for the great things he is doing!