This book is perfectly named. To lament is to express sadness and regret. And a lamentation is a song or poem expressing sadness and regret. This certainly is what the book of Lamentations is. It is a heart-wrenching cry. In the original language, Hebrew, it was a creatively designed poem using acrostics and must have been beautiful to hear as it was read publicly during certain festivals. The agony of the author is palpable. If it is Jeremiah, there is good reason. He prophesied for 40 years that these things would happen if the people did not repent. As he and Israel are led off into exile he sees the destruction of Jerusalem and the judgment of God in full and it is hear-wrenching.
But as with all the prophets, there is revealed in the prophetic utterances an amazing depth of faith. In 3:21-39, smack dab in the middle of the lament, the author calls to mind the steadfast love of the Lord and has hope. What? How can this be? It can be because the prophet sees beyond the immediate circumstances and remembers God’s graciousness in the past and his promise of grace for the future. In the middle of deep pain and suffering the author of Lamentation is able to proclaim that the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, that his mercies never come to an end! He acknowledges that God’s mercies are new every morning and that his faithfulness is great! These verses provide the lyrics of one of my favorite hymns and one of my favorite choruses.
We would do well to follow the example of the author of Lamentation, Jeremiah, or whoever it is. We can be honest with God about our sadness and what we regret. We can cry out in agony and pain. We do not have to candy-coat it. But we must also call to mind the steadfast love of the Lord and have hope. In the midst of difficulty I often find myself singing,
Great is thy faithfulness,
Great is they faithfulness,
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed thy hand hath provided.
Great is thy faithfulness,
Lord unto me.
Today, I will call to mind the steadfast love of the Lord.