Mercy For The One Who Suffers

INTRO

The book of Lamentations speaks of difficult times but brings hope. It was probably written by the prophet Jeremiah as an eyewitness of the destruction of Jerusalem at the hands of Babylon. As we saw yesterday the coming destruction of Jerusalem was recorded four times in the Old Testament: 2 Kings 25; Jeremiah 39:1–11; Jeremiah 52; and 2 Chronicles 36:11–21.

Jerusalem was destroyed twice—in 586 BC by the Babylonians and in AD 70 by the Romans. Jerusalem’s importance is found in the fact that it is God’s holy city. Psalm 132 was written during the time of David as a hymn of ascent, and it recognizes Jerusalem as God’s home (vv. 13–14). Jeremiah recorded that God’s home was destroyed. Yet, God chose Jerusalem to be His home forever. That will never change. It is the place where Jesus will return. The phrase for Lamentations is My Portion.

The book of Lamentations includes five poems. Philip Ryken outlines the subjects of each poem as: (1) “the suffering for sin”; (2) “the days are no more”; (3) “mercy for the one who suffers”; (4) “the failure for leadership”; (5) and “a prayer for renewal.”¹ There are 66 verses in the third lament, and we’ll look at them in sections.

TEACHING

Lamentations 3:1-20: MacArthur describes the first section as “[Jeremiah’s] Distress.”²Jeremiah saw the affliction against Jerusalem and stated God had driven him from Jerusalem in darkness (vv. 1–2). Jeremiah felt God had turned away from him, leaving him physically sick and in pain (vv. 3–4). Nelson’s Commentary points out, “So hopeless did the situation seem that he felt like he had died long ago.”³ Jeremiah felt God was doing everything to him personally (vv. 5–6). Jeremiah described being in prison—either physically or mentally (Jeremiah 38:6) (v. 7). God had even rejected his prayer (v. 8). MacArthur explains, “God’s non-response to Jeremiah’s prayers was not because Jeremiah was guilty of personal sin (Psalm 66:18); rather, it was due to Israel’s perpetual sin without repentance (Jeremiah 19:15).”⁴

Jeremiah continued to lament over his treatment from God—he was walled in while God waited as a bear and a lion in hiding (vv. 9–10); he was forced off the way and torn to pieces (v. 11); God used him as a target with his bow and pierced his kidneys (vv. 12–13); he had become the laughingstock of his people (v. 14). Nelson’s Commentary points out, “Jeremiah was made the butt of scoffing and mockery.”⁵ God also attacked him emotionally—filling him with bitterness and fear (v. 15). God caused him to mourn, eating dirt and sitting in ashes⁶ (v. 16). MacArthur explains the phrase, “ground my teeth on gravel”, “refers to the grit that often mixed with bread baked in ashes as was common in the east.”⁷ God had deprived him of peace and happiness (v. 17). Jeremiah had no hope for his future (v. 18). Nelson’s Commentary states that in verse 19, “Jeremiah attempted to change his mood by recalling his past experiences. However, what he remembered only made him feel worse”⁸ (vv. 19–20).

Lamentations 3:21–38: Jeremiah moved from distress to hope (v. 21). MacArthur writes, “The relentless sorrow over Judah’s judgment drove Jeremiah to consider the grace, mercy, and compassion of God.”⁹ Verses 22–26 provide the crux of Lamentations. Jeremiah remembered God’s faithful love and his unending mercies (v. 22). About the word mercies, MacArthur states, “This Hebrew word, used about 250 times in the Old Testament, refers to God’s gracious love.”¹⁰ MacArthur goes on to list the eight truths that are included in mercy: “It is a comprehensive term that encompasses love, grace, mercy, goodness, forgiveness, truth, compassion, and faithfulness.”¹¹

Jeremiah acknowledged that His mercies are new every day and His faithfulness is great (v. 23). Verse 24 is the theme verse for Lamentations: “I say: The Lordis my portion, therefore I will put my hope in Him.” (Numbers 18:20.) “My portion” refers to the fact that all we need is God. In John 4:14 Jesus stated we can only find eternal life through God.

The way to get through any distress is by putting our hope in the Lord. How do we place our hope in the Lord?

Psalm 16:5: “Lord, You are my portion and my cup of blessing; You hold my future.”

Psalm 73:26: “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart, my portion forever.”

Psalm 119:57: “The Lordis my portion; I have promised to keep Your words.”

Jeremiah gave the people God’s word, and they didn’t want to hear it. But the only way to get through difficult times is with the word of God. In verses 25–26 Jeremiah explained that the Lord is good to those who wait upon Him and seek Him out. Waiting quietly on the Lord is good. Nelson’s Commentary explains that the idea of waiting on God “is the acceptance of God’s will and His timing (Psalm 40:1; Isaiah 40:31).”¹² We wait on the Lord when we have put our trust in Him.

The phrase “to bear the yoke while . . . young” (vv. 27–28) “speaks of the duty from God, including disciplinary training, that Jeremiah received in his youth (Jeremiah 1:6, 7).”¹³ Jeremiah told the young to be quiet because there was still hope (v. 29). Jeremiah cautioned the youth to turn his other cheek and remain in peace (v. 30). Isaiah prophesized that Jesus would give His back to those who beat Him and His cheek to those who would slap it (Isaiah 50:6). They were to submit themselves to those who came against them. In verses 33–47 Jeremiah emphasized that God had reason to place Judah under His judgment and His punishment.

Lamentations 3:39–66: Jeremiah concluded the lament by giving his counsel and prayer.¹⁴

CLOSING

When you believe that God is still in control, you can have true hope.