Lamentations

Scripture: Deuteronomy 28:1-7, 15-19

C.I.: Jeremiah's Third Dirge over Jerusalem, (Chapter 3)

This series… – Today we will conclude this series – by seeing the only hope Jeremiah has for Israel.

I. Jeremiah's Hope, (chapter 3:19-38)

A. Outward Affliction yet Inward Hope, (vs. 19-24)

1. ( vs. 19-20 ), “Remember my affliction and my wandering, the wormwood and bitterness. –
Surely my soul remembers and is bowed down within me.”
a. If Jeremiah stayed with this line of thinking – he would have sunk into a depression.
1) “Depression” = Despair with commitment!” – How can we keep from this point?!
2) It is the focus of our mind that determines – the direction of our lives.

b. So Jeremiah changed his thinking – ( v. 21 ), “This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope.”
1) This is a basic Bible principle - ( Lk. 15:17 ), “But when he came to his senses, he
said, ‘How many of my father's hire men have more than enough bread, but I am...'”
2) ( Psa. 27:13 ), “I would have despaired unless I had believed I would see the goodness
3) So the way we think (what we believe) – will either lead us into or out of depression.

2. Now Jeremiah “recalls” God's goodness and focuses upon that…
a. “The Lord's loving-kindness never ceases, for His compassions never fail.” = Even in
carrying out the curses of Deut. 28 – Jeremiah sees God's goodness & sparing a remnant!
1) “new every morning” = Praise amid trials = God's love can never be exhausted.
2) “… great is Thy faithfulness,‘ = God will be faithful to us & His nature, I Jn. 1: 9.
3) “… The Lord is my portion,' says my soul, ‘Therefore I will hope in Him,'” – “Want a
slice of the pie that the world has to offer?” – “I'LL TAKE THE LORD!” Jere.

B. Seven Principles to “Recall” in the Midst of Adversity, (vs. 25-40)

1. #1. Adversity can be endured by those who “…wait upon the Lord,” ( vs. 25-30 ).
a. “The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,” ( v. 25a ).
1) Greatest test of OUR faith – is our willingness to wait for God's ends to be achieved.
2) We live in a “microwave culture” – and want everything now !! – “Waiting” requires:
3) Do God's will = “ to the person who seeks Him,” ( v. 25b ) = ( quote Matt. 6:33).
4) No complaints ! – “It is good that he waits silently for the …” v. 26 – ( Phil. 2:14 ).
5) Grow from it ! – “It is good for a man to bear the yoke of his youth. - Let him sit
alone and be silent, since He has laid it on him.” – ( quote Jms. 1:2-4 ).
6) Learn to humbly/trust ! – “Let him put his mouth to the dust, perhaps there is hope. –
Let him give his cheek to the smiter; – “Humility is not thinking less of ourselves, it
is not thinking of ourselves at all …! ( I Pt. 5:6 ).

2. #2. Adversity is only temporary but God's compassion & love are eternal, ( vs. 31-32 )
a. “For the Lord will not reject forever, for He causes grief, then He will have C. according to…
1) God's hand is in the affliction – but so is His compassion & loving-kindness!
2) Quote II Cor. 4:18; I Pt. 1:6-7 , “We do not look….” – “…even though now, for a
little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, that the proof of
your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, may be found to result
in praise, and glory & honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

3. #3. God does not delight in adversity, ( vs. 33 ).
a. “For He does not afflict from His heart, or grieve the sons of men.”
1) Why do we believe we deserve His blessings– but not His discipline?!
2) All that we receive from the hand of God – we receive because of His love for us!!!
3) ( Heb. 12:6,11b ), “Everyone whom…,” – “…those who have been trained by it….”

4. #4. Adversity caused by injustice is not approve of by God, ( v. 34-36 ).
a. “To deprive a man of justice in the presence of the Most High, to defraud a man in his lawsuit
– of these things the Lord does not approve.”
1) While God allows all affliction – God is not pleased by those who bring it.
2) He will deal with the Babylonians – ( Isa. 13:1, 11 ), “The oracle Isaiah saw
concerning Babylon … ‘I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their
iniquity….”
3) ( Jn. 19:10-11 ), “‘Do You know that I have authority to release You & authority...?'”


5. #5. Adversity must always be seen as part of God's sovereignty, ( vs. 37-38 ).
a. “Who is there who speaks and it comes to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it? – Is it not
from the Most High that both good and ill will go forth?”
1) Since God allows all affliction – our having affliction shows God is still in charge.
2) ( Job 2:10 ), “Shall we indeed accept good from God and not adversity?”

6. #6. Adversity occurs because of sin, ( v. 39 ).
a. “Why should any living mortal offer complaint in view of their sins?”
1) Sometimes adversity comes because of the sins of others – cf. #4 above.
2) Most of the time our adversity arises due to our own sins – ( Hos. 8:1, 7 ), “They have
transgressed My covenant, and rebelled against My law … They sow the wind….”

7. #7. Adversity should (therefore) produce a return to God, ( v. 40 ).
a. “Let us examine and probe our ways, and let us return to the Lord.”
1) We should want to do this – since “The Lord's loving-kindness never ceases, for His
compassions never fail.”
2) If, however, it is our own sin which is bringing God's loving affliction upon us –
then God is the one to whom we should turn to (return to) for help.
3) If we are already a Xn – this means, ( Acts 3:19 ), “Repent therefore and return….”
4) If you are not yet a Xn but want to become one, ( Acts 2:38 ), “Repent, and….”