Introduction

Welcome, dear friends, to another beautiful day that the Lord has made, a day filled with promise and hope. We gather here, not by chance, but by divine appointment. Our hearts are eager, our spirits are high, and we are ready to receive from the bountiful banquet of God's word.

Today, we turn our attention to the book of Lamentations, specifically chapter 3, verses 19-26. This may seem an unusual choice, a book often overlooked, filled with sorrow and mourning. Yet, within its pages, we find a profound revelation of God's mercy.

Before we delve into these verses, let us first hear the words of the great preacher Charles Spurgeon. He once said, "I have learned to kiss the wave that throws me against the Rock of Ages." What a profound and beautiful truth! Even in our deepest despair, we are not cast into the abyss, but rather, we are thrown against the Rock of Ages, our Lord Jesus Christ. It is in our trials and tribulations that we discover the depth of God's mercy.

Now, let us read together from Lamentations 3:19-26: "Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall! My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me. But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 'The LORD is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore I will hope in him.' The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD."

Isn't it amazing? Amidst the sorrow and despair, there is a glimmer of hope, a beacon of God's mercy.

Let us pray. Father God, we thank You for this day and for Your word that is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. As we examine these verses, we ask for Your guidance. Open our hearts and minds to receive Your truth. May we not only hear Your word but may it take root in our hearts and produce fruit in our lives. Help us to understand the depth of Your mercy, and may we extend that mercy to others. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Transition. Today, we will focus on three main points: The Manifestations of Mercy, the Magnitude of Mercy, and the Momentum of Mercy. Let us open our hearts and minds to receive what the Lord has for us today.

Manifestations of Mercy

As we turn our attention to the verses in Lamentations, we see the author, traditionally believed to be the prophet Jeremiah, in a state of deep despair. He speaks of his affliction and wanderings, the bitterness and the poison he has experienced. Yet, in the midst of his pain, he makes a profound declaration. He says, "The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

What does this mean? How can someone in such a state of despair speak of the Lord's steadfast love and mercies? Let's break it down.

Firstly, Jeremiah speaks of the Lord's steadfast love. This is not a fleeting, fickle kind of love. This is a love that is constant, unchanging, and unwavering. It's a love that is there in the good times and the bad times, in the highs and the lows, in the joy and the sorrow. It's a love that is not dependent on our circumstances or our feelings.

Secondly, Jeremiah speaks of the Lord's mercies. Notice that he uses the plural form, "mercies." This suggests that God's mercy is not a one-off event, but rather, it is ongoing and continuous. It's not just about God forgiving our sins once and for all through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, although that is certainly a significant aspect of it. It's about God being patient with us when we mess up, God providing for us when we are in need, God comforting us when we are hurting, God guiding us when we are lost.

Thirdly, Jeremiah speaks of the Lord's mercies being new every morning. This is a beautiful image of God's mercy being fresh and abundant each day. It's not like yesterday's mercy has expired and we have to make do with the leftovers. No, each day we wake up to a fresh supply of God's mercy. It's as if God is saying, "Here, my child, here is a brand new day, and with it comes a brand new supply of my mercy. No matter what happened yesterday, today is a new day, and my mercy is here for you."

Finally, Jeremiah speaks of the Lord's faithfulness. He declares, "Great is your faithfulness." This is a powerful affirmation of God's reliability and trustworthiness. It's a declaration that God is true to His word, that He keeps His promises, that He is consistent and dependable. It's a reminder that even when we are faithless, God remains faithful.

So, even in the midst of his despair, Jeremiah is able to see and acknowledge the manifestations of God's mercy. He sees God's steadfast love, His ongoing mercies, His daily provision, and His unwavering faithfulness. And it is these manifestations of mercy that give him hope in his despair.

But what does this mean for us? How can we apply this to our own lives?

Firstly, we need to recognize and acknowledge the manifestations of God's mercy in our own lives. We need to open our eyes and our hearts to see God's steadfast love, His ongoing mercies, His daily provision, and His unwavering faithfulness.

Secondly, we need to remember and remind ourselves of God's mercies. Make a conscious effort to recall God's mercies, to meditate on them, to speak them out, to write them down.

Thirdly, we need to rely on and rest in God's mercies. We need to lean on God's mercies, to draw strength from them, to find comfort and peace in them. We need to trust in God's mercies, to believe in them, to stake our lives on them.

Finally, we need to respond to and reflect God's mercies. We need to let God's mercies shine through us, to be a beacon of hope and love to a hurting world.

Transition. So, as we continue to navigate through the ups and downs of life, let us remember the words of Jeremiah. Let us remember the manifestations of God's mercy: His steadfast love, His ongoing mercies, His daily provision, and His unwavering faithfulness. And let us allow these manifestations of mercy to give us hope, to strengthen our faith, and to inspire us to live lives of mercy ourselves.

Magnitude of Mercy

As we continue to navigate the waters of this text, we find ourselves in the vast ocean of God's mercy ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO