Great Is Thy Faithfulness
Lamentations 3:23
A Sermon by Dr. Neil Chadwick
Jeremiah is not one of the better-known prophets and authors of the Bible. We know that there's a book with his name on it, but few and far between are the folk who have actually read it. Even less known is the fact that there's another book of the Bible attributed to the pen of Jeremiah, the little book called "Lamentations," a book which is read in the Jewish synagogues, on the ninth day of Ab, on the anniversary of the burning of the temple. The poetic structure of this little book is somewhat unique and interesting. Each of the five chapters is patterned according to the Hebrew alphabet which has 22 letters. Chapters one, two, four and five all have 22 verses - with the exception of chapter five, each successive verse begins with the next letter in the alphabet. The middle chapter three has 66 verses, with each triplet of verses beginning with the appropriate letter of the alphabet. It is believed that this pattern was adopted in order to aid the memory for those who would recite these mournful words. While it is possible that the long-standing Jewish tradition is wrong that says the Lamentations was written by Jeremiah, there are a number of traceable connections between the prophet and this book. One of them is the biographical reference to the "pit" in 3:53, a very likely reference to what took place late in Jeremiah's ministry. In response to King Zedekiah's request for prayer, Jeremiah had prophesied that Egypt would withdraw its army and open the way for the Babylonian army to attack and destroy Jerusalem. Subsequently, Jeremiah was accused of siding with the Babylonians and causing a breakdown of morale among the soldiers and people because of his pronouncements about the pending destruction of the city. For a while he was allowed to be kept in the courtyard of the palace guard, but when some officials complained to the king, Jeremiah was put into a cistern (well) which was located in the courtyard. No water was in the well, but there was mud, "and Jeremiah sank down into the mud." (Jeremiah 38:6) A friend appealed to the king, saying that what was done to Jeremiah was wrong, and surely he would die in the well, so the king sent 30 men to pull Jeremiah out. They threw a rope down to Jeremiah, along with some rags and old clothes they had found in a palace storeroom, and told him to pad the ropes with these cloths; then they pulled Jeremiah to safety. No doubt this experience must have been in Jeremiah's mind as he wrote, "They tried to end my life in a pit." Whatever conclusions scholars may make about the authorship of this book, one thing is clear, its overall expression is that of sorrow - thus its title, "Lamentations" which is "an audible expression of sorrow; wailing." Key verses expressing this sentiment would include, "This is why I weep and my eyes overflow with tears." (1:16) or, "My eyes fail from weeping, I am in torment within, my heart is poured out on the ground because my people are destroyed, because children and infants faint in the streets of the city." (2:11) However, smack in the middle of this mournful, poetic wail, there is a bright spot, a passage which seems to be uncharacteristic of the rest of the book. The placement of this brief passage makes its contents all the more meaningful. In spite of all the terrible circumstances which surround the faithful people of God, and in the midst of a recitation of grief comes what we could call a hymn to the faithfulness of God. "I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, 'The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.' The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD." (Lamentations 3:19-26) In fact, these words were the inspiration for a hymn first introduced during the1954 Billy Graham Crusade in Great Britain. The words were written by Thomas Chisholm, a man born in a Kentucky log cabin, a man who never even received a high school education. "Great is Thy faithfulness, Great is Thy faithfulness; morning by morning new mercies I see. All I have needed Thy hand hath provided, Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me." The message is obvious and clear. When we reflect on the past, we recall the blessings and the abundance of God's provision. We also remember the pain, the sorrow and the many heartbreaks that have been endured. At that point we are tempted to identify with Jeremiah who said, "Joy is gone from our hearts; our dancing has turned to mourning." (5:15) But then we remember that even in the times of deep sorrow, the Lord has proven Himself to be faithful, and for that reason we can face the future with great hope. With the Prophet we can testify, "You came near when I called you, and you said, 'Do not fear.'" (3:57) War, destruction, and disease may rage all around us, but because the faithfulness of God has been proven over and over, ". . . there may yet be hope. . . Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love." (3:29,32)  - - Return to Top of this Page
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