Lamentations 3

“But if you will not obey the voice of the Lord your God or be careful to do all his commandments and his statutes that I command you today, then all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you. 16 Cursed shall you be in the city and cursed shall you be in the field.

“The Lord will send on you curses, confusion, and frustration in all that you undertake to do, until you are destroyed and perish quickly on account of the evil of your deeds, because you have forsaken me. Vs 20

“The Lord will cause you to be defeated before your enemies. Vs 25

“The Lord will bring you and your king whom you set over you to a nation that neither you nor your fathers have known. Vs 36

“All these curses shall come upon you and pursue you and overtake you till you are destroyed, because you did not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to keep his commandments and his statutes that he commanded you.  Deut 45

Jerusalem, once so full of people, is now deserted.

She who was once great among the nations now sits alone like a widow. Once the queen of all the earth, she is now a slave. Lam 1:1

the Lord has punished Jerusalem for her many sins.

Her children have been captured and taken away to distant lands. Vs 5

She has seen foreigners violate her sacred Temple, Vs 10

Her people groan as they search for bread. They have sold their treasures for food to stay alive. Vs 11

My children have no future, for the enemy has conquered us.” Vs 16

My priests and leaders starved to death in the city, even as they searched for food to save their lives.  Vs 19

My groans are many, and I am sick at heart.” Vs 22

I am the one who has seen the afflictions  that come from the rod of the Lord’s anger.  ² He has led me into darkness, shutting out all light. ⁵ He has besieged and surrounded me with anguish and distress. ⁶ He has buried me in a dark place, ⁷ He has walled me in, and I cannot escape. He has bound me in heavy chains. ⁸ And though I cry and shout, he has shut out my prayers. ⁹ He has blocked my way with a high stone wall;
  ¹⁷ Peace has been stripped away, and I have forgotten what prosperity is. ¹⁸ I cry out, “My splendor is gone! Everything I had hoped for from the Lord is lost!”  ¹⁹ The thought of my suffering and homelessness is bitter beyond words.^[a]20 I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss.

1. YOUR FAITHFULNESS

21 But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: 22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him." 25 The Lord is good to those who wait for him,to the soul who seeks him. 26 It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward. Job 5:7

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for you are with me. Psalm 23

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!

1. YOUR MERCIES

22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Vs 23

This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Gather of it, each one of you, as much as he can eat… 21 Morning by morning they gathered it, Exodus 16

III. YOUR DELIVERANCE

⁵⁴ The water rose over my head,  and I cried out, “This is the end!” ⁵⁵ But I called on your name, Lord, from deep within the pit. ⁵⁶ You heard me when I cried, “Listen to my pleading! Hear my cry for help!”
⁵⁷ Yes, you came when I called;  you told me, “Do not fear.” Lord, you have come to my defense; you have redeemed my life. Lamentations 3

He does not forget the cry of the afflicted. Psalm 9:12

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