God’s Faithfulness Lamentations 3:23

Introduction

Lam. 3:23 “They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”

1. Meaning of faithfulness Being honest to one’s word Committed Constant Loyal True

2. God is faithful Deut. 7:9 “Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations”

Ps. 89:1-2 I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations. For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens.

1 Cor. 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

God’s faithfulness helps Christians to endure the trials of life and know that our home in heaven is secure if we continue faithful Our text from Lam. 3 speaks of God’s faithfulness

3. Background of Lamentations In this book Jeremiah writes about the fall of Jerusalem to Babylon Over 150 years earlier the Northern Kingdom of Israel had fallen to Assyria Now Judah – because of idolatry – was taken into captivity by the Babylonians

The final siege of Jerusalem lasted some 18 months Many of the people were sent off into captivity The city lay in ruins for many years

Lamentations records Jeremiah’s feelings as he surveyed the remains of this once great city Lam. 1:1; 3:8-9, 18, 19-23

Jeremiah changed his outlook when he remembered God’s faithfulness He remembered that God was always present Lam. 3:22-24

I. God’s faithfulness: The answer to disasters God’s faithfulness is mankind’s answer to the world’s problems and disasters Look at the Prodigal son of Lk. 15

Rom. 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

Rom. 8: Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,…

39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

When disaster comes, God’s faithfulness remains When you fail, God’s faithfulness is there

II. How to have this assurance when trials come 1. Wait patiently 3:25– “The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him” Patience is not a popular quality in our impatient world

Jeremiah’s advice to Christians is to wait for God – whose faithfulness never fails

2. Sit silently 3:28– “He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him” We need to meditate on God’s faithfulness – it will give us strength to persevere in the trials we face

3. Submit willingly 3: “He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope. 30 He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach”

When problems overtake us – we tend to react without trusting God’s strength We try to overcome our despair and discouragement with our own strength – when that fails we become more discouraged

A trust in God will answer life’s trials As we struggle with adversity in life we need to remember that God’s mercies have never stopped

Lam. 3: For the Lord will not cast off for ever: 32 But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.

Conclusion God’s faithfulness is new every day We may become faint and weary but God will not The greatness of God’s faithfulness allows us to renew our strength

PS. 119:90 Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.

Adapted from material from Truth for Today, 2004