Lamentations 3:22-33 (NRSV)
Read Lamentations 3:22-33 on biblegateway.com
Verse 22The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; Verse 23they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Verse 24"The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him." Verse 25The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul that seeks him. Verse 26It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. Verse 27It is good for one to bear the yoke in youth, Verse 28to sit alone in silence when the Lord has imposed it, Verse 29to put one's mouth to the dust (there may yet be hope), Verse 30to give one's cheek to the smiter, and be filled with insults. Verse 31For the Lord will not reject forever. Verse 32Although he causes grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love; Verse 33for he does not willingly afflict or grieve anyone.
Devotion
My local paper had an article today about a successful businessman who had grown his small company to 150 stores, in 10 states, with $200 million in revenue. As he shared his views on success, he said he looks for people who, when a problem comes up, don’t spend 80 percent of the time talking about the problem and only 20 percent figuring out a solution.
Isn’t that the human tendency—to try to figure out ways to blame another for the problems we find ourselves in? Yet the author of Lamentations suggests that perhaps the trouble we find ourselves in may be of our own doing. Instead of blaming others, we are told to “bear the yoke.” In other words, come willingly under God’s discipline in order to learn the lesson that God has to teach us.
This passage from Lamentations offers up several ways to do this: sit alone in silent reflection (v. 28); humbly repent our wrongdoings (v. 29); face the consequences of our mistakes (v. 30); and be confident that the Lord’s lessons are for our good because of his unfailing love and compassion (v. 32). The writer knew from experience that God was faithful and just. Even when we make mistakes, we will not be consumed by them. But it is wise to learn from them.
Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you for your mercies which are new every morning. Help me to admit my failures, learn from my mistakes, and hope in you. Amen.