Encouraged in God
Lamentations 3:40-66
I. Introduction
A. Pearls from God
1. Jenny was about to turn six.
a) She and her mom were at the local five-n-dime store and she saw some pearls that she needed.
b) The cost was almost $2 and Jenny’s mother Jenny could do extra chores to make enough money to buy them.
c) Jenny counted her money in her piggy bank, did extra chores around the house, and earned enough money to buy the pearls.
d) She loved the pearls and wore them everywhere, even to bed.
2. Jenny’s birthday came and went.
a) She got typical presents – Clothes, games, etc…
b) The night of her part, her dad went to tuck her in and asked is Jenny really loved him. Jenny affirmed. The dad then asked if he could have her pearls.
c) Jenny offered other things to her dad as a token of her love, but she really loved those pearls.
d) This scenario went on for several nights.
3. The Best Gift
a) Finally one night, dad came in to put Jenny to bed and asked the same question.
b) With tears running down her cheek, Jenny handed her dad the pearls.
c) With tears in his eyes, dad reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet pouch.
d) Inside the pouch was a strand of real pearls that her dad had purchased for her birthday.
e) He waited to give the genuine pearls until she was willing to part with the imitation ones.
B. The Genuine God
1. Israel’s First Love
a) Once Israel had put God in first place of their lives.
b) They begin to rely more and more and individual people and physical things than God.
c) They traded in a real string of pearl for dime-store imitation pearls.
d) They gave themselves over to idolatry and God dealt with His people severely.
2. Jeremiah’s Despair Over Judah
a) Lamentations vocalize what Jeremiah felt inwardly for his people and their plight.
b) In the first 2 ½ chapters, we see despair, depression, and a people devoid of hope.
c) In the middle of chapter 3, Jeremiah focuses again in the hope that comes from God (3:23-24).
d) In the latter section of chapter 3 (40-66), Jeremiah highlights three ways that God encourages his people.
II. God Encourages His People – Three Key Ways
A. Repentance for Sin (40-42) – Four Key Ingredients
1. Self-Examination (40a)
a) Not examining ourselves as compared to others – Luke 18:11
b) But examining ourselves in the light of God – 2 Corinthians 13:5
c) God has given us a standard to shoot for – Leviticus 19:2
d) He has given us the tools to determine that standard – 2 Timothy 3:16-17
e) Though we might be reluctant to look honestly at ourselves, God assures us that He still loves us.
2. Stepping in God’s Direction (40b)
a) Know that God is where God has always been – Hebrews 13:5-6, Luke 15:20
b) Know that God’s direction is clear – Psalm 119:105, John 14:6
c) Know that God’s desires is for people to walk toward Him – 2 Peter 3:9
3. Serious Prayer (41)
a) Lifting their hearts to God – Philippians 4:6-7
b) Lifting their hands to God – 1 Timothy 2:8
c) Lifting their life to God – James 5:16, 1 John 1:7
d) Hearts and mind that near to God – James 4:8
4. Sincere Confession (42)
a) Examination, action, and supplication had lead to heart-felt confession.
b) God’s forgiveness is predicated on our repentance and confession – 1 John 1:8-9
c) The Lord is merciful and will take away our sins – Hebrews 8:12
d) Without heartfelt confession and godly repentance, God cannot pardon sin – Hebrews 10:26-27
B. Remembrance of Sorrow (43-54) – See Numbers 9:11, Deuteronomy 16:7
1. The Pain of Separation
a) God’s anger is seen and not His love.
b) God pursues and does not walk along.
c) Fear surrounded them and not comfort and peace.
d) Tears of sorrow as opposed to feeling of joy.
e) Cut off from God instead of being united with Him.
2. The Possibilities of Separation
a) Drowning in perdition (54a)– 1 Timothy 6:9
b) Permanently cut off from God (54b)– 1 Timothy 1:20
c) Uselessness to God (45) – 2 Timothy 2:20-21
d) Restoration to God (50) – Psalm 51:12
3. The Petitions When Separated
a) Psalm 80:19 – “Restore us, O Lord God of host. Cause Your face to shine and we shall be saved.”
b) Daniels 9:17 – “…hear the prayer of Your servant…cause Your face to shine on Your sanctuary which is desolate…”
c) Psalm 30:4-5 – “…give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name. For His anger is but for a moment…His favor is for life. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.”
C. Recognition of God’s Nature(55-66) – Knowledge of God (5 Attributes)
1. A God that Hears (55-56)
a) From the lowest point in life – Psalm 130:1-2
b) God always has an ear toward His people – Isaiah 65:24, Psalm 34:15, 17
c) Can do more than we even think to ask – Ephesians 3:20
2. A God That is Near (57)
a) An abiding and comforting presence.
b) One that is a refuge and a strength– Psalm 46:1
c) One that gives confidence and hope – Psalm 34:8
3. A God that Cares (58)
a) He thinks we are worth the effort ant trouble.
b) He desired our salvation and redemption – 1 Timothy 2:3-4
c) He delivers us from evil – 2 Timothy 4:18
d) Psalm 34:19 – “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.”
4. A God that Sees Clear (59-63)
a) When knows when we are wronged – Exodus 2:23-25
b) He knows everything about us – Matthew 10:30-31
c) When God’s people are afflicted, He is afflicted – Isaiah 63:9
d) Isaiah 40:28 – “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the creator of the ends of the earth neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable.”
5. A God that is Fair (64-66)
a) Jeremiah seeks God’s vengeance – Romans 12:19
b) Jeremiah seems to be motivated because of the actions of his own people.
c) Basically he is saying that God should pursue all ungodliness in the same manner He pursued the ungodliness of His people.
d) God’s vengeance is a last resort for restoration.
III. Conclusion
A. We can be encouraged in the Lord!
B. Invitation
