OUR LORD’S COMPASSIONS NEVER FAIL (Outline)
June 22, 2008 --
PENTECOST 6 --
Lamentations 3:22-33
INTRO: The title, Lamentations, also defines the theme of this book of the Bible. In the title Lamentations we have the word lament. Lament = alas, woe is me. One could easily say that at this time in the history of the world and at this time in the history of Israel there were many reasons to lament. Wholesale slaughter and destruction came upon Israel’s kings, princes, prophets, priests, elders, and all people. Woe is me. We lament. The cream of the crop of the Jewish nation was taken as prisoners to live in a foreign land as slaves and prisoners. Woe, we lament. Jerusalem was in ruins. The temple was destroyed. The place of worship and way of worship of God’s people was gone. Woe, woe, we lament. During the siege of Jerusalem mothers even began to eat their own children. Everyone laments. In the midst of doom and gloom and laments the Lord is still merciful, filled with compassion. "The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness’" (JEREMIAH 31:3). (Some feel Jeremiah is the author of Lamentations.) We consider today’s theme:
OUR LORD’S COMPASSIONS NEVER FAIL.
I. Every morning the Lord’s compassions are new.
II. Every morning our Lord’s compassions do continue.
I. EVERY MORNING THE LORD’S COMPASSIONS ARE NEW
A. Lamentations is arranged as an acrostic poem. Each chapter contains 22 verses chapter 3 has 66.
1. The Hebrew alphabet has 22 letters. Each verse begins with successive letters of the alphabet.
2. Chap. 3 repeats the Hebrew alphabet 3 times. Each verse also repeats its same starting letter.
B. Chapter 3:1 is the exact center of the book of Lamentations. Chapter 3 is the high point of this book.
1. Verse 22. The “Lord’s great love” is his mercy. God’s mercy means much more than love.
2. God’s mercy endures and his compassions never fail. God’s people were not destroyed.
C. The author wants God’s people to realize that every single morning God was always, always faithful.
1. Even in the midst of their lamentable lives God was still good to them. Verse 23.
2. Without the Lord they had nothing. Verse 24. The Lord is always their hope no matter what.
D. It is my prayer today that none of us would ever have to endure such a life of lament that we might come to our senses in order to understand and appreciate the love, mercy, and compassion of the Lord. Each one of us, at one time or another has probably received some bad news that literally takes our breath away. We ask, “WHAT!” We are astounded, amazed, and dumbfounded. We may walk around in a fog for a number of hours or even days. Cancer, unexpected death, and guilty are only a few words that can weaken our knees. God’s compassions never fail. "Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever"(PSALM 73:25,26). In weakness God is the strength of our hearts. God is our portion/hope.
E. Though we may not always realize it God’s mercies are new every morning. We will want to wake up each day knowing, “This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!” This attitude seems easier when life is sailing along calmly. In the storms of life our Lord’s compassions never fail. Every morning we will want to have that joyful attitude. In God’s church you can discover the Lord’s mercies "The LORD within her is righteous; he does no wrong. Morning by morning he dispenses his justice, and every new day he does not fail, yet the unrighteous know no shame" (ZEPHANIAH 3:5). The world carries on concerned only about themselves. The Lord is concerned about you.
F. Every morning the Lord, our Lord’s mercies are new. Why is our Lord so concerned about us in our insignificant lives? Why does the Lord care for us and about us when we do not always care about or for God? The Lord God Almighty has created us. God gave us a soul. Our Lord wants all men to be saved and to come a knowledge of the truth. Our Lord’s compassions for us are eternal. "Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation"(ISAIAH 12:2). Eternity is far more important than anything earthly.
OUR LORD’S COMPASSIONS NEVER FAIL.
Every morning our Lord’s mercies are new.
II. EVERY DAY OUR LORD’S COMPASSIONS DO CONTINUE
A. The Lord is the all-sufficient portion for every believer. Therefore believers wait for God’s will.
1. In the midst of lamentable lives there is hope and patience. Verse 25, 26.
2. Those looking to the Lord find hope. Believers meditate on this goodness of God.
B. Verse 27. The young bear the yoke of work, money, and success alone. The Lord’s yoke is far easier.
1. Verse 28. Now the author brings the believers to consider their sinfulness.
2. Verses 29, 30. From the depth of despair there is nowhere to go but up from dust into glory.
C. Again, the Lord’s compassions never fail, verse 31. Forever man sins on earth, forever God forgives.
1. Verse 32, 33. The Lord does not send calamity. Man brings calamity on himself = sin.
2. Man’s disobedience changed God’s perfection forever. The Lord still shows compassion.
D. Judgment and discipline are two different words with different meanings and purposes. The Lord no longer sends judgment on believers. Jesus, the Son of God and our Savior, has paid the price for all of sins. Jesus has destroyed the power of the devil. Christ has removed the sting of death. Thus Jesus our Savior has taken upon himself every judgment that we deserve. The Lord does discipline the believer. God does this that we might wake up, pay attention, and be reminded of our Lord’s mercy. "Blessed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. For he wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal"(JOB 5:17,18). God’s hands are healing hands, merciful.
E. It is often in the deep ditch of despair that we finally realize our lostness. It is the sadness of sin that makes us remember the love of our Lord. Repentance is the faith of every believer that our Lord loves to forgive. Repentance changes our hearts. "Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity"(JOEL 2:13). Friends, there is no other God like this. Every false god only seeks vengeance and punishment. It is only our Lord God Almighty who abounds in love – every day.
F. Every day we can rejoice that our loving Lord does not treat us as our sins deserve. We praise God that heaven is free. No one can earn eternal life. No one deserves eternal life in the presence of the Lord. "But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved"(EPHESIANS 2:4,5). Our Lord’s compassions never fail. We were dead and now are alive. Once lost now we are found. Once blind now we see. Our Good Shepherd seeks, finds, and brings each one of us precious lambs into his fold.
CONC.: OUR LORD’S COMPASSIONS NEVER FAIL. In our lives there may be those times that we lament: Woe is me! We might even think that God is unfair. There may be times that our breath is taken away by earth shattering, bad news. BUT every morning the Lord’s compassions (his undeserved mercy) are new. AND every day the Lord’s compassions (his unearned grace) do continue. Consider Moses as he came to the end of his life. Moses killed an Egyptian and fled into the wilderness for his life. From there the Lord called Moses to lead his people. For forty years Moses and Israel wandered in the wilderness. Moses would not enter the Promised Land because of an act of disobedient pride. Yet Moses’ final words recall the Lord’s compassionate promises. "Now I am about to go the way of all the earth. You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the LORD your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed"(JOSHUA 23:14). Nothing has changed: OUR LORD’S COMPASSIONS NEVER FAIL. Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
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PENT. 6 readings:
JEREMIAH 28:5-9;
ROMANS 6:1-11;
MATTHEW 10:34-42;
(PSALM 89)
