As we have considered the attributes of God, last week we looked at God never changing. The God of the Old Testament is the same God of the New Testament. Only God can say “I never change.” (Malachi 3:6). Very closely related to the unchangeableness of God is His faithfulness.
When we encounter a most holy God, we cannot help but reflect on the contrast between God and ourselves. When we see how very holy God is, we begin to see how unholy we are. When we see how mighty God is, we begin to see how weak and dependent on Him we are. And when we see how faithful He is in all things, we realize how unfaithful we really are.
This morning we will be looking through the Book of Lamentations, Which is Jeremiah’s weeping for his people. We see that that ancient Israel learned that lesson of being unfaithful to God the hard way, yet God’s faithfulness shows through.
Lamentations 3:22–24
In 1996, Marine Corps Commandant Charles C. Krulak began a program to remind Marines of the basic foundation of the Marine Corps known as the Core Values Program. General Krulak, re-emphasized the importance of returning to the Marine Corps' core tenets of honor, courage, and commitment. [1]
However, 1998 there was a call from the highest officials outside of the pentagon for the military to re-evaluated UCMJ (The Uniform Code of Military Justice) on the subject of adultery. The contention being was that military was much more strict and harsh over this matter than they needed to be. It just so happened that in this same time frame the President, then Bill Clinton, was being accused of perjury concerning his adulterous affair with Monica Lewinsky and in fact, later that year, in December 1998, Bill Clinton was impeached by the House of Representatives. So there was real interest in the matter of seriousness of the crime of adultery. It would seem that from the highest levels of Government, there was much interest downplaying the impact of adultery.
So the Military joint chiefs began to look into the matter of easing the penalties for the crime of adultery within the ranks of the military. The Marine Corps had made its opposition to leniency for adultery clear. In an email letter to the Navy Times, Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Charles Krulak wrote: "Downgrade the consequences of adultery--lower standards? Not in the Marine Corps. Not under this commandant!"
He continued: "Having fought two tours in Vietnam and once in Desert Storm, I drew strength from Marines . . . who knew what `vow' meant, and that I could count on them to meet their commitments. A Marine who would cheat on his spouse is a Marine who lacks commitment." [2]
“Semper Fidelis” (“Always Faithful”) is the official motto of the Marine Corps. General Krulak, a devout Christian, essentially said, what part of being “always faithful” do you propose we do away with? He stood firm his ground and in the end, the military ended up tightening the UCMJ regulation concerning adultery. (Unfortunately, the UCMJ has loosen it’s penalties for adultery in recent years.)
The Marines are called to be “Always Faithful” in all aspects of their conduct, on and off the battle field. How much more faithful is our heavenly Father! Whether we are ensnared by life’s hardships and struggles, or faced with overwhelming temptations, we are never cut off from God’s faithfulness. He is true to His character. He is reliable and trustworthy and can be counted on always.
What does God's faithfulness mean to us? Here’s a simple definition: “God’s faithfulness means that everything He says and does is certain.” He is 100% reliable, 100% of the time. He does not fail, forget, falter, change, or disappoint. He says what He means and means what He says ¬ and therefore does everything He says He will do.
Here are some key Passages on God’s Faithfulness:
Deuteronomy 7:9 Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments
Joshua 21:45 Not one of the good promises which the LORD had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass.
Psalm 89:8 O LORD God of hosts, who is like You, O mighty LORD? Your faithfulness also surrounds You.
1 Corinthians 1:9 God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 Thessalonians 5:24 Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.
Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;
I could easily go on and one with many other references. The Bible is full of passages about the faithfulness of God. But as we examine the faithfulness of God, there is good news and bad news – How can there be bad news about god's faithfulness? Hang with me for a minute. First the bad news.
When looking at today’s passage and we place it into context, we see from the little book of Lamentations God’s faithfulness, both from a negative light as again from a positive light. Lamentations is a series of 5 dirges or funeral laments. Jeremiah grieved over the fate of Jerusalem because of her many sins. Lamentations reminds us that sin, in spite of all its allurement and excitement, carries with it the heavy weights of sorrow and grief, misery and pain. It is the other side of the 'eat, drink, and be merry‘ coin.
Lamentations 1:1 How lonely sits the city That was full of people! She has become like a widow Who was once great among the nations! She who was a princess among the provinces Has become a forced laborer!
Jeremiah, the writer of Lamentations, personifies the city of Jerusalem. Jerusalem is like a widow – all the people have been carried off into captivity and the temple laid in ruins. Solomon’s magnificent temple, a real wonder in the ancient world, where people from all over the known world would come and admire, now laid in ruins.
Lamentations 1:2 She weeps bitterly in the night And her tears are on her cheeks; She has none to comfort her Among all her lovers. All her friends have dealt treacherously with her; They have become her enemies.
Instead of trusting the Lord, Judah had allied herself with heathen/pagan nations, referred to as her lovers by Jeremiah. Where were they now? Jerusalem was being destroyed and all of Judah’s friends had abandoned them. God considered her actions the same as adultery. They trusted their so called “friends” rather than God.
When we consider the faithfulness of God. We must consider all aspects of His faithfulness. God warned the people of Judah over and over. And now Judah and Jerusalem are paying the price.
Ezekiel 18:30 “Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, each according to his conduct,” declares the Lord GOD. “Repent and turn away from all your transgressions, so that iniquity may not become a stumbling block to you.
God is faithful. They did not repent, so God judged. That is the bad news. God will do exactly what He says He will do. If God says He will judge, He will judge.
Lamentations 3:19–20 Remember my affliction and my wandering, the wormwood and bitterness. 20 Surely my soul remembers And is bowed down within me.
Recalling the all the afflictions from God, Jeremiah’s heart sinks to despair. Jeremiah recalls what God said He would do, and he despairs over the plight of his people. But this brings us to verse 21, the good news about God’s faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:21 This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope.
What a contrast with the previous verses. Why does he now have hope as he was remembering his despair? The same God that brought the disaster, will also bring recovery.
Lamentations 3:22–23 22 The LORD’S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.
Hymn we sang earlier is all about these verses:
"Great is Thy faithfulness," O God my Father, There is no shadow of turning with Thee; Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.
God’s compassion does not change. As we have read before from Ezekiel, God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. His compassion is just one of the unchanging natures of God.
"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! [3]
As God’s people, He will not consume us – or utterly destroy us. Note – this is for God’s people. God said he would have compassion. God said he would bring judgment which He had done so. God also said He would bring restoration, which from Jeremiah’s point of view, He will do it. From our point of view, looking back in history, we see God has done all that He said He would do.
What amazes me, when I read these Old Testament stories is the patience of God. And we see how patient he has been with us. If God delays His wrath, on us, it is only because he does not desire for any to perish but for all to come into repentance (2 Peter 3:9).
But Jeremiah can see that recovery is on the way. That is why Jeremiah says:
Lamentations 3:24 “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him.”
God is faithful. He will do just as he says. How does He act towards His people?
Lamentations 3:25–27 25 The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the person who seeks Him. 26 It is good that he waits silently For the salvation of the LORD. 27 It is good for a man that he should bear The yoke in his youth.
These verses reveals some qualities of genuine faith: belief in God’s goodness to (1) those who trust in him; Verse 25; (2) confidently and without complaint waiting for God’s help; (3) willingness to accept hardship and testing, knowing that they strengthen faith-That is the yoke in verse 27.
Hardships in life is to expected – Jesus says as much, “In this life you will have trouble” (John 16:33), Jesus also tells us to “take up our cross daily and follow Him” (Luke 9:23). but God is faithful to His promises – let’s look at a few:
Deuteronomy 31:8 The LORD is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”
These verse are repeated in several places in the Scriptures. God says this to Joshua and we read it over in Hebrews 13:5, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
God faithfulness says He will never leave us. If anyone leaves, it’s us, not God.
Matthew 28:20b and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Some of God’s promises are conditional. If we do as He has asked, then he will act:
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
2 Chronicles 7:14 and [if] My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
But notice in all of these things, God faithfulness applies to His people. The question this morning is this, are you part of God’s people? Will you meet the conditions God set?
If we confess, If we will humble ourselves and seek His face?
God does not promise us that life will be easy, but He does promise He will be with us and never leave us. Jesus tells us to have our treasures in heaven. The question is not His faithfulness, it is about us trusting in His faithfulness.
Do you trust Him today, with your life, with your processions, with your eternity? Do you trust God to be faithful?
[1] www.researchgate.net/publication/235122870_Honor_Courage_Commitment_and_Adultery
[2] www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1998-07-30-9807300186-story.html
[3] Great is Thy Faithfulness © 1923. Ren. 1951 Hope Publishing Co., Carol Stream, IL 60188
