Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for his mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness!
Lamentations 3:22-23

As the name suggests, Lamentations is a book of lament, grieving over the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. by the Babylonians and the captivity and exile of Judah (2 Kings 25; Jerimiah 52).

When a covenant is formed, blessings and cursing are included to emphasize the obligations on the parties that enter into the covenant. The Babylonian captivity and the destruction of the temple were a direct consequence of Israel failing to maintain covenant faithfulness with God. God used human agents, Babylon, to exercise his judgment against Israel.

Once a beautiful and prosperous city, envied by other cities, Jerusalem now lay in ruin. In Judah’s capital city, the inhabitants had lived lavish lifestyles and had abundant food stores. Now those who were unfortunate to not have been killed during the siege had to contend with ash heaps, starvation, and in some cases resorted to cannibalizing their own children.

In the middle of bemoaning the devastation of the formerly glorious Jerusalem, the author of Lamentations recalls the covenant God made with his people, Israel. Just as God was faithful to his word when he judged Judah, the author proclaims the hope found in God’s faithful love and never-ending mercies. In God’s faithful love and mercy, there is hope that his judgment will not be permanent and that his people will be restored to him.

As we see God’s wrath dispensed upon Israel for their sin, we should recall God’s divine judgment that our own sin demands. But as with the author of Lamentations, we have hope in God’s faithful love and mercy. In his faithful love and mercy, God sent the Messiah to die on the cross and bear the full wrath of judgment for our sins. When we turn from our sins and place our faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone, we find restoration in the mercy of our faithful God.

Let us continually remember and rejoice that, Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for his mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness! I say, “The Lord is my portion. Therefore I will put my hope in him.”