Hope In Hardship And Despair

Lamentations 3:19-26 (ESV) 19 Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall! 20 My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me. 21 But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: 22 The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” 25 The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. 26 It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

Hope In Hardship and Despair I. Reflect : Jeremiah Remembers the Past!

I. Reflect: Jeremiah Remembers: Lamentations 3:19-20 (ESV) 19 Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall! 20 My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me.

I. Reflect: - A Visual Call to Remember: Stones of Remembrance 1 Samuel 7:7-12 (ESV) 7 Now when the Philistines heard that the people of Israel had gathered at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the people of Israel heard of it, they were afraid of the Philistines. 8 And the people of Israel said to Samuel, “Do not cease to cry out to the LORD our God for us, that he may save us from the hand of the Philistines.” 9 So Samuel took a nursing lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. And Samuel cried out to the LORD for Israel, and the LORD answered him. 10 As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to attack Israel. But the LORD thundered with a mighty sound that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion, and they were defeated before Israel. 11 And the men of Israel went out from Mizpah and pursued the Philistines and struck them, as far as below Beth-car. 12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and called its name Ebenezer; for he said, “Till now the LORD has helped us.”

I. Reflect: - A Verbal Call to Remember Deuteronomy 8:1-5 (ESV) 1 “The whole commandment that I command you today you shall be careful to do, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land that the LORD swore to give to your fathers. 2 And you shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. 3 And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. 4 Your clothing did not wear out on you and your foot did not swell these forty years. 5 Know then in your heart that, as a man disciplines his son, the LORD your God disciplines you.

I. Jeremiah Remembers/Reflects on: A) Afflictions B) Wanderings C) The wormwood and the gall

Lamentations 3 is an Acrostic About Affliction and Wandering(A-Z): My Acrostic by Tim Hale Turbulent were the waters of my life In vain I searched for peace and tranquility My soul was cast down in me But, Just as the waters covered my head I lifted up my eyes to the LORD Lovingly He reached down to me Life was restored to my inner being

I. Jeremiah’s Reflection brings sadness and contemplation: Lamentations 3:19-20 (ESV) 19 Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall! 20 My soul continually remembers it and is = bowed down within me.

The A-Zs of despair are too difficult to handle on our own.

I. Reflect: Jeremiah Remembers: II. Remind: Jeremiah Calls to Mind Lamentations 3:21-23 (ESV) 21 But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: 22 The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

II. Remind: Jeremiah Calls to Mind God’s Character A) The steadfast love of the LORD B) His never-ending mercies C) His great faithfulness.

3) God ‘s Faithfulness in spite of our sin: 1 John 1:8-9 (ESV) 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

II. Remind: Jeremiah Calls to Mind God’s Character and gives Him Hope Lamentations 3:21-23 (ESV) 21 But this I call to mind, and = therefore I have hope: 22 The 1) steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; 2) his mercies a) never come to an end; 23 b)they are new every morning; 3) great is your faithfulness.

I. Reflect: Jeremiah Remembers: II. Remind: Jeremiah Calls to Mind III. Repeat: Jeremiah Talks to Himself Lamentations 3:24-26 (ESV) 24 “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” 25 The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. 26 It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

I Say To myself

III. Repeat: Jeremiah Talks to Himself 1) The LORD is my portion 2) The LORD is good 3) one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

III. Repeat: Jeremiah Talks to Himself Lamentations 3:24-26 (ESV) 24 “1) The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” 25 2) The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. 26 It is good that 3) one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

Portion: A) A Basic Means of Livelihood Genesis 31:13-16 (ESV) 13 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and made a vow to me. Now arise, go out from this land and return to the land of your kindred.’” 14 Then Rachel and Leah answered and said to him, “Is there any portion or inheritance left to us in our father’s house? 15 Are we not regarded by him as foreigners? For he has sold us, and he has indeed devoured our money. 16 All the wealth that God has taken away from our father belongs to us and to our children. Now then, whatever God has said to you, do.”

Portion: B) A Sign That a Person is Part of the Community/Family Joshua 15:13 (ESV) 13 According to the commandment of the LORD to Joshua, he gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh a portion among the people of Judah, Kiriath-arba, that is, Hebron (Arba was the father of Anak).

We Have a Portion—A life Sustaining Sign That Makes Us Part of the Community! Ephesians 1:13-14 (ESV) 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

III. Repeat: Jeremiah Talks to Himself 2) The LORD is good a)to those who wait for him b)to the soul who seeks him

a) Wait for Him Isaiah 40:31 (ESV) 31 but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

b) To the soul who seeks Him: Jeremiah 29:11-14 (ESV) 11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, declares the LORD, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the LORD, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.

III. Repeat: Jeremiah Talks to Himself Lamentations 3:24-26 (ESV) 24 “1) The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” 25 2) The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. 26 It is good that 3) one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.