Lamentations 3:1-66, NIV
The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him;….Lamentations 3:22-25
MM
Lamentations over God’s allowed afflictions on His people because of their sins causing His anger and wrath. All is not lost for those whose hopes are in the LORD and wait patiently.
Very relevant to the current pandemic Covid-19 afflictions-Ed, 26-08-21.
For he does not willingly bring affliction….vs 33. Who can speak and have it happen if the Lord has not decreed it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come? Why should any man complain when punished for his sins? vs 37-39.
…examine our ways and test them…return to the LORD..lift our hearts and our hands to God in heaven…say…sinned and rebelled..have not forgiven..slain without pity…covered yourself with a cloud..no prayer can get through…scum and refuse…enemies..pursue them in anger and destroy them….vs 40-66.
Punishment and desperation..dark days....has driven me away and made me walk in darkness rather than light; indeed, he has turned his hand against me…soul is downcast within me. vs 1-20.
Hope-light at the end of the tunnel..his great love and compassions..new every morning..great is thy faithfulness..wait for him vs 21-26; vs 32-33.
Lamentations 3:19-48,56,58, GNB
[19]The thought of my pain, my homelessness, is bitter poison;
[20]I think of it constantly and my spirit is depressed.
[21]Yet hope returns when I remember this one thing:
[22]The Lord’s unfailing love and mercy still continue,
[23]Fresh as the morning, as sure as the sunrise.
[24]The Lord is all I have, and so I put my hope in him.
[25]The Lord is good to everyone who trusts in him,
[26]So it is best for us to wait in patience — to wait for him to save us —
[27]And it is best to learn this patience in our youth.
[28]When we suffer, we should sit alone in silent patience;
[29]We should bow in submission, for there may still be hope.
[30]Though beaten and insulted, we should accept it all.
[31]The Lord is merciful and will not reject us for ever.
[32]He may bring us sorrow, but his love for us is sure and strong.
[33]He takes no pleasure in causing us grief or pain.
[34]The Lord knows when our spirits are crushed in prison;
[35]He knows when we are denied the rights he gave us;
[36]When justice is perverted in court, he knows.
[37]The will of the Lord alone is always carried out.
[38]Good and evil alike take place at his command.
[39]Why should we ever complain when we are punished for our sin?
[40]Let us examine our ways and turn back to the Lord.
[41]Let us open our hearts to God in heaven and pray,
[42]“We have sinned and rebelled, and you, O Lord, have not forgiven us.
[43]“You pursued us and killed us; your mercy was hidden by your anger,
[44]By a cloud of fury too thick for our prayers to get through.
[45]You have made us the refuse heap of the world.
[46]“We are insulted and mocked by all our enemies.
[47]We have been through disaster and ruin; we live in danger and fear.
[48]My eyes flow with rivers of tears at the destruction of my people.
[56]And when I begged you to listen to my cry, you heard.
[58]“You came to my rescue, Lord, and saved my life.