Lamentations 3 12-3-98

1. Intro:
1.1. Here we find ourselves at the heart of this 5-fold memorial.
1.2. This is the turning point in Jeremiah’s experience of grief & prayer.
1.3. The verses or stanzas run in triads {1,2,3, = a}
1.4. Outline: He looked to Himself; He looked to the Lord; He looked to the people!

2. LOOKING AT HIMSELF! (1-18)
2.1. Here we have Jeremiah’s anguish.
2.1.1. Dakes finds 32 sufferings & sorrows of Jeremiah in these 1st 18 vs.
2.1.2. Also note the “He has” statements. (17 x’s)
2.2. Vs.4-10 - He saw himself an aged man, on a winding path, in the dark, being pursued by lions, tigers, & bears, oh my!
2.2.1. Well a lion & a bear(10,11).
2.2.2. He depicts God as [1] 2 wild animals ready to tear in pieces whatever crosses its path. [2] A sklled huntsman finding his amrk in such vulnerable organs as the kidneys.
2.3. Vs.12,13 - He felt like William Tell’s son.
2.3.1. William Tell, legendary 14th cent. Swiss hero/marksman. He refused obeisance to Gessler(the Austrian governor). As punishment he was forced to shoot an apple off his young son's head. He did w/a crossbow, but told Gessler if he hit his son he would kill him. He then was imprisoned. In revenge, Tell killed Gessler, setting off the revolt that ousted the bailiffs on Jan. 1, 1308. The legend is a distortion of actual events that led in 1291 to the formation of the Everlasting League among the forest cantons of Uri, Schwyz, and Unterwalden. 1

2.3.2. (13) – Then he felt like Gessler…direct hit.

2.4. Vs.16 – “broken my teeth w/gravel” - A form of punishment in which food-stuff were contaminated before being administered.
2.4.1. Here’s an example you’ll remember! - Ex.32:20 “Then he took the calf which they had made, burned it in the fire, and ground it to powder; and he scattered it on the water and made the children of Israel drink it.”
2.4.2. Solomon said(Prov.20:17) “Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.”
2.4.2.1. Grit got into the bread during the baking process.

2.5. Vs.18 – The more he considered his feelings the more helpless he felt.
2.5.1. Then! He looked away from himself, & by faith…”LOOKED TO THE LORD!” (19-39)

3. LOOKING TO THE LORD! (19-39)
3.1. Job 13:15 “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.”
3.2. Vs.21 – Now he can say he has hope…WHY?
3.2.1. [1] Because of what is about to follow…God’s divine character.
3.2.1.1. Mercy, compassion, faithfulness!
3.2.2. [2] or because, Jeremiah’s very weakness gives him the hope of God giving him His strength.
3.3. Vs.22-24 –
3.4. Mercies - “God's wrath comes by measure; his mercy without measure.”
3.4.1. Why not enough Mercy for a whole year or for a lifetime…up front? - Rabbi Ben Jochai's parable - "Once there was a king who had a son to whom he gave a yearly allowance, paying him the entire sum on the fixed date. It soon happened that the day on which the allowance was due was the only day of the year when the father ever saw his son. So the king changed his plan and gave his son day by day that which was sufficient for the day; and then the son visited his father every morning. How he needed his father's unbroken love, companionship, wisdom and giving! Thus God dealt with Israel and deals with us."

3.5. Compassion’s – unending, unfailing, never ending, never failing! “Compassion is love in action!”
3.5.1. Mt.7:10,11 "…what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?" Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”

3.6. New Every morning - If God’s compassion’s are “new every morning” you have the right to claim them daily!
3.6.1. Let each day be the dawn of a new day.
3.6.1.1. Isn’t this the concept of “not letting the sun go down on your wrath?”
3.6.2. Start over again! – no