Today marks the 504th anniversary of Martin Luther’s launching of the Protestant Reformation in 1517. At the beginning of the 16th century, the Western church was coming to the end of a long period of forgetfulness, corruption, and turmoil. Similarly, the book of Lamentations presents a picture of a people trusting in their own righteousness— which only brought disappointment, grief, fear, and sorrow. They were inhabitants of a land “with devils filled.” In the
midst of all of this, the prophet can nevertheless declare, “The Lord is my portion … therefore I will hope in Him” (Lamentations 3:24). Do you bear a cross of grief or pain? Does evil seem to prosper? Don’t fear—the right Man is on our side and He is from age to age the same. His mercy is forever sure. He has promised good to us—and He will be our portion as long as life endures. He is a stronghold in troubled days, a refuge evermore, and will fulfil the desires of our
hearts. We hasten toward the hour when those disappointments, griefs, and fears are forgotten, because we are with Him. On this day, when we remember the work of the Reformers who called the church to return to the truths of
Scripture, we can rejoice that we serve a God who is faithful to restore His people.
—Henry C. Haffner & Emma Marsh
Key Words: Wormwood, Gall, Steadfast Love, New, Faithfulness, Return, Redeemed
Keystone Verse: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23)
Lamentations 3:19-26, 39-41, 49-50, 55-58
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.
39 Why should a living man complain, a man, about the punishment of his sins? 40 Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord! 41 Let us lift up our hearts and hands to God in heaven… 49 “My eyes will flow without ceasing, without respite, 50 until the Lord from heaven looks down and sees; 55 I called on your name, O Lord, from the depths of the pit; 56 You heard my plea, ‘Do not close Your ear to my cry for help!’ 57 You came near when I called on You; You said, ‘Do not fear!’ 58 You have taken up my cause, O Lord; You have redeemed my life.”