Jeremiah 48 – Lamentations 5
*image courtesy of lcs9 at stock.xchng
A small note before we start, I’ve deviated somewhat from the reading plan today. I couldn’t stand to do just one of the five chapters of Lamentations, so I actually did all five. This will be reflected in today’s devotional.
Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ~ Lamentations 3:22-23
The verse may seem a little out of place in today’s reading. We read about the terrible judgment that fell on Jerusalem, with all the horrible tragedies that resulted. We are in the midst of thinking about the wrath of God and the suffering of the people of Israel, and then we come across these verses. How is it that Jeremiah could say that God had great love for His people, and that His compassions are new every morning? Were they new the morning the Babylonians invaded and carried away hundreds of people into exile? Were they new when people were starving to death during the siege? How can God be seen as renewing His compassion and mercy every morning if one morning He brings destruction?
Just because God’s compassion is new every morning does not mean that everyday is an automatic do-over.
Did you have do-overs when you were a kid? You goof up in kickball and call “Do over!” The ball hits too close to the line in foursquare, no one can agree on the call… “Do over!” Sometimes we expect God to grant automatic do-overs. But it’s not quite like that.
At any point, the people of Jerusalem could have repented and God would have forgiven them. God sent messenger after messenger to plead with the people to do just that. They refused to listen, even killing the messengers God sent. As we saw yesterday, they continued to reject the message even after witnessing the destruction of Jerusalem. Through it all, God stood ready to forgive His wayward people.
Just like the dew that falls fresh every morning, so God’s compassion and mercy are fresh every morning. But God’s mercy being new everyday doesn’t make our sin go away. It doesn’t mean that God has amnesia every morning. It means that everyday is a new opportunity to turn back to God. If we don’t seek God’s forgiveness we won’t receive it. But if we turn from our sin, and return to God, his mercy is new every morning and He stands ready to forgive us.
Let’s never take God forgiveness or mercy for granted. His grace is not something we deserve, but something He gives out His own love. Let’s never assume that our sins are forgiven each new day. Let’s remember to confess our sins, trusting that He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us (1 John 1:9). Let’s awake each day, knowing that if we have confessed our sins, they are behind us, and today is a new day to walk in the light as He is in the light (1 John 1:7).
*originally at Words of Reason
Words of Reason 