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LAMENTATIONS  3: 21-35

"THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD"

Intro: Jeremiah was looking at the rubble that was once Jerusalem - the glory of the earth.
       As he looked, he wept. How devastated, how hopeless.

I. IN THIS DESPAIR, HE FOUND HOPE.
        A. Looking around was case for weeping.
                1. Nothing could seem more hopeless.
                        a. The streets once crowded were empty.
                        b. The wall of defense torn down.
                        c. The once magnificent temple destroyed.
                2. We also at times face seemingly hopeless situations.
                        a. Every door is closed.
                        b. All our resources are gone.
                        c. About all that is left, is to sit and cry.
        B. In looking up, he found cause for hope.
                1. Sometimes God just shuts us up to Himself.
                2. Hopelessness is always caused by looking around.
                        a. Measure the problem with my ability.
                        b. Measure the obligations with my resources.
                        c. Measure the battle with my strength.
                3. If we could just learn to look up.

II. THE CAUSE OF HOPE.
        A. "It is the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed."
                1. As bad as it might be, it isn't as bad as I deserve.
                        a. I am still here - I still have so much. My sight - my hearing -
                           my reason.
                        b. Testimony in Chicago Mission. "I still have my appetite."
                2. Things could be worse.
        B. His compassions fail not.
                1. Because God is merciful and compassionate, I will yet have hope.
                2. He could have consumed me - He didn't.
                3. He must have spared me for a reason.
                        a. God's love is unfailing, He will yet restore me in love.
                4. Each new day gives God the opportunity to show His love to me.
        C. The faithfulness of God.
                1. God is faithful to His Word.
                        a. "No good thing will He withhold from..."
                        b. "The Lord is good to them that wait for Him; to the soul that
                            seeketh Him."
                        c. "Ask and ye shall receive, seek..."
                2. God is faithful to His nature.
                        a. He is merciful.
                        b. He is compassionate.
                3. Seeing Jeremiah weep over Jerusalem we remember another one who wept over
                   Jerusalem.

III. "IT IS GOOD THAT A MAN SHOULD BOTH HOPE AND QUIETLY WAIT FOR THE SALVATION OF THE LORD."
        A. We sometimes hope but do not quietly wait.