21 Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope:
22 Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
24 I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him.”
25 The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;
26 it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the LORD.
31 For no one is cast off
by the Lord forever.
32 Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,
so great is his unfailing love.
33 For he does not willingly bring affliction
or grief to anyone
Lamentations 3:21-26; 31-33 (NIV)
BIG IDEA
Lament beckons us to mourn the sin around us and within us and to in the God who saves us.
“The acrostic reminds the lamenter that God orders the universe. In the midst of chaos and beyond the immediacy of suffering, God demonstrates control. Even as the fullness of suffering is unleashed and the complete story is revealed, God remains faithful and offers his shalom to a broken world.”
–Soong-Chan Rah, Prophetic Lament, p.114
WHAT LAMENT HELPS US TO DO
- Lament with others
- Lament for others.
- Lament holds out for ourselves and others.
TAKE ACTION!
What is God inviting us into?
- How can we become embodied acrostics that provide space for healing, reconciliation, and hope amid the suffering around us?
- How can we become embodied acrostics that move into the communities around us, bringing God’s shalom to hurting people?
- How are we responding to the prophetic call today? How are we moving beyond our culture’s hyper-individualism to follow the biblical example of Lamentations?
- Consider memorizing Lamentations 3:21-26. Reflect on God’s character and why that is an anchor of hope.