COV LIFE BLOG
Lamentations 3 – Hope in God in the Midst of Your Lament
As Jeremiah reflects upon the hope-giving and hope sustaining attributes of God, he first speaks about God to others: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning.” Then he speaks personally and directly to God: “great is your faithfulness.” Finally, in verse 24, Jeremiah speaks to himself about God: “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”
The word “portion” refers to a personal inheritance, an acquired possession, or a great endowment. It is real estate terminology, which the Lord himself used to 6 explain why the priestly tribe of Levi would not receive any property or possessions when the children of Israel entered into the promised land of Canaan. When the land of Canaan was divided among the twelve tribes of Israel, the tribe of Levi would not receive an inheritance in the land. Numbers 18:20 records: “And the Lord said to Aaron, ‘You shall have no inheritance in their land, neither shall you have any portion among them. I am your portion and your inheritance among the people of Israel.” The Lord did not give the tribe of Levi anything because he himself was going to be their everything. Joshua 13:33 affirms, “But to the tribe of Levi Moses gave no inheritance, the Lord God of Israel is their inheritance, just as he said to them.”
This is what the Lord is to all who trust in him. The Lord is our portion. And if this is true for Jeremiah in his lamentations, how much more is this true for those of us who have the rest of the story! This is the testimony of all who have run to the cross and put their faith in Jesus Christ for salvation: The Lord is my portion! Jesus Christ himself is the portion of his people. And God has not given each of us a piece of his Son. He has given his Son to each of us. All of Christ is our portion. He is our sure and satisfying and all sufficient portion. Our hope is in the Lord not in the material possessions of this world. Psalm 73:25-26 says, “Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” When Martha confronted Jesus because her sister Mary would not help her in the kitchen, Luke 10:42 reports that Jesus said, “Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” Choose the good portion and hope in him!
H.B. Charles, Jr.
SCRIPTURES FOR THIS SUNDAY
Read Lamentations 3 and notice the hope that the author finds in the midst of his lament. Where is that hope rooted? Where do you struggle in resting in that hope in the midst of your trial? In what practical ways can you grow in looking to Jesus in these situations?
SONG FOR THE WEEK
His Mercy Is More by Matt Papa
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