I remember my affliction and my wandering, the wormwood and the gall!
My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me. But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” Lam. 3:19–24 (NIV)
Lord Jesus, it’s awesome to wake up to your daily mercies. As we begin our Sunday, we join Jeremiah in calling to mind your great love and tenacious faithfulness. In fact, we can “call to mind” much more than Jeremiah was able to, because our place in the history of redemption is much to be preferred over his.
Jeremiah lived looking forward to your coming and the promises of the New Covenant (Jer. 31:31–34). But we live on this side of your “It is finished” declaration. Therefore, our whining should be less, our worship deeper, and our hope more certain.
Jesus, you are the reason we aren’t consumed with guilt, paralyzed with fear, and stuck in our shame. For, on the cross, you exhausted the judgment we deserve. Because of you, God has forgiven all our wickedness and will never remember our sins against us (Jer. 31:34). You became sin for us; and in you we have been declared eternally righteous (2 Cor. 5:21). Hallelujah!
It’s precisely because the gospel is this true and sweet, we also join Jeremiah in lamenting our wanderings. We need the gospel every day and every hour. Jesus don’t let us wander far. When we lose sight of your beauty, make the gall more galling; make the bitterness more bitter; make downcast feel even more desperate. We don’t want ever to get used to feeling out of fellowship with you.
In view of your steadfast love and never-failing compassion, Jesus, we proclaim you as our “portion,” peace, and hope. So very Amen we pray, in your beautiful and bountiful name.
