Lamentations 3:19-26, 39-41, 49-50, 55-58 Great Is Thy Faithfulness

Today marks the 504th anniversary of Martin Luther's launching of the Protestant Reformation in 1517. At the beginning of the 16th century, the Western church was coming to the end of a long period of forgetfulness, corruption, and turmoil. Similarly, the book of Lamentations presents a picture of a people trusting in their own righteousness— which only brought disappointment, grief, fear, and sorrow. They were inhabitants of a land "with devils filled." In the midst of all of this, the prophet can nevertheless declare, "The Lord is my portion … therefore I will hope in Him" (Lamentations 3:24). Do you bear a cross of grief or pain? Does evil seem to prosper? Don't fear—the right Man is on our side and He is from age to age the same. His mercy is forever sure. He has promised good to us—and He will be our portion as long as life endures. He is a stronghold in troubled days, a refuge evermore, and will fulfil the desires of our hearts. We hasten toward the hour when those disappointments, griefs, and fears are forgotten, because we are with Him. On this day, when we remember the work of the Reformers who called the church to return to the truths of  Scripture, we can rejoice that we serve a God who is faithful to restore His people. —Henry C. Haffner & Emma Marsh Key Words: Wormwood, Gall, Steadfast Love, New, Faithfulness, Return, Redeemed Keystone Verse: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23)