Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. His mercies are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23
These words were penned by Jeremiah in the short book of Lamentations in a dire situation. Jerusalem had fallen to Babylon, and it was a time of deep grief and national mourning. Most of this book is lamenting, but sandwiched in the middle we find incredible hope in the meaning of Lamentations 3:22-23.
This passage is the perfect reminder for us today. Many find themselves in dire situations that seem hopeless. But this promise still rings true, God’s mercies are new every morning.
The Meaning Of Lamentations 3:22-23
The book of Lamentations deals with suffering. More specifically the suffering of God’s people. Amid unthinkable tragedy, Jeremiah (the author) describes his agony in the face of this suffering.
Despite the heartbreak and agony this book still contains an incredible message of hope. And that’s where the meaning of Lamentations 3:22-23 shines through.
Because Of The Lord’s Great Love Meaning
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed…
In the middle of tragedy and suffering we might be tempted to think God doesn’t love us. But this passage starts off with this reminder, God loves us.
Some translations call this God’s steadfast love. Steadfast means firmly fixed or immovable. In other words, nothing we have faced or will face can possibly remove us from God’s love.
Everything that follows is because of God’s love for us. And it’s important that we keep this on the forefront of our mind. The rest of the Lamentations 3:22-23 meaning ties into this first truth.
His Compassions Never Fail Meaning
for his compassions never fail…
This builds off the first part of this passage. God’s compassion, his mercy, is a byproduct of his love. Because his love is steadfast and knows no end, neither will his compassion.
The word that is translated as “fail” or sometimes “end” is the Hebrew word kalah. It means complete, be concluded, be gone, be finished, be accomplished, or come to an end. This word carries with it a finality.
But in the meaning of Lamentations 3:22-23, there’s a never in front of it. In other words, God’s mercy toward you will never finish, be concluded, or come to and end. It will never fail.
Because God’s love is steadfast his mercy and compassion will continue on through eternity.
God’s Mercies Are New Every Morning Meaning
His mercies are new every morning…
Every time we wake up, God’s mercies are new. This is another way of showing us that God’s mercy will never run out. Regardless of how often you rely on God’s compassion, there will be more for you tomorrow.
Now, this isn’t a get out of hell free card that we can abuse. It’s not a license to sin however we want. That’s missing the point of the meaning of Lamentation 3:22-23. Rather, this is an opportunity to return to God even after we screw up.
We don’t need to worry about God’s mercy running dry. God’s mercies are new every morning.
Great Is Your Faithfulness Meaning
great is your faithfulness…
This last part ties the whole passage together. We receive mercy and compassion not because we are faithful, but because God is faithful. It’s his faithfulness to his promise that allows us to receive his mercies.
How Do We Receive God’s Mercies Every Day?
Now that we’ve looked at the meaning of Lamentations 3:22-23, let’s look at how we can practically apply it to our everyday life. Here are five ways you can receive God’s mercies every day.
1. Through Faith
Hebrews 11:1 tells us “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Faith is our response to the great and steadfast love he has shown us. He’s done the heavy lifting and in response we place our faith in him.
Now, faith isn’t just about what we believe in our heads. But also how we choose to live our lives. Our faith should have a direct impact on what we do and how we do it. Faith requires action. For more check out: What It Means To Follow Jesus
We receive God’s mercies by placing our faith in him.
2. With Prayer
God’s mercies are true in the good seasons and the bad seasons. And what we need is to be reminded of this, especially on difficult days. God’s mercies are true even then.
How we go about that is through prayer. Prayer isn’t about getting something from God, but rather connecting with him. When we pray we can be strengthened, encouraged, and reminded that God’s mercies are new for us each and every morning.
3. By Being Still
We are surrounded by noise, notifications, and things that are clamoring for our attention. With all the distractions it can be hard to hear the voice of God and receive his mercy. That’s why we need to be still.
That’s what David is getting at in Psalm 46:10. Each of us needs to find time to get away from the noise, turn off our phones, and focus on what is most important.
Being still is more challenging than ever in our culture, but it’s also more important than ever.
4. Through Remembering
It’s so easy to forget what God has done for us and become fixated on all the problems in front of us. Through remembering how God has cared for us in the past we can be encouraged to continue to trust in him in the present.
Remember God’s mercies from yesterday so that you can be encouraged that they are still true today.
5. By Focusing
You cannot receive God’s mercies if you aren’t looking for God’s mercies.
This goes back to being still. When we are constantly moving and distracted by all the things in this world we will never notice God’s mercies. Keep your eyes on God and not the storms and distractions around you.
Closing Thoughts On The Meaning Of Lamentations 3:22-23
Whatever you’ve done, wherever you’ve been, God’s mercies are new for you every morning. His steadfast love will never fail you. He’s made a way for you to get back to him and live in the love, joy, and peace that he has for you.
The meaning of Lamentations 3:22-23 is a powerful reminder of what God has done for us. And it’s a verse that each of us should reflect on and commit to memory.
BA in Biblical Studies - Ozark Christian College (2012)
MA in Theology - Regent University (2019)
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