“This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope …” Lamentations 3:21.
Jeremiah, a prophet of God, wrote these words. Who was Jeremiah? What exactly is a prophet? What did he recall to his mind to bring him hope? Why was he so hope-less?
At a time like this, with a world filled with violence, and sudden destruction, and immorality, and confusion, perhaps we should recall the same things Jeremiah did, that gave him hope.
Jeremiah lived in a time filled with much the same as what we experience today, only, this was around 600BC.
Jeremiah was a prophet of God. Webster’s Dictionary’s definition from back in 1828 reminds us that a prophet: In Scripture, (is) a person illuminated, inspired or instructed by God to announce future events; as Moses, Elijah, David, Isaiah, etc.
Etc., including, Jeremiah. He was instructed by God to tell His people, (the nation of Judah, the children of Israel,) that they were bringing an avalanche upon themselves in judgement because they had turned away from their God.
Jeremiah was to show the people they had turned their back on their Creator-King, their Provider, their Protector. The One who gave them manna from heaven, the One who was their ‘pillar of cloud’ to lead the way, and their ‘pillar of fire’ to give them light in the night.
Jeremiah prophesied for 40 years warning the people of destruction if they didn’t turn their faces to God. Not one person turned. Zero, zilch, nada.
Jeremiah is known as the weeping prophet. But, he wept for the people, not himself.
Jeremiah wrote: “All your enemies have opened their mouth against you; they hiss and gnash their teeth. They say, “We have swallowed her up! Surely this is the day we have waited for; we have found it, we have seen it!” ( Lamentations 2:16).
Jeremiah weeps. He also writes: “Their heart cried out to the Lord.” (Lamentations 2:18).
Jeremiah reminds the people of Jerusalem’s hope: To cry out to the Lord,”O wall of the daughter of Zion, let tears run down like a river day and night; Give yourself no relief; Give your eyes no rest. Arise cry out in the night … pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord …” ( Lamentations 2:18,19).
Jeremiah deals with depression and the devastation around him, and he writes words that are hope.
Hope for him, Jeremiah who wept, and those whom he would hope to hear him back then. And, hope for me and for you, if our hearts are soft, if we are willing to hear. Jeremiah wrote inspired by the Lord:
“This I recall to mind, therefore I have hope. Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.
“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, therefore I hope in Him!”
The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly …
For the salvation of the LORD.”(Lamentations 3:21-26).
Jeremiah, I hear the words you proclaim from the Lord,so many, many years later. I am here to turn my face to the Lord, for such a time as this.
Let us,’pour out our hearts like water before the Lord’s face.
“Hear our cries Lord to You. We will trust in You, for You are our God.” Amen.
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