“For the Lord will not cast off for ever: but though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.”
Jeremiah wrote the book of Lamentations during a dark time in the history of the kingdom of Judah and the city of Jerusalem. Jerusalem was under siege. Nebuchadnezzar surrounded the city with the army of Babylon and Jeremiah wrote Lamentations as a record of the happenings, enduring the siege with the other residents.
This difficult turn of events in Jerusalem was because of their idolatry; a violation of the first commandment. Time and again, through many prophets, the Lord warned them that He would judge them because of it. And every time they ignored His appeals. God’s patience lasted long, but the time came when His justice had to be satisfied. So, He sent Nebuchadnezzar to Jerusalem. This was necessary because they refused to obey His law. He told them that if they obeyed, they would live. But they had the same problem that all mankind has. Having a law to obey does not bring with it the ability to obey. In fact, having a law brings about in us all kinds of determination to disobey it. Paul teaches this in Romans 7. And from God’s own words, the soul that sins shall die.
In the middle of what he wrote, Jeremiah expressed an astounding realization about God’s character, which is recorded in Lamentations 3:19-36. Verses 22 and 23 tell us, “It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness.” The verses above are further insights into Who God is.
Verse 31 says that the Lord will not cast off forever. The words “cast off” could also be translated as forsake or reject. God’s intention with what He sent their way was for them to again look to and trust Him, not to eliminate them. As noted earlier, all the prophets spoke of God’s impending judgment for idolatry. But they all also spoke of Israel being restored to Him. In fact, they said that God would take in hand to restore them to Himself. Jeremiah may have had this in mind when he wrote the verses above. God would not cast off forever. And though at the time things looked dark and impossible, Jeremiah said things that were right about God.
This reminds of what Job said after receiving wave after wave of losses, all in a short time. Job 1: 20-22 tells us that, “…Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, and said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.” He endured great difficulties, but in them he worshipped God, trusting Him, and did not blame Him for how things had gone. It is clear from reading the book that what had befallen Job had nothing to do with his lifestyle or bad choices. In God’s plan and sovereignty Job suffered. But he did not charge God foolishly. He trusted God.
Unlike Job, what Judah and Jerusalem endured were because of their sin against God. But praise the LORD for His faithfulness to them! Praise God that He would not cast off forever!
In Lamentations 3:32 Jeremiah said, “…but though He cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.” As noted, the grief He brought on Jerusalem was intended to get them to turn away from their idolatry and to look to Him. Their sin needed to be judged and the sentence carried out. But though He cause grief, yet would He have compassion. Verse 31 reveals that God is not brutal. Verse 32 reveals that He is compassionate and merciful. Lamentations 3:22 says, “It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.”
David wrote in Psalm 103:10, 11, “He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.” Judah and Jerusalem were not consumed in their situation because God is great in mercy and compassion.
In our everyday lives events may come our way that seem to be as difficult as was the siege of Jerusalem. The Lord’s people still have the absolute assurance that He has neither left them not forsaken them. Death, divorce, illness, natural disaster are not out of God’s almighty control. Romans 8:28, 29 tells us, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” The Lord’s people still have the absolute assurance that, “…the Lord will not cast off for ever: but though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.”
God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.
Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs
And works His sovereign will.
Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.
His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.
Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain. (William Cowper)