“This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.”
- Lam_3:21
Memory is frequently the bond slave of despondency. Dispairing minds call to remembrance every dark foreboding in the past, and dilate upon every gloomy feature in the present; thus memory, clothed in sackcloth, presents to the mind a cup of mingled gall and wormwood. There is, however, no necessity for this. Wisdom can readily transform memory into an angel of comfort. That same recollection which in its left hand brings so many gloomy omens, may be trained to bear in its right a wealth of hopeful signs. She need not wear a crown of iron, she may encircle her brow with a fillet of gold, all spangled with stars. Thus it was in Jeremiah’s experience: in the previous verse memory had brought him to deep humiliation of soul: “My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me;” and now this same memory restored him to life and comfort. “This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.” Like a two-edged sword, his memory first killed his pride with one edge, and then slew his despair with the other. As a general principle, if we would exercise our memories more wisely, we might, in our very darkest distress, strike a match which would instantaneously kindle the lamp of comfort. There is no need for God to create a new thing upon the earth in order to restore believers to joy; if they would prayerfully rake the ashes of the past, they would find light for the present; and if they would turn to the book of truth and the throne of grace, their candle would soon shine as aforetime. Be it ours to remember the lovingkindness of the Lord, and to rehearse his deeds of grace. Let us open the volume of recollection which is so richly illuminated with memorials of mercy, and we shall soon be happy. Thus memory may be, as Coleridge calls it, “the bosom-spring of joy,” and when the Divine Comforter bends it to his service, it may be chief among earthly comforters.
Lam 3:21 But there's one other thing I remember, and remembering, I keep a grip on hope:
Lam 3:22 GOD's loyal love couldn't have run out, his merciful love couldn't have dried up.
Lam 3:23 They're created new every morning. How great your faithfulness!
Lam 3:24 I'm sticking with GOD (I say it over and over). He's all I've got left.
Lam 3:25 GOD proves to be good to the man who passionately waits, to the woman who diligently seeks.
Lam 3:26 It's a good thing to quietly hope, quietly hope for help from GOD.
Lam 3:27 It's a good thing when you're young to stick it out through the hard times.
Lam 3:28 When life is heavy and hard to take, go off by yourself. Enter the silence.
Lam 3:29 Bow in prayer. Don't ask questions: Wait for hope to appear.
Lam 3:30 Don't run from trouble. Take it full-face. The "worst" is never the worst.
Lam 3:31 Why? Because the Master won't ever walk out and fail to return.
Lam 3:32 If he works severely, he also works tenderly. His stockpiles of loyal love are immense.
Lam 3:33 He takes no pleasure in making life hard, in throwing roadblocks in the way:
Lam 3:34 Stomping down hard on luckless prisoners,
Lam 3:35 Refusing justice to victims in the court of High God,
Lam 3:36 Tampering with evidence-- the Master does not approve of such things.
Lam 3:37 Who do you think "spoke and it happened"? It's the Master who gives such orders.
Lam 3:38 Doesn't the High God speak everything, good things and hard things alike, into being?
Lam 3:39 And why would anyone gifted with life complain when punished for sin?
Lam 3:40 Let's take a good look at the way we're living and reorder our lives under GOD.
- Lam_3:21
Memory is frequently the bond slave of despondency. Dispairing minds call to remembrance every dark foreboding in the past, and dilate upon every gloomy feature in the present; thus memory, clothed in sackcloth, presents to the mind a cup of mingled gall and wormwood. There is, however, no necessity for this. Wisdom can readily transform memory into an angel of comfort. That same recollection which in its left hand brings so many gloomy omens, may be trained to bear in its right a wealth of hopeful signs. She need not wear a crown of iron, she may encircle her brow with a fillet of gold, all spangled with stars. Thus it was in Jeremiah’s experience: in the previous verse memory had brought him to deep humiliation of soul: “My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me;” and now this same memory restored him to life and comfort. “This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.” Like a two-edged sword, his memory first killed his pride with one edge, and then slew his despair with the other. As a general principle, if we would exercise our memories more wisely, we might, in our very darkest distress, strike a match which would instantaneously kindle the lamp of comfort. There is no need for God to create a new thing upon the earth in order to restore believers to joy; if they would prayerfully rake the ashes of the past, they would find light for the present; and if they would turn to the book of truth and the throne of grace, their candle would soon shine as aforetime. Be it ours to remember the lovingkindness of the Lord, and to rehearse his deeds of grace. Let us open the volume of recollection which is so richly illuminated with memorials of mercy, and we shall soon be happy. Thus memory may be, as Coleridge calls it, “the bosom-spring of joy,” and when the Divine Comforter bends it to his service, it may be chief among earthly comforters.
Lam 3:21 But there's one other thing I remember, and remembering, I keep a grip on hope:
Lam 3:22 GOD's loyal love couldn't have run out, his merciful love couldn't have dried up.
Lam 3:23 They're created new every morning. How great your faithfulness!
Lam 3:24 I'm sticking with GOD (I say it over and over). He's all I've got left.
Lam 3:25 GOD proves to be good to the man who passionately waits, to the woman who diligently seeks.
Lam 3:26 It's a good thing to quietly hope, quietly hope for help from GOD.
Lam 3:27 It's a good thing when you're young to stick it out through the hard times.
Lam 3:28 When life is heavy and hard to take, go off by yourself. Enter the silence.
Lam 3:29 Bow in prayer. Don't ask questions: Wait for hope to appear.
Lam 3:30 Don't run from trouble. Take it full-face. The "worst" is never the worst.
Lam 3:31 Why? Because the Master won't ever walk out and fail to return.
Lam 3:32 If he works severely, he also works tenderly. His stockpiles of loyal love are immense.
Lam 3:33 He takes no pleasure in making life hard, in throwing roadblocks in the way:
Lam 3:34 Stomping down hard on luckless prisoners,
Lam 3:35 Refusing justice to victims in the court of High God,
Lam 3:36 Tampering with evidence-- the Master does not approve of such things.
Lam 3:37 Who do you think "spoke and it happened"? It's the Master who gives such orders.
Lam 3:38 Doesn't the High God speak everything, good things and hard things alike, into being?
Lam 3:39 And why would anyone gifted with life complain when punished for sin?
Lam 3:40 Let's take a good look at the way we're living and reorder our lives under GOD.
Lam 3:41 Let's lift our hearts and hands at one and the same time, praying to God in heaven:
Lamentations 3:40-42
The prophet urges men to search out their faults and amend them.
Lam_3:40
And turn again to the Lord - Or, “and return to Yahweh.” The prep. (to) in the Hebrew implies not half way, but the whole.
Lam_3:41
Literally, “Let us lift up our heart unto our hands unto God in heaven;” as if the heart first lifted up the hands, and then with them mounted up in prayer to God. In real prayer the outward expression is caused by the emotion stirring within.
The prophet urges men to search out their faults and amend them.
Lam_3:40
And turn again to the Lord - Or, “and return to Yahweh.” The prep. (to) in the Hebrew implies not half way, but the whole.
Lam_3:41
Literally, “Let us lift up our heart unto our hands unto God in heaven;” as if the heart first lifted up the hands, and then with them mounted up in prayer to God. In real prayer the outward expression is caused by the emotion stirring within.
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