Hans Sangtoki Bible Reading: Lamentations 3
“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)
This verse in Lamentations is undoubtedly familiar to the majority of us. We endlessly quote and sing these words. Nonetheless, we can only catch a glimmer of its profundity when we read it in context. The writer of Lamentations says, “[God] has walled me about so that I cannot escape; he has made my chains heavy; though I call and cry for help, he shuts out my prayer; he has blocked my ways with blocks of stones; he has made my paths crooked” (Lamentations 3:7-9).
In a time of exile, there was no hope to be found. The reason for exile was the people’s disobedience to God. When God is against you, there is no more comfort to be found. You are in the dark, and there is no light to hold on to. This was what it was like for those in exile. It marked the epitome of the darkest human experiences. There was nothing more evil one could experience.
Yet, in the deepest hole, the writer recalls one truth — God’s steadfast love. What is God’s steadfast love? It is unfathomable. It is too far and wide and deep for anyone to acknowledge. What does it mean to be recipients of God’s promise in Romans 8:35-37, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?… No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us”?
The following verses in Romans confirm, “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:37-38).
Nothing separates God from those whom He chose to love. Yet, we were not worthy of His love. We were not worthy of getting to know Him. He is holy, and we are not. He is perfectly good, yet we are rebelliously and ignorantly sinful. And yet, He loves us.
He loved us to the point of sending His own Son for us on the cross. Christ died for our sins so that we would be justified before God, accepted by God in Christ’s righteousness. Christ suffered the darkest experience for our sake — he took upon the Father’s wrath, which we deserved. In God’s wrath, there is no hope. There is only pure judgement from God’s holiness. Yet, Christ took this on for us because of love.
Because of Christ’s sacrifice, we are safe in His arms forever. Nothing can separate us from Him. The darkest moments of our lives will always be for good. God will always be faithful even when we cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel. What did we ever do to deserve this? Why would God choose to love us?
Yet, He does, and He loves all His children. He loves all those who would repent and believe in Him. He calls His flock to listen to Him. He gives the open invitation to those weary and burdened to come to Him and find rest. Have you put your whole trust in Him? Because He loves His children.
Lord, who can understand Your love and the hope You give to those who would trust in You? Who can fathom Your eternal wisdom and plan for salvation? Lord, thank You for Your love. Thank You that You care for wretched sinners like me. Thank You that You have forgiven me in Christ, and You promise to be faithful as You always have been. Teach me to trust You more, to love You more, to get to know You more. May Your name alone be glorified. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Hans Sangtoki (18) is the coordinator of RE Generation Z. He has a passion for serving his generation and sharing hope in Christ. He also has an interest in classical music and dreams of conducting an orchestra one day.