When we sing the hymn Great is Thy Faithfulness, do we forget that the original verses are in the middle of Lamentations? Somehow, for me, remembering that gives them more pathos...
"...my soul is downcast within me.
Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope:
Because of the LORD's great love
we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him."
The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;
it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the LORD.
It is good for a man to bear the yoke
while he is young.
Let him sit alone in silence,
for the LORD has laid it on him.
Let him bury his face in the dust—
there may yet be hope.
Let him offer his cheek
to one who would strike him,
and let him be filled with disgrace.
For men are not cast off
by the Lord forever.
Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,
so great is his unfailing love.
For he does not willingly bring affliction
or grief to the children of men."
Lamentations 3: 20-33
Slightly less profound: have been busy this morning contacting various people about the Christmas nativity we are doing at church. Am in charge of props - how exciting!!
Today: 3-4/10, medium-high
Yesterday: 4 going down to 2, high
1 comment:
"...Let him sit alone in silence,
for the LORD has laid it on him.
Let him bury his face in the dust-..."
This section reminds me of one of the great Christians (Martin Luther, perhaps?) who, the story is told, was in such despair over his sins that he was face down on the ground before the Lord in repentance. We get so caught up in thinking we aren't so bad as the next person that I don't think we even recognize half our sins any more. Would to God that we would actually come to a true repentance...and I'm speaking to myself first and foremost.
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