The context of this verse is particularly interesting today, and for what we are going over today, I felt as though we should cover a verse in the Bible that is ultimately filled with hope and comfort for believers. For the twenty verses before this, the writer of Lamentations listed all of his struggles and afflictions. We can relate to this – life is hard. It can be full of pain, difficulty, and sorrow. Yet after all of his time spent writing about his troubles and afflictions, the writer says, “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end.”
The Hebrew word that was used for the word “love” in this verse is “hesed.” This word in particular has the sense of loyal, committed, settled love. And this word is beautiful especially in the context of this verse, as the writer is saying that this love from God is not in any way a response to anything anyone can do.
“Hesed” love is not in response to someone’s goodness. It’s God’s choice.
It’s God’s decision, and it is settled, fixed, and final. It is a love extended from God that will never change, and is free and eternal. We should take great comfort, joy, and hope that God loves us because it is His will to love us.
Moses made it clear to the ancient Israelites that they hadn’t earned God’s love all the way back in Deuteronomy 7:7-9:
“It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the LORD set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the LORD loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations…”
We are loved, and will always be loved. This love from God is not a mood, attraction, or response to anyone’s actions. Instead, it flows from a heart overflowing with longing for the good of his people.
Even though we can’t always see the path our life is meant to take, and that the hand that is guiding us and holding is hard to recognize in the moment, we are seen by God. He provides for us and is faithful. Even when we aren’t (which is the majority of our time). But, even in spite of this, God is faithful.
No matter what you are going through, I want to urge you to turn your eyes away from your own disappointments. Focus on God, draw near to Him, and look to His purpose and plan. Remember that His mercies never end – they are new each and every day.
Great is His faithfulness.
