WHEN MY SOUL LOOKS BACK AND WONDER

LAMENTATIONS 3:19-25; Selected
By
Rev. Ronald Bell Sr.

Scriptures:

LAMENTATIONS 3:19-25 (NASB)
19 Remember my affliction and my wandering, the wormwood and bitterness. 20 Surely my soul remembers And is bowed down within me. 21 This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. 22 The LORD’S lovingkindness indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. 24 “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him.” 25 The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the person who seeks Him.

I. YOU MUST REMEMBER GOD – vv19-20

19 Remember my affliction and my wandering, the wormwood and bitterness. 20 Surely my soul remembers And is bowed down within me.

Remember (zākar)

Genesis 9:14-16 ESV
14 When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.”

Genesis 19:29 ESV
29 So it was that, when God destroyed the cities of the valley, God remembered Abraham and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow when he overthrew the cities in which Lot had lived.

Deuteronomy 8:18 ESV
18 You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives
you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that
he swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

Deuteronomy 5:15 ESV
15 You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the LORD your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.

Luke 22:17-20 NASB
17 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He said, “Take this and share it among yourselves; 18 for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body, which is being given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 20 And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup, which is poured out for you, is the new covenant in My blood.

II. YOU MUST REMEMBER GOD’S FAITHFULNESS – vv21-23

21 This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. 22 The LORD’S lovingkindness indeed never cease,
For His compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.

Jeremiah 14:22 ERV
22 Foreign idols don’t have the power to bring rain. The sky does not have the power to send down
showers of rain. You, the LORD our God, are our only hope. You are the one who made all these things.

Hope – (yāḥal)

Faithfulness (ʾĕmûnâ)

Deuteronomy 7:9 NLT
9 Understand, therefore, that the LORD your God
is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps
his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love
him and obey his commands.

III. YOU MUST REMEMBER GOD IS ENOUGH – vv24-25
24 “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him.” 25 The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the person who seeks Him.

Psalm 16:5 ERV
5 LORD, you give me all that I need. You support me. You give me my share.

QUESTIONS TO DISCUSS:

1. What are some ways in which you have avoided the unpleasant in the past?
2. How has God helped you through a recent trial in your life?
3. Have you seen the faithfulness of God in the past, despite your own lack of faith, or own weaknesses?
4. Think of a time when you found hope in difficult circumstances. What could you say to someone who was having an experience similar to the one you faced with hope?
5. How far will God go to make us remember Him?
6. Recall one or two major events that have been a significant shaping influence in your life. How did they affect you for good or for ill?
7. When have you benefited from listening to or reading about someone who praised God in the midst of great difficulties?
8. What can you do this week to deepen your relationship with Christ?
9. When do you find it most difficult to praise God?
10. What does it mean to trust God?

Application

1. Do this with someone close to you: spend an hour on your own making a list of all God has done for you. Then share together and rejoice in his goodness and faithfulness.
2. Send a note to someone you know is overwhelmed by his or her lot in life. Assure them of your prayers. Include a scripture that tells of God’s love.