God’s Merciful Hand

Background Scripture: Lamentations 3
Lesson Scripture: Lamentations 3:22–36, 55–58

Introduction

King David, who faced many hardships, wrote that the Lord is not only “merciful and gracious” but added that He is also “plenteous in mercy” (Ps. 103:8). Apostle Paul tells us that God is “rich in mercy” (Eph. 2:4). The Bible indicates that God seeks opportunities to express his goodness and mercy to man, yet when we are in the midst of grief and pain, it can be hard to recognize the merciful hand of God. “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him” (2 Chron. 16:9).

Key Verse

To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us (Luke 1:77–78).

Lesson Scripture

Studying the Lesson

The book of Lamentations is the prophet Jeremiah’s attempt to expose the heartache and anguish of the siege and devastation of Jerusalem by the Chaldean king Nebuchadnezzar in about 586 BC. Jeremiah is often referred to as the Weeping Prophet, and he faithfully shared the sad story of God’s people. During the course of his ministry, he was mocked, beaten, imprisoned, and ignored, yet his sorrow was not a result of his personal treatment. Jeremiah knew the horrific consequences that were coming if his fellow countrymen refused to turn to God, and he wept under the weight of this burden. “For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt; I am black; astonishment hath taken hold on me” (Jer. 8:21).

Judah’s kings, priests, and people rejected God’s warnings, and the Lord fulfilled the judgment He had pled with them to escape. Recognizing that Judah’s sins warranted God’s judgment, the prophet could say, “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.” As difficult as their conditions were, it seems he saw redemption through their deserved, although terrible, punishment.

Living in a time of tremendous uncertainty, Jeremiah’s faith was severely tested. There were moments he questioned his faith, his strength, and his call; he even wondered if God had abandoned them. But just as his hope for God’s deliverance seemed obscure, he was reminded of how God had proved Himself faithful in prior difficulties. “Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall. My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me. This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope” (Lam. 3:19–21). Jeremiah’s faith was strengthened when he considered God’s aid rendered in moments when his own strength failed him. In the midst of his grief and shock at the calamity he was witnessing, Jeremiah saw hope. This hope was firmly grounded in his knowledge of who God is, a merciful and compassionate God who has only good in mind for his children.

Practical Truths for Today

“Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy” (James 5:11). Life is not always easy. Most people have experienced difficulties that left them feeling overwhelmed. Some have had to endure very difficult situations for a long time. Others have been confronted by seemingly unrelenting crises. In these times, the temptation to cry out “Why me?” or “How long?” can be quite compelling. These censures, however, point at God, not to Him. Sometimes we attempt to carry a load that was not ours to carry alone. The Lord uses difficulty to expose the depth of our independence and self-reliance. “From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I” (Ps. 61:2).

We live in a world cursed by sin. Satan accuses God of the anguish that he himself introduced into the world by the fall. He will assail us with a host of evils with the intent of sowing discouragement and offense both toward God and other people. To be clear, God is not the source of our pain and suffering; Satan is. In our anxiety, confusion, and bitterness, the evil one whispers, “Does God really care?” Life’s raging battles have a way of distracting us, hiding God from our view. Just as Moses was only able to see God after He passed by (Exod. 33:20–23), we sometimes must look back after the storm has passed to understand that God was with us all along. Faith and trust in God are essential if we are to understand Satan’s attacks on God’s character.

God’s mercy reaches down to us in many ways. He will sometimes bring complete deliverance from the difficulties with which we are confronted. At other times, He doesn’t remove the challenge but comforts us in our affliction, thus easing our burden. Many times his mercy comes in the form of strength to endure, but always He is compassionate and present. “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15).

“For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:19). When we can accept hardship, we can realize God is using it for our good. It reminds us of our need of Him, calling the erring child and keeping the faithful close to his side.

“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions” (Ps. 51:1). Let us never think that our sins are too much for the mercy of God to triumph over. His tender mercies are plenteous (Ps. 103:8), rich (Eph. 2:4), manifold (Ps. 51:1), forever enduring (Ps. 136), and new every morning (Lam. 3:22–23). God’s mercy is free, but for it to be effective, God requires submission to Him. Trying to be good enough for God must be given up. God’s mercy and grace must be trusted in order to find the true basis of acceptance. By tearing down the walls of self-protection that may have been erected, we place ourselves squarely in the palms of his merciful hands. Only there do we find the nail prints that confirm his love for us.

“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God” (2 Cor. 1:3–4). Having empathy means feeling with another in their difficulty. Experiencing difficulties today may be God’s way of preparation for helping someone else tomorrow. Being kind to every person we meet is essential, for we do not know what hidden battles others may be fighting. The merciful hand we extend to a struggling soul may be merely an encouraging word, a listening ear, or a tearful prayer, but if offered in the spirit of God with kindness and sincerity, it reflects the Master’s mercy.

Questions

1. What did Paul mean when he encouraged the Philippians to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling”? (Phil. 2:12).
2. Discuss: God doesn’t give us burdens according to our strength but strength for the burdens.
3. Micah 6:8 states that God requires us to “love mercy.” How do we love mercy?
4. We hear of the dangers of taking God’s mercy for granted. In what ways might we do this?
5. How do we help someone who questions God’s mercy and compassion?

Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).