October 7, 2007am   Get the Picture?   Lamentations 3:19-26

Communion

By Ronald E. George Jr.  at the Fayetteville Baptist Church

 

From J. Vernon McGee:  This man Jeremiah has seen and gone through great trouble. His health is wrecked because of his concern for Jerusalem . Jeremiah was not unmoved by the destruction he had seen come to the nation. He did not run around saying, “I told you so!” Actually, he was heartbroken. His response also shows us how God feels. God is not removed; He goes with those who are His own. The Lord Jesus said, “…I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Heb. 13:5). Whatever you are going through, you can be sure He is there.[1]

 

God commands that we don’t make any idols to represent Him.  Why?  There is nothing in all the earth that can represent Him.  He is the Creator.  There is nothing that we have seen or can imagine that can represent Him.  There is only One who is the perfect representation of God.  That is God.  That is Jesus.  He is God.  Today we will take the bread and the cup of the Lord’s Supper that show us who He is.  This is a picture of God.  Although He allows his children to suffer, He is sacrificing himself for the lives of his children.  He is our only hope of coming out of this world alive. 

 

Lamentations 3: 19 I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. 20 I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. 21 Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: 22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” 25 The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; 26 it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. [2]    

 

Picture This:  A world of trouble and problems.  Jerusalem has been destroyed and the inhabitants taken captive. 

 

  1. I picture my affliction and my wandering.

 

  1. I picture the bitterness and the gall. 

 

  1. I picture the trouble and despair of the world without God. 

 

As I remember them, I am discouraged.  My soul is downcast within me. 

 

 

 

Picture this in your mind:  Jeremiah pictures this:  A God who gives hope, who is still there:

 

  1. This picture gives me hope.

 

  1. This is a picture of God’s compassions that never fail.  (Hebrew children in the firery furnace, and Daniel in the Lion’s den)

 

  1. His compassions are new.  These are new every morning.  I remember them when I wake up.  They are still there because he is still there. 

 

  1. I picture how great is your faithfulness O Lord.  You are always there.  You never leave me or forsake me. 

 

  1. I picture the Lord being my Portion

 

  1. I picture myself waiting for Him.

 

  1. I picture the Lord who is good to those whose hope is in him and seeks him.

 

  1. I picture myself waiting quietly for the salvation of the Lord. 

 

Will you take the cup of the Lord?  The cup for Jesus was a cup of sacrifice for you and me.  He asked that this cup would pass from him, but it was not to be.  Will you eat the bread and life and take the cup of forgiveness from the Lord who is still there.  His


[1]J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible Commentary, electronic ed. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1997, c1981). 3:431.

[2]The Holy Bible : New International Version (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996, c1984). La 3:19-26.