Lam. 3:22-33, God’s Faithfulness to Abraham and Israel

The Olivet Discourse speaks highly of God’s love.  But Jesus’ words also remind us that God is faithful!  God is the One who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty (Rev. 1:8).  He is the same; His years do not end (Ps. 102:25ff, cf. Hb. 1:10ff).  With God there is no variation or shadow of turning (Jas. 1:17).  We could provide these Biblical pronouncements of God’s faithfulness all day long.  But take a look at these:

For I am the Lord, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob (Mal. 3:6).

Thus says the Lord, Who gives the sun for a light by day,
The ordinances of the moon and the stars for a light by night,
Who disturbs the sea, And its waves roar (The Lord of hosts is His name):

³⁶ “If those ordinances depart From before Me, says the Lord,
Then the seed of Israel shall also cease From being a nation before Me forever.”

³⁷ Thus says the Lord: “If heaven above can be measured,
And the foundations of the earth searched out beneath,
I will also cast off all the seed of Israel
For all that they have done, says the Lord. (Jer. 31:35-37)

⁷ Will the Lord cast off forever? And will He be favorable no more?
⁸ Has His mercy ceased forever? Has His promise failed forevermore?
⁹ Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has He in anger shut up His tender mercies? Selah (Ps. 77:7-9)

For the Lord will not cast off His people, Nor will He forsake His inheritance. (Ps. 94:14)

³¹ For the LORD will not cast off forever.

 ³² Though He causes grief, yet He will show compassion according to the multitude of His mercies. 

³³ For He does not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men. (Lam. 3:31ff) Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers.  For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.  (Rom. 11:28-29)

We could also go on all day with this repeated message in the Scriptures.  God’s faithfulness is illustrated in His keeping His covenant with Abraham.  Israel, in the latter days, will be a shining illustration that He keeps His word. 

We have turned our attention to this because this is the direction our Lord Jesus takes in the Olivet Discourse.  He has prophesied of great tribulation, “the time of Jacob’s trouble.”  The disciples to whom He is speaking are men of Israel.  Perhaps to them it sounds as if God’s patience has worn thin, and that He will cast off His people forever.  Jesus returns for the fourth and last time to “the Parable of the Fig Tree” to assure them and us that God will keep His word!