Hilltops

The prophet Jeremiah--the weeping prophet--sat on the hill overlooking Jerusalem after the city and its people had been plundered and pillaged by the ruthless Babylonian army; and, he had these thoughts:

"How lonely sits the city that was full of people! She has become like a widow who was once great among the nations."
"For the Lord has caused her grief because of the multitude of her transgressions."
"My eyes fail because of tears, my spirit is greatly troubled; my heart is poured out upon the earth."
"The Lord has done what He purposed; He has accomplished His word which He commanded from the days of old."

God's people had become no different from the pagan societies surrounding them: idolatrous, immoral, apathetic to the poor and needy, pompous in their "security" that since they still worshiped Jehovah (along with the other gods) that He would protect them--not judge them. They were wrong. The immutable, infinitely holy and righteous God, always judges His people for their spiritual adultery. Jeremiah knew the judgment was righteous, but it broke his heart.

And then at possibly the worst moments of his life, the prophet remembered--remembered those words that we so often sing without reflecting on their context:

"The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease; for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Thy faithfulness. 'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore I have hope in Him.' The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him. It is good that He waits silently for the salvation of the Lord."

At those worst moments in our lives, can we sing those words? Can we with tears streaming down our faces rejoice in the great faithfulness of God? Can we seek Him by waiting, silently, without complaint, knowing that He is our Deliverer from any and all disappointments, any and all failures, any and all discipline? He is all that He has revealed Himself to be. Sitting on our hilltops, may we remember and believe.

"Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father, there is no shadow of turning with Thee; Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not; as Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be. Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see; all I have needed Thy hand hath provided--Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!"