"The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD. It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him. He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope. He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach. For the Lord will not cast off for ever: But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies. For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men."

In the book named for him, Jeremiah holds forth concerning the coming
judgment against Israel. And it is coming because of their idolatry.

In the book of Lamentations, Jeremiah recounts the awful fall of Jerusalem.
All of the things that he had prophesied in his first book had come to pass,
and the fall of Jerusalem was now complete. Babylon came and did its worst,
and that was very bad.

In the middle of this book is breathtaking scripture. For, Jeremiah notes
the incredible faithfulness of God. Because God was faithful to Israel, the
nation was not utterly wiped off the face of the earth. Many nations of
that day have vanished without a trace. But Israel remains. Lamentations
3:22,23 are the verses that inspired the hymn, "Great is Thy Faithfulness."
And it is a favorite thought of the believer. In the middle of death and
destruction (as Lamentations recounts) stands the clear reminder that God is
faithful, and cares for those that are His.

In 3:25-33, Jeremiah writes of the lot of the afflicted who love the LORD.
The essence of this portion is that first of all, to wait on the LORD is
wise (vss 25,26). We are not fools who sit in trial and trust the LORD in
it. Job's wife counseled him to curse God, and die. Job calls her foolish
for this advice and refuses to do such a thing. God is good to those who
wait on Him. And waiting, though hard, is the way through trials. And such
was the teaching of Jeremiah concerning the Israelites who were left in
Jerusalem.

Next, the response to trials is to be receiving humbly at the hand of God
that which He sends (vss. 27-30). These verses tell of the humility of the
afflicted. It is not possible to put your mouth in the dust, except that
you are flat on your face. Those who are under God's hand of affliction
need to realize from where the affliction comes, and trust Him who sent it.

Finally, Jeremiah writes of the end of affliction (vss 31-33). God's goal
is not affliction or grief. The LORD does not cast off forever. No, God is
compassionate. He desires nothing but the best for those that are His (Romans 8:28).
But, what is best is not always what we think is so. God's view of things
is so much longer than ours. And when we come into affliction, God's mighty
hand is upon us. To those in Jerusalem at the time, the invasion by Babylon
and destruction of the city, was a great trial. One can only imagine the
fear, heartache, loss, and pain. Undoubtedly hunger and sleeplessness were
part of the ordeal, too. But here Jeremiah makes it clear to those who know
God that God's plan includes their ultimate good. This trial is not to
their destruction. But hereby God will prove His faithfulness to them.
They will know of His care. They will see that He is faithful. And
affliction is not something that will end in their destruction.

So what is the way in trials? Lamentations 3:27-30 provides the answer; let
them happen. The Israelites in Jerusalem, who were God's, had no choice in
this affliction. It came upon them, and turned their world upside down.
The only choice they had was to trust the LORD - and wait. We really have no
other choice. And in fact, any effort on our part may only serve to delay
God's result. So look to Him in affliction. Lean on Him, and trust in Him.
He does not afflict willingly, neither grieve. He will have compassion
according to the multitude of His mercies.