Daily Bible Verse - 1/1/2008 - Lamentations 3:22-23

Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

The LORD'S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23

Commentary
God's faithfulness is a commitment on His part and is as dependable as the scheduled appearances of the sun and moon (Ps. 89:2, 5, 36, 37). When you wake up in the morning, God will always be there. Family and friends may disappoint; heroes and heroines may fail to live up to expectations. Nevertheless, God is ever faithful. The root meaning of faithfulness (Heb. ˒emunah) is "certainty" and "dependability."

Faithfulness describes who God is (1 Cor. 1:9). No matter what you do, God cannot be unfaithful because He cannot deny Himself (2 Tim. 2:13). He is steadfast and trustworthy. He keeps His promises (Heb. 10:23).
God's presence is assured, even if you are unaware of it (Matt. 28:20). His faithfulness is experienced in His protection (2 Thess. 3:3), mercy (Ps. 89:2), preservation (1 Thess. 5:23, 24), love (Rom. 8:35-39), and discipline (Ps. 89:32, 33); it is revealed in all His promises (Josh. 23:14).

Thomas Nelson, I. (1997, c1995). Woman's study Bible . (La 3:22). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Did you know?
Jeremiah's eloquent expression of God's faithfulness and compassion is the basis for the contemporary hymn "Great Is Thy Faithfulness."

Word in life study Bible . 1997, c1996 (electronic ed.) (La 3:22). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

"Great Is Thy Faithfulness"

Chorus:

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!

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/g/i/gisthyf.htm

Daily Bible Verse - 12/31/2007 - Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.

Jeremiah 29:11

Commentary
Verse 11 is a powerful promise to claim when you are "in exile." God thinks about you personally and is planning for you. His plans are for peace, not war, so you need not fear the future. His plans are purposeful, so let Him work out His will. No matter how difficult your situation may be, do not waste your suffering by resisting God.

Wiersbe, W. W. (1997, c1991). With the word Bible commentary (Je 29:1). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Did you know?
Jer-emiah was speaking to the people of Judah in a time of national disaster. The Babylonians were about to take Jerusalem and destroy the holy city. The people who heard Jeremiah's words would soon be carried from their homeland and resettled in pagan Babylon. Yet through Jeremiah, God promised that one day the Jews would return to their homeland. The national disaster was not a sign that God had abandoned them, nor should His present discipline make them give up hope. Instead, the people of Judah could take comfort in the fact that God planned to do them good. In spite of the present distress, in God they had hope and a future.

Richards, L. (1998). Every promise in the Bible. Includes indexes. (86). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.