Reader’s Guide: “The Word for Today” Wednesday, February 27, 2013 Read - Lamentations 3 Yesterday, we left hanging the question of whether there is any hope. Today, in the very center of this painful and passionate book we hear the author’s words of hope. We noticed that the third and central chapter is unique – each letter is used three times in successive verses. And near the very center we find these words, “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23). What powerful words from the mouth of someone who knew firsthand the devastation of Jerusalem’s fall! Luke’s story of Jesus has its pain too – yet the same faithful God is there to welcome his repentant people. Luke story is not a tragedy – it is a story of the victory of God. Incidentally, many of us will recognize a favorite hymn from the verses we read today – “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.” That hymn is filled with hope – and to think the author likely got his inspiration for the book of Lamentations.