I called upon thy name, O Lord, out of the low dungeon.
Thou hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry.
Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst, Fear not.
O Lord, thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; thou hast redeemed my life.
Lamentations 3.55-58
If you read the verses in the early part of this chapter, you learn that Jeremiah was not in a good place physically, mentally and emotionally. What seems to have troubled Jeremiah the most was the fact that he did not see his troubles and persecutions as coming from the cruel Babylonians, but from the hand of God Himself. Many of God’s people have wrestled with that same issue. If I am following The Lord and doing His will, why am I in this dungeon. Is that you this morning beloved? Prior to our texts this morning, we find some of the most often quoted Scriptures in all of the Bible. 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.
It is from that recognition of God’s mercies that Jeremiah calls upon The Lord out of the low dungeon, or pit. What is mercy? Well, among other things, mercy is not getting what we deserve. If we got what we deserved as rebellious sinners, we would all be consumed. But, because God’s compassions fail not, you and I are in Christ this morning. Like Jeremiah, we are redeemed people who need ourselves in dungeons in life. Like Jeremiah, we cry unto God out of those pits.
What does God do? He draws near. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. What does God say? Fear Not. He does not wave a magic wand, and you come out of the dungeon in the form of a rabbit. Following Jesus is not magic. It is a mystery that often bewilders us and leaves us with more questions than answers. But this we can conclude. God is good. His mercies are new this morning. When fear grips your mind and emotions, remember the dying Savior Who redeemed your soul on the cross and hear Him say to you, fear not child, I Am The Lord of all of your dungeons.
