Compassion

“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.” – Lamentations 3:22-23

I’ve been meditating on this verse all day. How humbling and amazing- our God’s love for us is unfailing. We can never out-sin or out-run His compassion. What’s even more amazing is the true meanings of these words in the original Hebrew:

The word for “compassion” in verse 22 actually comes from the Hebrew term “racham”. It is an intensive noun, meaning it is emphatic- intentionally added to forcibly and clearly show its importance. (Kind of like adding “myself” to the end of a sentence. It would have been sufficient to say “I did it”, but when you say “I did it myself“, it adds an extra punch.)
“Racham” also comes from a root word which is translated into both a woman’s womb and compassion within the old testament. This small connection sheds a whole new light on the term; God’s compassions over us are even more intense, fierce, and loving than a mother’s compassion for the child she bore from her own womb. Imagine the depth of the love a mother has… profound and powerful, right?

It doesn’t even begin to skim the surface of the Lord’s compassion for us.

His compassions never fail. Absolute. Without faltering. Never changing. No question. Never.

Be encouraged today that no matter what, God’s compassions are constant. Every morning, they are completely new. His faithfulness is abounding, strong, sufficient, overwhelming, constant, exceeding all we could ever dream or deserve. And it’s all for you.