Galatians 4:21-31 Lamentations 3-4 Psalm 146
“Do not put your trust in . . . ” (Psalm 146:3). Princes. Mortals. Nations (Lamentations 4:17). Or the Law (Galatians 4) . . . Today’s readings speak of trust and freedom. And the consequences of trust misplaced. In whom — or what — do I trust? Where do you find your hope? And just how free are we? Really.
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases” (Lamentations 3:22). Having experienced the failure of everything upon which he had counted for peace and happiness — leaders (4:13-16), allies (4:17), and his own goodness (3:42) — it is this that the poet calls to mind and clings to as his only remaining source of hope (v.21). And it is this same hope that the psalmist celebrates in Psalm 146 (v.5). Which is, at center, the point of Paul’s reflections on the inadequacies of the law (Galatians 4): Trusting in anything other than God — particularly our own ability to be “good” — is slavery. On the other hand . . .
“The Lord sets the prisoners free” (Psalm 146:7). And those who “wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord” (Lamentations 3:26), trusting in the promise of God’s steadfast love, are the true children of freedom (Galatians 4:28,31). Do you see it? Do you know the freedom of it? Or is your trust misplaced? You and I can never be “good” enough by our own efforts. And no person on earth will ever be faithful enough to guarantee our happiness. Only the Lord Jesus Christ sets prisoners free. May we place our trust in him alone. May we live as children of promise. And may we know true freedom. Amen.
“Let us test and examine our ways,
and return to the Lord.
Let us lift up our hearts as well as our hands
to God in heaven.”
— Lamentations 3:40,41
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