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Lamentations 3 · Grade 5

His Mercies Don't Fail

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Read and Think

Chapter 3 is the structural and theological center of Lamentations. Unlike chapters 1, 2, and 4, it uses three lines for every letter of the alphabet. The speaker is a man who has seen affliction. Verses 1 to 20 use intense pictures of God's hand turned against him, of being walled in, of prayers shut out, and of arrows of sorrow. He feels that his strength and hope have perished.

Then, at the exact center of the book, hope breaks through. It is because of Yahweh's loving kindnesses that we are not consumed, because his mercies don't fail. They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness. Hope is not found by denying suffering but by remembering God's character. Yahweh is my portion, says my soul. Therefore I will hope in him.

The poem goes on to teach that the Lord will not cast off forever, and that he does not afflict willingly. So the right response is honest self-examination and prayer. Let's lift up our heart with our hands to God in the heavens. The poem closes with the memory of answered prayer: You came near in the day that I called on you. Many hymns, including Great Is Thy Faithfulness, draw on this chapter.

Show What You Know

  1. How is chapter 3 different from chapters 1, 2, and 4?

  2. Where in the book does hope break through?

  3. What does the poem teach the Lord will not do?

  4. Which hymn draws on this chapter?

Crossword

34152

Across

  1. They are new every ____.
  2. This I recall to my mind; therefore I have ____.

Down

  1. Because his ____ don’t fail.
  2. Yahweh is good to those who ____ for him.
  3. Yahweh is ____ to those who wait for him.

Think About It

  1. How can remembering God's character bring hope without denying real suffering?

  2. What does it mean to say Yahweh is my portion?

Memory Verse

“It is because of Yahweh’s loving kindnesses that we are not consumed, because his mercies don’t fail.”

Lamentations 3:22 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for new mercies every morning. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

  • How has God been faithful to you?
  • Who could you tell about God's new mercies?
  • What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.