John Calvin Commentary Lamentations 3:23

"They are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness." — Lamentations 3:23 (ASV)

This verse confirms what I have said: that the same truth is repeated here by the Prophet, that God’s mercies were not consumed, nor had His compassions failed. How so? Because they were new, or renewed, every day. But he uses the word morning, and that in the plural number. I am surprised at the hour striking so soon; I hardly think that I have lectured a whole hour.

Prayer:

Grant, Almighty God: since all of us must continually contend with many temptations, and our weakness is such that we are ready to succumb to them unless You help us, O grant that we may be sustained by Your invincible power. Grant also that when You would humble us, we may loathe ourselves because of our sins and thus persevere in contending, until, having gained the victory, we shall give You the glory for Your perpetual aid in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

[Exposition continues from previous day's lecture]

In the last lecture, the Prophet said that the mercies of God are renewed daily. This must indeed be viewed according to human perception, for God Himself does not change. But the mercies of God seem to be renewed when He for a time hides His face and then is reconciled to us. The Prophet mentions morning, and he alludes, I think, to this passage in the Psalms:

“If weeping dwells with us in the evening,
yet joy will return in the morning.” (Psalms 30:5).

He then means that God hastens to help people in misery.

He then adds the word truth, because a sense of God’s mercy can never come to us unless He offers it to us. Were God then to take away the promise, all the miserable would inevitably perish, for they can never lay hold of His mercy except through His word. This, then, is the reason why Scripture so often connects these two things together: God’s mercy and His faithfulness in fulfilling His promises.