Psalm 107
"Give thanks to the Lord for he is good; his love endures forever."
It has been said that everyone has one good book in them--one story to tell. The psalmist reminds us to tell that story. He gives us some categories to remind us of what the Lord has done for his people.
The Homeless: There are some who have wandered around lost without a place to settle--no real home, nowhere to belong, hungry and thirsty for love, tired depressed and the the Lord intervened. He delivered you from your distress and led you to a place where you could settle. He gave you people to love and those who would love you. He gave you family. He gave you a home instead of a house. "Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things." Let the redeemed of the Lord, say so!
The Prisoners: There are those who have been imprisoned. Oh, maybe not behind actual bars, but surrounded by bars of sin, addiction, held back by distrust and fear, bombarded by horrible memories, held down by illness and disease. "Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom and broke away their chains. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men, he breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron." Let the redeemed of the Lord, say so!
The Rebellious: There are those who knowing better have set off on their own "not needing God." "They became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of their iniquities." It isn't that they were unfamiliar with the way, but the way seemed too restrictive, too difficult, too boring, or old fashioned. They had better ideas--more current, more adventurous, smarter or more exciting! For these deviations they paid a high price. "They loathed all [spiritual] food and drew near the gates of death. They cried to the Lord in their trouble and he saved them from their distress." Let the redeemed of the Lord, say so!
The Storm-tossed: Others are simply people going about their ordinary business--"sailors going out to sea in ships." They were simply merchants, businessmen or women, teachers, medical personnel, bus drivers, landscapers, preachers, computer programmers or entertainers. The the storm hit. They lost jobs, disasters (earthquakes, floods, snowstorms, accidents, hurricanes, tsunamis, tornadoes, winds) struck, loved ones died, the economy took a nosedive, or disease invaded. "They reeled and staggered like drunken men; they were at their wits' end. They cried to the Lord in their trouble and he brought them out of their distress... He stilled the storm...He turned the desert into pools of water and the parched ground into flowing springs...he guided them to their desired haven. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love."
I encourage you to write down or tape those stories that tell of the unfailing love of the Lord toward you so that your children and your children's children can read and reread them. In doing so they will draw courage, faith and trust in the Lord who has loved you with unfailing love. Let the redeemed of the Lord, say so!
Why don't you tell us your favorite story of God's activity in your life?
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