“Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever! Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom He has redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south. Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in; hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them. Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress. He led them by a straight way till they reached a city to dwell in. Let them thank the LORD for His steadfast love, for His wondrous works to the children of man!” Psalm 1071-8
Devotional Thought For The Day
The opening verse of this psalm has served as a joyful song of thanks and praise to God, the Lord, the only True and Living God, for centuries! It is affirmation based in faith, from those who know and believe the love that God has for us. This love is especially revealed to us in Jesus, the precious Lamb of God, the Savior of the world. God is good! How sad that not everyone knows this! His steadfast love endures forever! What joy and blessedness this brings to those who believe, and how sad that so many people reject this reality in unbelief. He has redeemed us in Christ Jesus, and delivered us in so many ways in this earthly life! Those who know God and what He has done for us are called to proclaim this praise of God, and we will do so for as long as His steadfast love endures, which is forever!
It is not just eternal salvation that God provides for His dear people, although this is His greatest blessing to us. He also redeems us from trouble, gathers us back to Himself from distant lands. He delivers us from a variety of “distresses” – hunger, thirst, homelessness, aloneness. Throughout the rest of this psalm the author will remind God’s people of many other trials, troubles, and difficulties that God redeems and delivers His people from. These too are God’s “wondrous works” that He provides for the children of man, and especially His dear people of faith. All of these blessings come to us not because we have earned or deserved them, but rather because of God’s steadfast love. For all of this we are admonished to thank the Lord and praise Him.
Note that deliverance comes when the redeemed of the Lord cried out to God in our troubles. Often these troubles are of our own making – whether by ignorance, accident, or intentional. The Lord chastens and disciplines those whom He loves so that our trials call us to repentance and confession of sin. Those whom God loves often experience humbling circumstances so that our faith and trust in God is strengthened and increased, and our self-reliance negated. It is part of our rebellious nature to want to stand on our own, to have pride that we can take care of ourselves and need no help from God. This is antithetical to faith and love for God, and eventually all people have to either humbly rely on God and give Him thanks and praise, or curse Him.
Because of the presence of sin in the world, and the curse placed upon all of creation, the world is a dangerous place. We are often impacted by the sin of others, and also by the vicissitudes of the natural world. We also need God’s protection from these trials and difficulties, especially from the wickedness of people. When we are in the midst of such distressing circumstances we are encouraged to cry out to the Lord in prayer, and promised that He will hear us and deliver us – in His own time and way. When we are living in peace, quietness, and relative prosperity and happiness, we should not forget the Lord, but give Him our thanks and praise, for “every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.” [James 1:17]
No trouble places us beyond God’s deliverance and redemption. His love is perfect, steadfast, and eternal. Our faith and trust in God should reflect these realities, and also our thanks and praise to God!
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, help us to look to You in all times of trial, praying for and awaiting Your sure deliverance and protection. Remind us to give You our thanks and praise at all times, for Your great and steadfast love for us. Protect us from all who seek to harm us, and from the dangers in this world. Keep us firm in faith and trust in You until You bring us to Your glorious heavenly kingdom. Amen.