“Let them thank the LORD for His steadfast love, for His wondrous works to the children of man! For He satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul He fills with good things. Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and in irons, for they had rebelled against the words of God, and spurned the counsel of the Most High. So He bowed their hearts down with hard labor; they fell down, with none to help. Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and burst their bonds apart. Let them thank the LORD for His steadfast love, for His wondrous works to the children of man! For He shatters the doors of bronze and cuts in two the bars of iron.” Psalm 107:8-16
Devotional Thought For The Day
Again we are blessed to meditate upon the wondrous works of God on behalf of the children of man, His steadfast love for all. Our “longing and hungry souls” can only be filled, satisfied, and brought to health by His gracious love, the good things that only He can fill us with. Those looking for fulfillment and “blessedness” elsewhere will never find it, although sin and pleasures provide a temporary diversion. Only God can finally fulfill us and bring us to the proper condition that we desire for ourselves.
The psalmist had the right perspective on the experiences of God’s people – when Israel, as God’s specially created nation, was given the task of representing the problems of sin’s infection of the world and God’s loving and saving response to the fall and our grievous struggle with sin. He does not hide what sin does, its nature and effects. It is darkness to stray from deep and sincere repentance, and joyous faith in God’s love, and the experience of His love’s renewing effects. It leaves human beings in the “shadow of death.” When we rebel against “the words of God,” the Holy Scripture, the Bible, we are headed for difficult circumstances – even imprisonment and hard labor. And we may come to such dire circumstances that there is no one who can or who is willing to help. This is the effect of sin, of spurning the counsel of the Most High! Lord, preserve us!
But God’s intent is not that we should languish and ultimately perish under our sins, ignorance, and rebellion against His Word. The history of Israel proves this – all of the historical accounts and all of the records of the prophetic utterances contained in the Old Testament Scriptures. Rather, as the psalmist notes, it is God’s intent to restore us to repentance and faith – so that His rich deliverance and salvation can be poured out upon us. Note again, that as soon as His people cry out to Him “the LORD delivered them from their distress.” He brings us out of darkness and death, into the light of His glorious love, His deliverance and salvation in Christ Jesus, and all of His wondrous works for us, and through His Word He also brings us into the light of truly decent and loving lives.
There is nothing beyond God’s control over all of human life and affairs. Though our circumstances may appear so dismal as to destroy all reason for hope, God can “burst their bonds apart” and “He shatters the doors of bronze and cuts in two the bars of iron.” We must not trust in ourselves, or hope for the best, or work harder to extricate ourselves – rather, He urges and pleads with us to cry out to Him, to turn to Him in repentance and allow Him to be our God, to deliver us and give us life and renew us. He wants to do this for us – the record of Scripture, His Word, is strong, clear, and repetitive; He wants us to live in repentance and faith, and there is no time or circumstance when He is not standing near us to do wondrous works for us, so that we may be His own.
Remember that God does not change. Remember that God always keeps His Word. Remember that God is love. Remember that God is almighty. Remember that the Scriptures were written for our learning. Know that nothing has changed from this pattern of God’s response to human sin, our greatest spiritual needs, and His good and gracious will to save and deliver us to eternal life and salvation in Christ Jesus! Let us thank God for His steadfast love and His wondrous works to us!
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, continue to guide and direct us to a proper understanding of ourselves, of history and circumstances, and of Yourself, Your good and gracious will for us. Keep us in humble repentance and joy in Your love, mindful of where our true blessedness lies. Grant us Your deliverance and safety, and also faithfulness to Your Word. Amen.