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Psalm 107:1-2a, “1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. 2a Let the redeemed of the LORD say this—” This is a proclamation that we should be making to God daily. The beginning of verse 2 is saying, if we are redeemed, we must give praise and thanksgiving to Him who has blessed us so richly. Let those who are redeemed remember the redeemer and all He has done for us.
Psalm 137 is a tough one to read. The author is basically asking God to pronounce judgment on their oppressor. As believers we think of ourselves as people who should be meek and simply turn the other cheek when something hurts us, and we should. However, I think it is ok to ask God to pronounce His judgment. It is God’s call and His method if He choses to take action. It is when we take action and pronounce judgment in “Jesus name” that we step outside God’s plan and purpose. I constantly need to remind myself that the creator of the universe is more than capable of turning bad situations in my life into some of the greatest blessings!
I thought Psalm 107 was cool how the psalmist referenced different transgressions that seperated people from God, yet He was good enough to provide grace for all of them. That’s so applicable to us, regardless of how big our mistakes are, we can be saved through the grace He offers us in Christ.
I agree with you on 137, it’s not our place to worry with judgeing others, we should turn it over to God. It’s not that we seek wrath and revenge on people, it’s just a healthy way to turn a problem or situation over to God.
I was having a hard time with 137, I appreciate both of your comments. Mostly because isn’t this really a pretty big human struggle? Or maybe its just me 🙂 I mean it is difficult to not want retribution or take retributive action towards those that hurt us. It takes time and an honest outpouring before God to change those desires and leave it all before the Lord.
In reading 107 I found myself thinking that next time I found myself in a desert I’d pray the ‘rescue verses’ 6-9, or next time I find myself in a dark place to pray the ‘rescue verses’ in 13 – 16. I hope that makes sense, but I just thought I need to remember those words of hope in those kinds of time in life.
Holy crap, remind me to never piss off David when I get into heaven! “A reward to the one who grabs your babies and smashes their heads on the rocks!” And that right there, ladies and gentlemen, is a man after God’s own heart- I definitely wouldn’t mess with him if I were you! Ha ha ha!
On the other hand, Psalm 107 warmed my heart. In some way or another, we were all in a desperate situation when God saved us, whether lost in a desert, locked in jail, physically sick, or sailing the seas. If I look at those circumstances in a spiritual context, every single one of them applies to me. In the 29 years on this earth, I know exactly what it feels like to be spiritually dry, as my life hangs on by a thread and I honestly don’t think I’ll survive the desert. In the same way, my heart has been locked in a dark, depressing jail cell because it rebelled against God. It’s a very dark, cold, lonely place, and I never want to return. I’ve also gotten physically sick after sinning- it’s true, my body actually responded to my spirit when it was in pain. Lastly, I know what it feels like to be in a terrifying storm where I can’t spiritually decipher up from down, and I feel like I’m drowning under the waves. I’m so grateful that God saved me just in the nick of time, every single time! I really do appreciate His love.