Inscribe the Word . . . May Scripture Writing Plan
Happy May, Friends!
This year, we are journeying through the Bible, discovering God's Promises. You can read our introductory post about why I chose this topic HERE. If you started with us in January, we have already inscribed over 100 of God’s Promises. This month, we are set to discover thirty-one more promises of God in Scripture.
In my Bible Reading Plan, I came to Psalm 107 and the promises in this chapter are so rich and so hopeful, I thought I’d share a brief devotional with you this month going through Psalm 107.
“Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.”
- Psalm 107:6 NIV
THE LOYAL LOVE of GOD.
Psalm 107 calls its people to "Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever." (Psalm 107:1) The word LOVE in Hebrew is chesed. It means faithful love, mercy, loyal love, or lovingkindness. "There is no good English translation for the word chesed, as we don't have a word in English that encompasses all of the nuanced meaning of the Hebrew word." (source). For a full video and teaching on this word, CLICK HERE.
The word chesed shows up six times in Psalm 107, reminding us that the loyal love of our God is always present to help us in our distress.
We are living in distressing times, My Friend. There seemed to be a consensus that once 2020 was over, the world would go "back to normal". We can see now, "normal" as we once knew it is no longer, which can lead to loss, grief, fear, anxiety, and distress. But we have hope, Friend. We know that the mercy of the Lord endures forever, even in our painful and anxiety-filled times.
Psalm 107 lays out four accounts of people in distress whom God rescued.
Maybe you can relate to one or all of these groups. Let's look at them together.
GROUP ONE:
Those who wander to barren places.
Psalm 107:4-9
"Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle. They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away.
Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.
He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle. Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love (chesed) and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things."
Some wandered . . . but He led them when they cried out to Him.
Are you a lost traveler wandering through barren places? Perhaps you are hungry and thirsty because the things of this world no longer fill you. You can't find a place to rest or call home. You feel unsettled and alone.
Wandering Friend, cry out to the Lord in the day of trouble.
He will deliver you.
He will lead you.
He will fill you with good things - His things and will satisfy all of your needs.
Wandering Friend, give thanks to the Lord! He is a faithful Guide to us—leading us every step of the way and filling our longing, hungry souls with His goodness.
GROUP TWO:
Those who sit in darkness and gloom.
Psalm 107:10-16
"Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness, prisoners suffering in iron chains, because they rebelled against God's commands and despised the plans of the Most High. So he subjected them to bitter labor; they stumbled, and there was no one to help.
Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress.
He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness, and broke away their chains. Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron."
Are you a weary captive needing deliverance? We all have moments when we look back on our lives and, as hard as it is, see that we've rebelled against the Lord's commands. We haven't always followed His path, His will, and His way, and we find ourselves "enslaved by our own foolish sins and carnal lusts. We plunge into that which we think we're free to do—only to find ourselves trapped as the very thing that was initially a pleasure becomes a huge, devastating problem." (Jon Courson)
Captive Friend, cry out to the Lord in the day of trouble.
He will bring you out of the darkness.
He will bring you out of the utter despair.
He will break the chains that are holding you captive.
He will forgive, and He will set free.
Captive Friend, give thanks to the Lord! He is your Deliverer, and in His hand is the freedom to set the captive free. (Luke 4:18)
GROUP THREE:
Those who are sick from their own folly.
Psalm 107:17-22
“Some became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of their iniquities. They loathed all food and drew near the gates of death.
Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress.
He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave. Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind. Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy."
We see in these verses that fools and rebels surely do make a mess of their lives. If we are honest with ourselves, we have all been fools and rebels, looking at the sin that has led to affliction and pain. We have all made a mess of our lives at one time or another.
Afflicted Friend, cry out to the Lord in the day of trouble.
He sent His Word and will heal you.
He will rescue you from the grave.
He will rescue you from the guilt and the shame.
Afflicted Friend, give thanks to the Lord! He is your Great Physician. Receive His free gift of healing and forgiveness (1 John 1:9) and break from the past that has a hold on you. (Romans 3:23-26 & 2 Corinthians 5:17)
GROUP FOUR:
THose who are Storm-tossed.
Psalm 107:23-32
”Some went out on the sea in ships; they were merchants on the mighty waters. They saw the works of the LORD, his wonderful deeds in the deep. For he spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves. They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths; in their peril their courage melted away. They reeled and staggered like drunkards; they were at their wits’ end.
Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress.
He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed.They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven. Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind. Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people and praise him in the council of the elders.”
Are you storm-tossed? Have the waves of life lifted higher and higher to the point you feel like you are going under? When we walk through difficult seasons of storm-tossed weather, often our courage slips, and our hope fails. As the Psalmist says, we are at our wits' end!
Storm-Tossed Friend, cry out to the Lord in the day of trouble.
He will still the storm.
He will hush the waves of your raging sea.
Storm-Tossed Friend, give thanks to the Lord! He is your Prince of Peace. We may not see an absence from trouble or an absence from the storms. Jesus told us that in this world, we would have trouble. "BUT . . . take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) You can have peace in the storm as you cling to the Prince of Peace who quiets the winds and the waves.
As you read through Psalm 107, do you see the pattern?
Whether you are wandering, sick, storm-tossed, or depressed, cry out to the Lord in your day of trouble. The Lord will meet you with His chesed, His loyal love. Our Guide, Healer, Peace, and Deliverer will save. It is a promise, My Friend.
Once you have received direction, healing, a calming of the storms, or breaking the chains, GIVE THANKS!
"Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.
Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron.
Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind.Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy.
Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind. Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people and praise him in the council of the elders." (Psalm 107:8-9,15-16,21-22,31-32)
As we walk through distressing times, know you are not alone.
We are in this together and together we will see the mercy and loyal love of God.
