Day 27 - Psalm 107
This psalm starts with a simple but profound truth, one many don’t understand, or forget from time to time. The simple truth that “God is good”
This simple statement shapes our understanding of our Heavenly Father and the way He treats us. He is good, He will always be good and He only does good. His love for us endures for ever. (v1)
If it’s not good, it’s not God.
In verse 2 the psalmist begins his command to those God has saved to tell our story of faith, our testimony. He goes on to remind us of what our stories (testimonies) might be, by using picture language, he describes our state before God rescued us and bought us back to him and how He rescued us.
Some of us were simply lost, (v4) wandering through life and never feeling home (v4) searching for something to satisfy, but never finding it (v5) God showed us the way to go, showed us a better way to live, and gave us the home we were looking for, (6-7) He satisfied our search for meaning and purpose. (v9)
Some of us were in darkness, (v10) bound by addictions, sins, mental pain, depression, shame, guilt and despair we couldn’t find a way out though we tried our best it was like we were chained to it. (v10)
Our rebellion against God caused us to labour and strive to cover our sins ourselves, on our own with no one to help when we stumbled (v12)
But when we cried out to God he saved us, brought us out of darkness, and broke the chains that bound us. (v13-14) praise God that he has set you free!
Some of us became foolish, rebelling for rebellions sake, choosing foolish ways and making bad choices, then suffering the consequences of them. (v17) even causing physical and mental illness in our own bodies, but God healed us, and saved us from what would lead to death. (v19-20) let us tell our testimony of God's healing power, love and goodness to us.(v21-22)
Some of us were victims of our own success, rich merchants chasing more wealth (v23) we got caught up in chasing more material things, the constant pursuit of more and putting our security and hope in our success, caused stress and anxiety, fear that it could all crumble at any moment (v25-26) we were at our wits end (v27) when we cried out to God, He stilled the storm and gave our minds peace. (v29-30)
Again the psalmist reminds us to praise God publicly (v31-32)
All of this was through the goodness of God and His enduring love for us. It was nothing to do with what we have done.
The psalmist goes on to say in the remaining verses that our testimonies are to be about what God has done, not what we have done. He gives examples in these verses of how the proud fall and the humble are lifted up. (See Matt 23:11-12)
Finally the psalmist ends with an instruction to ponder Gods goodness and enduring love that saved us from the lives we lived outside of Christ.
Think it over / Meditate on:
What is the story of God in your life? Your testimony? It may be helpful to write it down.
Spend some time pondering God's loving deeds and praising God for how He rescued you.
Think about how you will share your story (testimony) and who to share it with.
Ben
Ben Parsons, Lead Pastor - Sutton Central location