Psalm 107:8. Oh that men would praise (given thanks unto) the Lord for his goodness (LOVING-kindness), and for his wonderful works to the children of men.
So friends, we’ve finally come to the day that we all look forward to, Friday! And everybody’s had their shout of ‘TGIF! Thank God is Friday! The weekend is near and party time will soon begin!’ Some of us in my area will also proclaim: ‘Thank God the so and so fog is also gone!’ Yes friends, that fog was with us, all over the southern half of the province yesterday, with scattered patches of sunshine occurring during the afternoon hours.
But yuh know what. That frustrating and oh so dangerous fog came back last night and was there until the early hours of the morning. Thankfully though it seems to be all dissipated now and we are blessed with wonderful, cloudless sunshine! All glory to God for His goodness to the children of men!
And as we are on that point of God’s goodness (LOVING-kindness) to mankind, I guess it’s only wise to check out some scripture on the subject. And the most recognizable is that verse from Psalm 107: ‘Oh that men would praise (give thanks unto) the Lord for his goodness (LOVING-kindness), and for his wonderful works to the children of men.’ (Ps. 107:8) And why is that eh? The psalmist was pondering and recollecting all the good things that the Lord had done for his people, descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And he found that verse so important that he inserted it three times in the psalm.
Before that first time he was talking about how they wandered in the wilderness, hungry and thirsty, with nowhere to go and no one to help them. ‘Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses. And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.’ (Ps. 107:6-7) That’s certainly goodness and mercy on God’s part to the disobedient and unfaithful children of men, for which we ought to be thankful!
Now, let’s read what the psalmist says after that first time. ‘For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness. Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron (prisoners); Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned (despised) the counsel of the Most High: Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.
Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder. Oh that men would praise (give thanks unto) the Lord for his goodness (LOVING-kindness), and for his wonderful works to the children of men.’ (Ps. 107:9-15)
Now doesn’t that give us cause to sit up and think about our own problems, our wandering in the deserts of futility and arrogance, about our disobedience to God ‘s word, and therefore living in the shadow of death, in darkness, prisoners of Satan, bound by the chains of affliction and sin? It certainly ought to! Just look around at our lawless, unruly, selfish, arrogant, strife-filled world and you will certainly see a reflection of the days of Israel’s lawlessness and ungodliness, when they got too big for their britches and found themselves in trouble of their own making.
It’s the same thing happening with us today. We’ve gotten so big with our fickle and faithless selves, that we’re even attempting to throw God out of our society! Hn! What gall! What stupidity! As though the awesome Deity that created the world and all therein would ever allow His creation, foolish minions that He created with His own two hands, to remove Him from His universe.
Hn! What’s wrong with us eh? Can’t we see that right down through history, every nation, every society that tried to overthrow or get rid of God, was itself overthrown? As we are won’t to say in jest, but ought to take very seriously; they met their Maker! And that’s the gospel truth; we all have to meet our Maker at some stage of the game, either now in our disobedience or at the judgement seat of Christ, when the Lord’s ready to dispense final judgement.
And I believe the next few verses of the psalm before the third use of our Bit, will help to wake us up from our foolish and sinful slumber. Please read, understand and inwardly digest. (smile) ‘For he hath broken the gates of brass (bronze), and cut the bars of iron in sunder. Fools, because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities are afflicted. Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat (food); and they draw near unto the gates of death.
Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses. He sent his word, and blessed them, and delivered them from their destructions. Oh that men would praise (give thanks unto) the Lord for his goodness (LOVING-kindness), and for his wonderful works to the children of men! And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing (joyful singing).’ (Ps. 107:16-22)
Now my supposed faithful believers in Christ, if that doesn’t wake us up, and make us take a good look at our individual and societal lives, and cause us to make the necessary changes, then we certainly deserve whatever happens to us in Satan’s evil world. As the psalmist said back there in verse 20, the Lord sent His word, that’s both Jesus, who is considered the Word, and also His word, the gospel of Christ to save us.
But again, we have free choice to choose what we will. Please remember though, that there are serious consequences attached to the wrong choice, so we’d better get wise and make the right one right now, for there’s no time to dilly dally. since Jesus’ return is imminent, And once He returns, or we die, there’s no second chance.
And for those of us who have chosen to serve the Lord, let’s go home imploring the Lord’s mighty help through our Friday Chant, because that’s the only sensible option available to us in these turbulent and very trying times. All together now: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through this past week. You know it’s been rough… what with all the anxiety, the confusion and havoc that the several viruses and our many other problems are causing. We can’t seem to fix them on our own Lord, that means we desperately need your help.
Oh heavenly Father, with your omnipotent help, and our trusting faith, we know that we can stand strong and steadfast and defeat both the viruses and the simmering unrest in our land. So Lord, we sincerely ask you today to give the governments and those involved in the forefront of this serious and unexpected storm, the wise guidance to handle the situation properly, with the least amount of loss to life and property as possible. And please help those of us who must go out to work amidst all the confusion, to be responsible and to stay safe, and avoid any more serious setbacks.
And Lord, we fervently pray that You’ll use this situation to bring a lot of backsliders back to your fold, show them the error of their ways. And please introduce a whole new flock, who will embrace your LOVE and compassion by the example, we, your faithful believers set. Yes Lord, please use this pandemic, the discontent and dissatisfaction in our land that’s threatening to boil over, as a means of restoring faith in You, so that our sinful world can wake up and smell the coffee, wake up and smell it sweet and strong! We pray this in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen!’
And with that prayer, comes the duty to turn our lives around in the name of Christ, and truly become the faithful believers we promised to be. Much LOVE!
…only through Christ Jesus…can the goodness…the LOVING-kindness of the Father be accessed…
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