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Selections
from Psalm 107
Give thanks
to the Lord, because he is good;
his love is eternal!”
Some
wandered in the trackless desert
and could not find their way to a city to
live in.
They were
hungry and thirsty
and had given up all hope.
Then in their trouble they called
to the Lord,
and he saved them from their distress.
He led them
by a straight road
to a city where they could live.
They must thank the Lord for his
constant love,
for the wonderful things he did for them.
Some were
living in gloom and darkness,
prisoners suffering in chains,
because they
had rebelled against the commands of Almighty God
and had rejected his instructions.
Then in their trouble they
called to the Lord,
and he saved them from their distress.
He brought
them out of their gloom and darkness
and broke their chains in pieces.
They must thank the Lord for his
constant love,
for the wonderful things he did for them.
Some were
fools, suffering because of their sins
and because of their evil;
they
couldn't stand the sight of food
and were close to death.
Then in their trouble they
called to the Lord,
and he saved them from their distress.
He healed
them with his command
and saved them from the grave.
They must thank the Lord for his
constant love,
for the wonderful things he did for them.
Some sailed
over the ocean in ships,
earning their living on the seas.
They saw
what the Lord can do,
his wonderful acts on the seas.
He
commanded, and a mighty wind began to blow
and stirred up the waves.
The ships
were lifted high in the air
and plunged down into the depths.
In such
danger the sailors lost their courage;
they
stumbled and staggered like drunks—
all their skill was useless.
Then in their trouble they
called to the Lord,
and he saved them from their distress.
He calmed
the raging storm,
and the waves became quiet.
They were
glad because of the calm,
and he brought them safe to the port they
wanted.
They must thank the Lord for his
constant love,
for the wonderful things he did for them.
They must
proclaim his greatness in the assembly of the people
and praise him before the council of the
leaders.
May those who are wise think about
these things;
may they consider the Lord's constant love.
As I read
this passage of Scripture, the repeated phrases, highlighted in yellow, jumped
out at me. I began to think, What if I took
out the reports of what the people endured, and substituted an account from my
own life? What if I deleted the words relating how God cared for his people in
their distress, and instead wrote how He has cared for me?
Will you
join me in this exercise, inserting your faith stories and blessings? As we
wisely consider the Lord’s constant love, our faith will increase and we will
gain peace, even in the midst of challenges. Seeing, plainly spelled out, just
what God has done for us in the past, gives us hope and renewed faith for the present
and future.
Be encouraged!
Pam©2015 Pamela D. Williams
