Unfailing love

DEVOTION

PSALMS

UNFAILING LOVE

Ps 107:17-32

17 Some became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of their iniquities. 18 They loathed all food and drew near the gates of death. 19 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. 20 He sent forth his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave. 21 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men. 22 Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy.

23 Others went out on the sea in ships; they were merchants on the mighty waters. 24 They saw the works of the LORD, his wonderful deeds in the deep. 25 For he spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves. 26 They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths; in their peril their courage melted away. 27 They reeled and staggered like drunken men; they were at their wits' end. 28 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. 29 He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. 30 They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven. 31 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men. 32 Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people and praise him in the council of the elders.

NIV

Two stanzas which we most likely should deal with individually, but they do both deal with people of the rebellion. Both kinds are fools. Simply rebelling against God is a foolish way to live and it does cause suffering from afflictions because of sin. What we believers have to grasp deep within our being is that God is the God who heals us. Somehow we should get that and know that all our iniquities have been forgiven, Jesus took them all upon himself at the cross. So why should we have to suffer any afflictions? But this song is talking about fools who reject God and perhaps it is speaking more metaphorically about loathing all food. This could be the bread of life. This food they reject could be the food that came down from heaven, Jesus. When he was with his disciples at their last meal with him, he speak of taking this bread which is my body and drink this  wine which is my blood and this could mean as men reject him and his communion they draw near to the gates of death. Surely they still have a chance to change their minds and turn from their wicked ways, as we did, and accept his food from heaven. The psalmist indicates they did just that, crying out to the Lord in their trouble and he saved them, he will always save those who cry out to him. He sent forth his word and healed them. He sent Jesus who heals people from the grave. When we accept Jesus the distress of death no longer holds its power, for the word of God, Jesus is the word and the word became flesh and dwelled among us. Jesus heals us from death, from the grave. We are no longer subject of the infirmity of death. The others, they spent their life’s effort in commerce, the pursuit of profit, of success. The desire to gain the wealth of this world. They are the merchants of the sea of life, the mighty waters. But this group were not really as foolish as the others, as they saw the mighty works of God. They were not just foolish, living in either ignorance or rebellion, not wanting to notice what God does. They were aware of his works but desired to travel their own course on the sea of life. But God stirred up their sea, made their lives into a turmoil, huge waves, things got messy, as much or as fast they could produce wealth, it could vanish just as quickly. The market is fickle that way, the merchants were at their wits end, their courage melted away from the acts of God against them. When they cried out to the Lord, he calmed the waters and guided them to a safe haven, his haven. Life is a dangerous thing when we are not in Christ. When we want to live by our supposed wisdom, we will either be a fool or in so much distress upon the sea of life, we might just drown. We have to see we need the food from heaven, Jesus and as we live in him, he calms the sea of life that we travel on. We do not have to deal with the infirmity of death and we do not have to deal with the pursuit of commerce, for he calms the storm, he is in control of the course of our life. That does not mean we go without, not at all, in fact we are well cared for. God is not only our redeemer, but our rock, our fortress, our provider, our healer, and our shepherd. He leads us on a path of righteousness, he leads us beside still waters, and he restores our soul. We can live in contentment, loving where we live, for we live in Christ. We do not need to suffer anymore, or fear anything or anyone. We do not need to fight our own battles in life for he is our victory and we thank him in every situation in life we face. We will always praise him for his unfailing love.