Sunday, May 24, 2009

When Blessing Overtakes You

I started writing this blog because I had started to get some things figured out about God. It's absolutely amazing how far the Lord has take my family and I in such a short time. Over these four years I've gone from facing what looked like sure destruction to victory after victory. Last October I returned back to what looked like a hopeless fight against those who sought to destroy me in my workplace. I'm very good at seeing how hard things could be, and I tend not to see how surpassingly powerful the God of the universe is.

I confess He is surpassingly powerful above all things. He is merciful beyond what I could begin to explain. His grace is towards those who humble themselves to call on Him.

Psalm 107 says it better than I can.

1 Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.
2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say so,
Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy,
3 And gathered out of the lands,
From the east and from the west,
From the north and from the south.

4 They wandered in the wilderness in a desolate way;
They found no city to dwell in.
5 Hungry and thirsty,
Their soul fainted in them.
6 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,
And He delivered them out of their distresses.
7 And He led them forth by the right way,
That they might go to a city for a dwelling place.
8 Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness,
And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
9 For He satisfies the longing soul,
And fills the hungry soul with goodness.

10 Those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death,
Bound in affliction and irons—
11 Because they rebelled against the words of God,
And despised the counsel of the Most High,
12 Therefore He brought down their heart with labor;
They fell down, and there was none to help.
13 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,
And He saved them out of their distresses.
14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death,
And broke their chains in pieces.
15 Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness,
And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
16 For He has broken the gates of bronze,
And cut the bars of iron in two.

17 Fools, because of their transgression,
And because of their iniquities, were afflicted.
18
Their soul abhorred all manner of food,
And they drew near to the gates of death.
19 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,
And He saved them out of their distresses.
20 He sent His word and healed them,
And delivered them from their destructions.
21 Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness,
And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
22 Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving,
And declare His works with rejoicing.

23 Those who go down to the sea in ships,
Who do business on great waters,
24 They see the works of the LORD,
And His wonders in the deep.
25 For He commands and raises the stormy wind,
Which lifts up the waves of the sea.
26 They mount up to the heavens,
They go down again to the depths;
Their soul melts because of trouble.
27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man,
And are at their wits’ end.
28 Then they cry out to the LORD in their trouble,
And He brings them out of their distresses.
29 He calms the storm,
So that its waves are still.
30 Then they are glad because they are quiet;
So He guides them to their desired haven.
31 Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness,
And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
32 Let them exalt Him also in the assembly of the people,
And praise Him in the company of the elders.

33 He turns rivers into a wilderness,
And the watersprings into dry ground;
34 A fruitful land into barrenness,
For the wickedness of those who dwell in it.
35 He turns a wilderness into pools of water,
And dry land into watersprings.
36 There He makes the hungry dwell,
That they may establish a city for a dwelling place,
37 And sow fields and plant vineyards,
That they may yield a fruitful harvest.
38 He also blesses them, and they multiply greatly;
And He does not let their cattle decrease.

39 When they are diminished and brought low
Through oppression, affliction, and sorrow,
40 He pours contempt on princes,
And causes them to wander in the wilderness where there is no way;
41 Yet He sets the poor on high, far from affliction,
And makes their families like a flock.
42 The righteous see it and rejoice,
And all iniquity stops its mouth.

43 Whoever is wise will observe these things,
And they will understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.

3 comments:

David Wyatt said...

Praise God, bro. Kev! Psalm 107 is one of my favorites, especially vv.2 & 9! Have you noticed how v.23-30 seem to describe the apostle paul's experience in Acts 27? God Bless you bro! I have really come to appreciate you!

Kevl said...

Likewise David! Love the banjo btw

I'm drawn to the "let the redeemed say so!" Makes me think of the "Let the Bride say come!" in Rev.

I didn't connect those verses to Paul's experience but you're right it does read like a description of what Paul (and crew) went through.

Brother Robb sent me to Ps 106 last night and it has motivated me to pray that I remember His tender mercies.

Blessya!
Kev

David Wyatt said...

Amen bro. Kev! Thank you. I'm a died-in-the-wool bluegrass banjer lover!

I love the Psalms. Christ is as clearly seen in the Messianic Psalms as He is in the NT in my humble opinion. God Bless you brother!