As it says in Psalm 107, “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.”
[And we do see your love every day, Lord, in the myriad of provisions and protections you pour out upon us. You made us able to see, hear, speak, walk, work and write. You give us food, shelter, health, community and sleep. You provide protection, guidance, warning and help–these among many other wonderful gifts.]
“Let the redeemed of the LORD say this–those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,”
[You, Lord Jesus, have marvelously redeemed and rescued us from the hand of Satan, from the hand of sin, from the hands of evil men. You are our Savior, Shepherd and Sustainer. Praise be to you forever and ever for your gracious, good and great salvation.]
“those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south.”
[Thank you, Lord, that your Spirit works in every land in every people, opening their eyes, giving them the desire for truth, bringing them your Word so they, too, can enter you Kingdom, become your children, and spend eternity with you. You are the true, loving God, gracious to all, forgiving to all those who come to your call.]
“Some wandered in desert wastelands,”
[when we reject your truth and go our own way, we dwell in dry and parched lands of our own making, far from the green pastures you have for us.]
“finding no way to a city where they could settle. They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away.”
[When on our own path, we go from one bad decision to the next. We search for emotional and physical sustenance but find none; instead we grow weaker and weaker. Everything goes downhill because we are far from your way.]
“Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,”
[When we finally saw that our selfish way was not good, that our weak wisdom was insufficient, that our strength was too little to escape condemnation, then we cried out to you.]
“and he delivered them from their distress.”
[You, Lord, in your goodness, were right there, waiting for us to come to our senses, to see our need, to cry out to you. You were ready to help as soon as we were ready to receive. You plucked us out of our distress and inserted us into your forgiveness, your family and your future plans.]
“He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle.”
[You, Lord, know the way to shelter and are very willing, eager to lead us to it, if only we will follow. You give us wisdom, insight, security and community, all we need to prosper.]
“Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love”
[and truly your love is unfailing as you wait and wait and wait for us to repent of our selfish, stubborn independence. You don’t give up, you are patient, persistence and prepared.]
“and his wonderful deeds for men, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.”
[What you have for us is beyond good–it is wonderful, marvelous, awesome and great. You, Lord, have only good for us, satisfying our thirst for love and forgiveness, our hunger for relationship, our deep desire for reality and meaning.
You know our needs, for you are our Creator; you are able to supply our needs, for you are infinite; you desire to give us what we need, and promise to do so, for you are good. Praise be to you, both now and forever. Help us to walk in the light of these truths today.]
Pictures: without God and with God
