Never Forget, Never Doubt; Psalm 107, Proverbs 28

May the mumbling commence!

We are bound to death.  It is a fact of life.  Our many and broad ways all lead to death.  It is a sobering and distressing thought.  Sometimes we wonder… is there no one who could help us?  When we feel this way on our Lenten journey, then we are ready for these words from Psalm one-hundred seven:

Those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death,

Bound in affliction and irons –   

Because they rebelled against the words of God,

And despised the counsel of the Most High, 

Therefore He brought down their heart with labor;

They fell down, and there was none to help. 

Then they cried out to 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 broke their chains in pieces. 

Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness,

And for His wonderful works to the children of men! 

For He has broken the gates of bronze,

And cut the bars of iron in two. (Verses 10-16) 

When we wander in our own ways, we find ourselves in the dark land of death.  We, sooner or later, become too acquainted with the grim fact of our mortality.  To wander is to rebel against the Word of God… to despise the counsel of our Maker.

We see the impending death, and we want to work hard to prevent it.  We strive to find cures to prolong life.  We bankrupt ourselves in our efforts – financially and spiritually.  When we are brought down to our knees in despair, we realize that nothing that we can do will help.

Then we reach a turning point.  Then we turn and cry for help to the Lord.  Is the Lord for us a last resort?  If it is so, then it is a sad commentary on us.  Even so, the Lord will save us.

God removes us from the land of darkness and death.  The chains of sins are broken in His mighty hands.  Rejoice with all creation at the wonderful works of God for humanity.  Never forget them!  And never doubt that the Lord is near us… waiting for us to turn to Him.

Anything that we might consider strong – gates of bronze or bars of iron – these strong things are as soft butter to the hot knife when the Lord confronts them.  So, let us lean on the Lord before desperation hits.  With the Lord, we are in good hands… the best possible hands to be in!

So, let us hear the Lord’s Law and be reverent always – knowing that we are always in our Creator’s presence.  Read from Proverbs chapter twenty-eight:

One who turns away his ear from hearing the law,

Even his prayer is an abomination. (Verse 9)

            Happy is the man who is always reverent,

But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity. (Verse 14)

Enough mumbling for now… 

Peace Out