June 19, 2018
Psalm 107:1-3…“Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, those he redeemed from trouble…” vs. 2
Sometimes Christians imply that the only redemption worth talking about is that which comes through Jesus, that only those “washed in the blood of the Lamb” have the salvation of God. Such talk would have certainly surprised the psalmist. In his estimation there were countless examples of redemption in Israel’s history. The people had often fallen away from God and then cried out in their prayers for help in their time of trouble. And God regularly heard their cries and redeemed them from their fears and distress. The circumstances varied. There were wars and famines, fearsome plagues of locusts and devastating storms…and always God was their redeemer. Broadly speaking, we experience the same things. Most of us careen through life from one time of trouble to another. There is no end to the ugly things that can happen in the course of a lifetime. It’s natural in such circumstances for even the faithless to offer prayers for deliverance. And God does come through in a variety of ways. Relationships are healed, wars and enmity cease, and the hungry are fed and sustained. The psalmist recommended hearty songs of praise and thanksgiving, a recognition that God’s steadfast love will last forever. Obviously it’s proper for us to think of Jesus as our Redeemer, but, redemption has always been a part of God’s nature. And whenever it comes to us, the proper response continues to be joyful thanksgiving. “Praise God from whom all blessings flow!”
Thought for the Day: For what am I giving thanks today?
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