"Let the redeemed of the Lord say so..." (Psalm 107:2a ESV) I was reading this Psalm this morning and it struck a chord with me that it hadn't struck before. I had the Psalm marked up pretty good in my Bible. I had this verse underlined. But it just hadn't hit me like it did this morning. The Psalm starts with the words, "Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever." (Psalm 107:1 ESV) Not earth shattering words by a long shot, for they are words that are part of a prayer that is often offered. But the next verse states, "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so..." We are to tell others that the Lord is good, that His love endures forever. We are to spend our days telling those around us about the love of God, the steadfastness of the only One who can help us in our times of need.
Then the Psalm goes on to speak in the most practical fashion, in way that makes it really clear that the Lord is the One who helps us, even when we mess things up by our own fault, our own actions. "Some wandered into desert wastes..." (vs. 4) "Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and in irons, for they had rebelled against the words of God." (vs. 10) "Some were foolish through their sinful ways and because of their iniquities suffered afflictions." (vs. 17) "Some went down to the sea in ships, doing business on the great waters." (vs. 23) Their lives were going well and then were messed up, they were living contrary to the way of God...they all had the same need. They needed help, guidance, strength, rescuing from the tragedy of life, the destruction they had sown or the basic things that life brings to every person. No one could help them. They couldn't help themselves. And then the steadfast love of the love found them, helped them and they were rescued from the prisons, the terrors of their situation and the consequences of their sins.
This Psalm is talking about...you and me! This is our Psalm. It tells the story of our lives. It shows our need. And it shows who it is that rescues us. It isn't ourselves. It isn't another person. It isn't the government. It is God Himself that rescues us from the situations that we find ourselves facing. "Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress." (vs. 8) He delivers us. Isn't that the message of the Gospel? Isn't that the great proclamation of Scripture? God rescues us! How?
Through His Son Jesus Christ, who comes to suffer and die on the cross and to rise victorious from the dead on the third day! Alleluia! Christ Jesus rescues us! He saves us from the distress of our lives, from the destruction of our sins, from the consequences of our actions and from ourselves. Over and over in this Psalm we are told that God saves.
We are told, "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so..." (vs. 2a) Speak up! You and I are called to tell others what the Lord has done for us. Over and over it says in this Psalm that the we have need, God rescues us, and we are to tell that wondrous news. We are called to action. That action flows from the salvation, the relief, the help, the steadfast love of the Lord. Our lips are opened in praise. God has rescued us! He has given us relief! He has saved us from the terrors of the day!
"Let the redeemed of the Lord say so..." As you go through this day, remember one thing, "The steadfast love of the Lord endures forever." Wherever you are and whatever you are facing, don't go it alone. Don't "man up" and try to make it alone. It will crush you. Instead cry out to the Lord. Know that His steadfast love endures forever, for you, to be with you. He will rescue you. And when He does, respond. Say so! Speak up! Let others know that you are not making it on your own. Let them know it is the steadfast love of the Lord that rescues you.
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