To sheltered and peaceful people who live in warm homes and sit in comfortable chairs and sleep safely at night, there can be no realization of the desperation of men running and fighting for their lives against enormous odds.”
–Louis L’Amour (The Broken Gun)
“For I will defend this city, to save it for My own sake and for My servant David’s sake.”
–Isaiah 37:35 (NKJV)
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This next part of Psalm 105 reminds us of God’s covenant with Israel, but it goes much deeper than that. It assures us that God is faithful to fulfill His promises to all His children. Peter tells us that “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness…” (2 Peter 3:9) The Amplified puts it this way, “The Lord does not delay and is not tardy or slow about what He promises, according to some people’s conception of slowness…” We may wonder, but we look at things as a man; we do not have the eyes of the Almighty.
11 — Saying, ‘To you I will give the land of Canaan as the allotment of your inheritance,’
12 — When they were few in number, indeed very few, and strangers in it.
13 — When they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people,
14 — He permitted no one to do them wrong; yes, He rebuked kings for their sakes,
15 — Saying, ‘Do not touch My anointed ones, and do My prophets no harm.’
16 — Moreover He called for a famine in the land; He destroyed all the provision of bread.
17 — He sent a man before them–Joseph–who was sold as a slave.
18 — They hurt his feet with fetters, he was laid in irons.
19 — Until the time that his word came to pass, the word of the LORD tested him.
20 — The king sent and released him, the ruler of the people let him go free.
21 — He made him lord of his house, and ruler of his possessions,
22 — To bind his princes at his pleasure, and teach his elders wisdom. (NKJV)
Israel is still around. That is one of the great proofs that there is a God. He is the covenant God of Israel; if not so, they would have disappeared from history like the Hittites, Philistines, and a host of other peoples. Surely they have gone through turmoil, trials, and tribulations, and it will continue until they finally accept Jesus Christ as the Messiah. It is important to remember that all that is taking place in the world is the setting up of the Lord’s return for His Church, then the Tribulation which will bring acknowledgement of the Messiah. He will come, after much destruction on earth, to redeem His covenant people and set up His kingdom.
Take time to read the story of Joseph again. Read his trials, his imprisonments, and the final faithfulness of God to him. Joseph, despite all that happened, all that took place to destroy him was “redeemed” by the Lord and brought into the second highest position in Egypt so that he would be there when his people were suffering from a famine back in Canaan. Perhaps some symbolism there for our current day(?)
But one more thought. I would say that all of us, at one time or another, have been in some sort of prison. We may not have been incarcerated behind bars, but I would imagine that some have been betrayed like Joseph. I imagine that some have been in some sort of slavery (i.e., drugs, alcohol, etc.) I imagine that some have been in the prisons of their minds, not knowing where to turn or what to do. God will keep His word–God is faithful. Like Joseph, you may have to wait a bit, but God will open the doors of your prison.
“Yes, come! then tried as in the fire,
From every lie set free,
Thy perfect truth shall dwell in us,
And we shall live in thee.”
–Thomas Hughs
————————————–
This next part of Psalm 105 reminds us of God’s covenant with Israel, but it goes much deeper than that. It assures us that God is faithful to fulfill His promises to all His children. Peter tells us that “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness…” (2 Peter 3:9) The Amplified puts it this way, “The Lord does not delay and is not tardy or slow about what He promises, according to some people’s conception of slowness…” We may wonder, but we look at things as a man; we do not have the eyes of the Almighty.
11 — Saying, ‘To you I will give the land of Canaan as the allotment of your inheritance,’
12 — When they were few in number, indeed very few, and strangers in it.
13 — When they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people,
14 — He permitted no one to do them wrong; yes, He rebuked kings for their sakes,
15 — Saying, ‘Do not touch My anointed ones, and do My prophets no harm.’
16 — Moreover He called for a famine in the land; He destroyed all the provision of bread.
17 — He sent a man before them–Joseph–who was sold as a slave.
18 — They hurt his feet with fetters, he was laid in irons.
19 — Until the time that his word came to pass, the word of the LORD tested him.
20 — The king sent and released him, the ruler of the people let him go free.
21 — He made him lord of his house, and ruler of his possessions,
22 — To bind his princes at his pleasure, and teach his elders wisdom. (NKJV)
Israel is still around. That is one of the great proofs that there is a God. He is the covenant God of Israel; if not so, they would have disappeared from history like the Hittites, Philistines, and a host of other peoples. Surely they have gone through turmoil, trials, and tribulations, and it will continue until they finally accept Jesus Christ as the Messiah. It is important to remember that all that is taking place in the world is the setting up of the Lord’s return for His Church, then the Tribulation which will bring acknowledgement of the Messiah. He will come, after much destruction on earth, to redeem His covenant people and set up His kingdom.
Take time to read the story of Joseph again. Read his trials, his imprisonments, and the final faithfulness of God to him. Joseph, despite all that happened, all that took place to destroy him was “redeemed” by the Lord and brought into the second highest position in Egypt so that he would be there when his people were suffering from a famine back in Canaan. Perhaps some symbolism there for our current day(?)
But one more thought. I would say that all of us, at one time or another, have been in some sort of prison. We may not have been incarcerated behind bars, but I would imagine that some have been betrayed like Joseph. I imagine that some have been in some sort of slavery (i.e., drugs, alcohol, etc.) I imagine that some have been in the prisons of their minds, not knowing where to turn or what to do. God will keep His word–God is faithful. Like Joseph, you may have to wait a bit, but God will open the doors of your prison.
“Yes, come! then tried as in the fire,
From every lie set free,
Thy perfect truth shall dwell in us,
And we shall live in thee.”
–Thomas Hughs