Trim your lamp so that it will give more light and less smoke, and to carry it in front so that your shadow will fall behind you.”
–Henry Van Dyke
“John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light.”
–John 1:8 (NLT)
———————————-
In reading and studying Psalm 107 something caught my eye. There seems to be four sections to this Psalm each dealing with different groups of people (or are they?). (1) Wanderers who got lost in the desert; (2) prisoners condemned to hopelessness; (3) sufferers of incurable illnesses; and (4) sailors about to be shipwrecked (William J. Petersen). This Psalm is used to describe Israel, but they can describe each of us as well.
1 — Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.
2 — Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy,
3 — And gathered out of the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.
4 — They wandered in the wilderness in a desolate way; they found no city to dwell in.
5 — Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.
6 — Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them out of their distresses.
7 — And He led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city for a dwelling place.
8 — Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!
9 — For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness. (NKJV)
Where do you find yourself wandering? This time of year many people wander in loneliness or in regret or in past memories. People wander when they lack direction, or are cut off from others. Jesus came to bring life, to give light to the wandering soul and to be the way. He seeks to save those who are lost, those who are wandering in the world and in sin. He wants to deliver those trapped in bondages of alcohol, drugs, chaining habits and/or destructive relationships. Listen, God is reaching out–He is good! He is the Redeemer and His mercy is there for everyone and anyone who will reach out to Him. No matter our circumstances let each of us declare that God is good.
Wanderers have no place to light. No place to call their own for they are searching, possibly lost. They have no constant supply of food and they are always seeking water to satisfy their thirst. Sustenance is from day to day, but then God shows up. There is a way out of the wilderness. He satisfies the hungry, He quenches the thirsty soul. He is good!
I read a story from George O. Wood’s book on the Psalms. There was an inscription on the back of a photo of a young girl that she had given to her boyfriend. “Dearest Tommy, I love you with all my heart. I love you more and more each day. I will love you forever and ever. I am yours for all eternity.” signed Dianne. But…it contained a P.S., “If we should ever break up, I want this picture back.” Isn’t that the way it is with so many people today? However, not with the Lord. His mercy endures forever! There is no P.S. to His love letter to us. We are His and He is our Redeemer and He will keep us.
This may not be a normal psalm to read at Christmastime, however, meditate carefully on the last two verses. The goodness of God–sending His Son to earth to become a sacrifice, the final sacrifice for sin. Think of His wonderful works–His great blessings. He satisfies the longing soul–the soul that is wandering without direction. When you sit down to feast at your Christmas table, think of the words, “He fills the hungry soul…” WOW! Now that is a real Christmas gift!
“All my life long I had panted for a drink from some cool spring
That I hoped would quench the burning of the thirst I felt within,
Hallelujah! I have found him whom my soul so long has craved!
Jesus satisfies my longings; through his blood I now am saved.”
–Clara T. Williams
———————————-
In reading and studying Psalm 107 something caught my eye. There seems to be four sections to this Psalm each dealing with different groups of people (or are they?). (1) Wanderers who got lost in the desert; (2) prisoners condemned to hopelessness; (3) sufferers of incurable illnesses; and (4) sailors about to be shipwrecked (William J. Petersen). This Psalm is used to describe Israel, but they can describe each of us as well.
1 — Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.
2 — Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy,
3 — And gathered out of the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.
4 — They wandered in the wilderness in a desolate way; they found no city to dwell in.
5 — Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.
6 — Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them out of their distresses.
7 — And He led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city for a dwelling place.
8 — Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!
9 — For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness. (NKJV)
Where do you find yourself wandering? This time of year many people wander in loneliness or in regret or in past memories. People wander when they lack direction, or are cut off from others. Jesus came to bring life, to give light to the wandering soul and to be the way. He seeks to save those who are lost, those who are wandering in the world and in sin. He wants to deliver those trapped in bondages of alcohol, drugs, chaining habits and/or destructive relationships. Listen, God is reaching out–He is good! He is the Redeemer and His mercy is there for everyone and anyone who will reach out to Him. No matter our circumstances let each of us declare that God is good.
Wanderers have no place to light. No place to call their own for they are searching, possibly lost. They have no constant supply of food and they are always seeking water to satisfy their thirst. Sustenance is from day to day, but then God shows up. There is a way out of the wilderness. He satisfies the hungry, He quenches the thirsty soul. He is good!
I read a story from George O. Wood’s book on the Psalms. There was an inscription on the back of a photo of a young girl that she had given to her boyfriend. “Dearest Tommy, I love you with all my heart. I love you more and more each day. I will love you forever and ever. I am yours for all eternity.” signed Dianne. But…it contained a P.S., “If we should ever break up, I want this picture back.” Isn’t that the way it is with so many people today? However, not with the Lord. His mercy endures forever! There is no P.S. to His love letter to us. We are His and He is our Redeemer and He will keep us.
This may not be a normal psalm to read at Christmastime, however, meditate carefully on the last two verses. The goodness of God–sending His Son to earth to become a sacrifice, the final sacrifice for sin. Think of His wonderful works–His great blessings. He satisfies the longing soul–the soul that is wandering without direction. When you sit down to feast at your Christmas table, think of the words, “He fills the hungry soul…” WOW! Now that is a real Christmas gift!
“All my life long I had panted for a drink from some cool spring
That I hoped would quench the burning of the thirst I felt within,
Hallelujah! I have found him whom my soul so long has craved!
Jesus satisfies my longings; through his blood I now am saved.”
–Clara T. Williams