GATHERING
THE CALL | Luke 18:16-17 [ESV]
But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”
CONFESSION
Heavenly Father, so often we exalt ourselves in our hearts. Our minds are occupied with things that are too great for us. We seek to comprehend your hidden counsels, when you call us to trust in faith. Forgive us of our pride. Give us child-like trust in you, by your Spirit that cries out in our hearts “Abba, Father!”. Quiet our souls with your steadfast love, as we rest in your wisdom and your power to save, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
ASSURANCE | Isaiah 49:15
[Thus says the Lord:]
“Can a woman forget her nursing child,
that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb?
Even these may forget,
yet I will not forget you.”
SING: Gloria Patri
Glory be to the Father
And to the Son and to the Holy Ghost
As it was in the beginning
Is now and ever shall be world without end
Amen Amen
WORD
Read Psalm 107
(v1-3) “Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! 2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble 3 and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.”
Although Psalm 107 kicks off a new book in the Psalter, there is great continuity from Psalm 106 (and really 105 as well). The Psalmist is still teaching the congregation to “…give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!” (v. 1). He invites God’s people, “the redeemed,” to join along, as they too have been “redeemed from trouble” (v. 2). The context certainly appears to be after the exile, with God’s people having been gathered back to the land of Judah (v. 3). The Psalmist then recounts four specific instances of God’s people in trouble and crying out to the LORD. Our four groups of lost souls include those who “wandered in desert wastes” (vv.4-9), “sat in darkness and in the shadow of death” (vv. 10-16), “were fools through their sinful ways” (vv. 17-22), and “went down to the sea in ships” (vv. 23-32). When they cry out to the LORD in their trouble, He delivers them from their distress (a common refrain), and they are encouraged to “thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!” (vv. 8, 15, 21, 31).
Verses 33-42 then meditate on how God so often displays his righteousness and faithfulness through reversing the fortunes of His creatures, humbling the proud but lifting up the downcast. The Psalm closes with these instructive words: “Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the LORD.” (v. 43)
How might you attend to these things? How might you consider the steadfast love of the LORD? You’ve spent a few minutes pondering this Psalm already…might it be worth a few more minutes meditating on a time in your life when you were lost? Or a particularly dark time? Or a significant health challenge? Or suffering as a result of your own sin? Or being tossed about by the storms of life? Might you write your own (un)inspired 5 th stanza to Psalm 107, how you cried out to the LORD in your trouble, and how He delivered you from your distress?
Brother or sister, sing today of the LORD’s redemption, and give thanks! Or perhaps you’re facing one of these issues now (or the equivalent). Friends, whatever the outcome may be, if you’re in Christ, then know this: the LORD has redeemed you! Sing of this redemption today, and give thanks!
Let me conclude briefly by saying, if you’ve never heard of Wendell Kimbrough and his rendition of Psalm 107 titled “Oh Give Thanks,” allow me to give it a hearty recommendation. And if you’re a guitar player and want to learn how to play it, here’s a YouTube video by Wendell Kimbrough himself, complete with a mini-guitar lesson afterwards to help: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VccSrmoJOug. Even if you’re not a guitar player, the first few minutes will still be well worth your time, just listening to this beautiful take on Psalm 107. Feel free to sing along!
ABIDING
SING
- Psalm 131 | [recording] [music sheet]
WEDNESDAY-CONTEXTUALIZE | Psalm 131
Consider ways that you can let the Psalm form your imagination, that you might share it with others. Perhaps you can journal about it, write poetry or prose, learn a song, create visual art, or reexpress it in ways that speak to your context. If you are planning to fellowship with other people this weekend, consider how you might share these imaginations with your community.
SENDING
Heidelberg Catechism, Question 1:
Q: What is your only comfort in life and death?
A: That I am not my own,
but belong with body and soul,
both in life and in death,
to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ.
He has fully paid for all my sins
with his precious blood,
and has set me free
from all the power of the devil.
He also preserves me in such a way
that without the will of my heavenly Father
not a hair can fall from my head;
indeed, all things must work together
for my salvation.
Therefore, by his Holy Spirit
he also assures me
of eternal life
and makes me heartily willing and ready
from now on to live for him.
1 John 3:2-3 [ESV]
Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.