"LET THEM THANK THE LORD FOR ..." Bible Reading Thoughts for Mar. 3rd

Psalm 107 we have repeated x3 "city of habitation" (v4 (RV),7,36)

v6
THEY, the children of Israel (the ecclesia), wandered in the wilderness, in the solitary (lit = desert/waste) way, and THEY found no city of habitation.

v7 - What a contrast once they had cried unto YAHWEH:
"And He led them forth by the right/straight way, that they might go to a city of habitation"

v35-36 - what is that city of habitation?
"He turneth the wilderness into a pool of standing water, and dry ground into watersprings (what a HUGE contrast to the wilderness). And there He maketh the hungry to dwell, that THEY may prepare a city of habitation"

We are a people who have been redeemed from our own wanderingings in the wilderness, and have been led unto a city of habitation.  That we be builders of Gods temple, and as reminded by Paul (1 Cor 3:7) and planters and cultivators of Gods field, as we see here in v37 "and sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which (by Gods grace) may yield fruits of increase", unto His glory.

“LET THEM THANK THE LORD FOR …”

     Four times in our Psalms reading today (107) we come to a verse that requests a certain action.  “Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love , for his wondrous works to the children of men.” (v.8,15,21,31)    Then the Psalm ends with the statement, “Whoever is wise let him attend to these things: let them consider the steadfast love of the LORD.”

      So in being “wise” we get our minds to understand and appreciate the actions of the LORD in attending to – or responding to – the actions or inaction of human beings in the way they live their lives in the sight of God, whether they “see” their Creator – or blindfold themselves – or are simply indifferent toward him.

     When you think about it there are clear comparisons to that of children toward their parents as they grow up.  And of course there is often considerable failure,, especially these days, in the “wisdom” of human parents in the way they train their children,   But we are dealing with the wonderful divine parent, isn’t this the reason why we call him our “Heavenly Father.”  

     Verse 17 states, “Some were fools through their sinful ways and because of their iniquities suffered affliction.”  We can see parallels in these words with life today.  Our world has totally ceased to look to God’s word; they have more or less abandoned belief in him and so the time will come, as verses 26,27 tells us,when “their courage melted away in their evil plight; they reeled and staggered like drunken men and were at their wits’ end.” 

      This is the spirit that is starting to ‘swamp’ our world more and more; with what astonishment will the world see divine action taking place to prevent humans from destroying God’s creation and, in the process, themselves.  The prophets warn of God’s ultimate actions, for example through Jeremiah he speaks of the time coming when “the LORD has an indictment against the nations; he is entering into judgment with all flesh … Thus says the LORD of hosts; Behold disaster is going forth from nation to nation …” [Ch.25 v. 31,32]    At that time as v.42 of our Psalm states, “The upright see it and are glad, and all wickedness shuts its mouth.”  Let us make sure we are among those who “thank the LORD … for his wondrous works”  in bringing peace out of utter chaos.