Read
BOOK V
(Psalms 107–150)
The Lord Is Good
1 Shout praises to the Lord!
He is good to us,
and his love never fails.
2Everyone the Lord has rescued
from trouble
should praise him,
3everyone he has brought
from the east and the west,
the north and the south.
4Some of you were lost
in the scorching desert,
far from a town.
5You were hungry and thirsty
and about to give up.
6You were in serious trouble,
but you prayed to the Lord,
and he rescued you.
7At once he brought you
to a town.
8You should praise the Lord
for his love
and for the wonderful things
he does for all of us.
9To everyone who is thirsty,
he gives something to drink;
to everyone who is hungry,
he gives good things to eat.
10Some of you were prisoners
suffering in deepest darkness
and bound by chains,
11because you had rebelled
against God Most High
and refused his advice.
12You were worn out
from working like slaves,
and no one came to help.
13You were in serious trouble,
but you prayed to the Lord,
and he rescued you.
14He brought you out
of the deepest darkness
and broke your chains.
15You should praise the Lord
for his love
and for the wonderful things
he does for all of us.
16He breaks down bronze gates
and shatters iron locks.
Reflect
This is a great psalm! There’s a call to praise (vv 1-3), then four examples of how God helps and delivers his people (vv 4,10,17 and 23) and finally a beautiful summing-up (vv 33-43).
The lonely wanderers in vv 4-9 may look back to the wanderings of the people of Israel in the desert, after their escape from Egypt. God heard their cry and brought them safely to the promised land.
The hopeless prisoners in vv 10-16 are perhaps referring to the period of the Judges, when the people kept rebelling against God’s will and were enslaved by the neighbouring tribes. God heard their cry and delivered them.
These examples aren’t chosen casually; they are typical of the distresses many of us experience. They help you
- If you’ve lost your bearings (vv 4 & 5) – easy to do these days. Many don’t know where they are, or where they’re going. The old “landmarks” have gone. Verses 6 & 7 will help.
- If you’ve drifted away (vv 10, 12) – many have given up obeying God’s laws. Some are “prisoners” of lust or hate or greed. Verses 13 & 14 point the way.
Respond
Thank you, Lord, for your kindness. There are times when I’ve been in serious trouble. Sometimes I haven’t even realized that it was serious. But you rescued me and were kind to me. Thank you, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Tony Capon
Born in England, Tony served in the British Army in Germany 1945-48, then graduated from Cambridge University and Oak Hill Theological College London. He served as an Anglican priest in London and in 1956, Tony and his wife emigrated to Canada. There he served as Associate and President of Scripture Union. Later, as SU Co-ordinator for the Americas, he travelled widely in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean promoting the work of SU. From 1975 to 1978 he served as Director of Development at Wycliffe College, Toronto, and from 1978 to 1991 as Principal of Montreal Diocesan Theological College. He has just celebrated his 90th birthday!