Psalm 107:33-43

Never lose sight of God and what He can do. He can transform situations.  In the concluding verses the psalmist describes how all of life is under God’s control. Sin brings dryness and barrenness into  life – regardless of what it may appear to promise (33, 34), but God Himself is behind this process, working out His plans. For when people in spiritually dry places turn to Him, He turns the desert into a place of refreshing and blessing. God gives the growth! (35-38)

However, the life of the believer does not necessarily head upwards continually in a straight line. The chart may show a wiggly line. There are ups and downs; highs and lows. There are seasons of great blessing and growth. But these can be punctuated with times when the graph lines are ‘heading south’ (39, 40). Times of decline in the church may be connected to sin. They often are. But it is not always the case. Some days are just more difficult than others. But behind the bad times stands God. He has a purpose in all things. And He still comes to the one who is down and lifts them up (41). Tough times come, but with God we travel through them to a better day. Seeing God at work has an impact on both believers and unbelievers (42).

It seems to me that the call in the final verse (43) is take to heart the overall message of this psalm, which is that in every circumstance of life we can turn to God in prayer, and He will help us. In all of this we see ‘’the great love of the LORD.’’ Everyone can pray.

‘’What is it in all this that the upright (those who are right with God and committed to rightness of life)see? First, that every circumstance is directed by the Lord who is not a watcher from the sidelines but an executive director. It is he who works transformations in both directions. The most practical course in life is to be right with the One who directs all. Secondly, his providences are moral. If fruitful land becomes a waste, it is a judgment on sin (34); therefore the upright should determine on holiness. Thirdly, when prosperity comes it is not a reward for good behaviour, but a sheer act of divine concern for the needy (41). For this reason, true wisdom (43) will always fill its gaze with the great love, (lit.) ‘the loves’ of the Lord – that changeless, ‘ever-unfailing’ love which is so many -faceted  that within it (in answer to prayer) there lies the solution to every need.’’ J.A. Motyer: The ‘New Bible Commentary’, p.558.

Prayer: Thank you Lord for prayer. And thank you for your love expressed in multitudes of answers.