Realize God’s great love
[Psalms 107]
In order to live truly valuable life in the sight of God in this vain life, we must live a life that is satisfied with the Lord’s lovingkindness (Ps. 90:14). God has given us a longing for eternity (Eccl. 3:11). Therefore, as new creatures in Jesus, we can live a satisfying life when we live and love each other with the eternal love of God. However, we are living without remembering God’s abundant kindnesses like the Israelites (Ps. 106:7). To us like this, God is telling us the words of Psalms 107:43 – “Who is wise? Let him give heed to these things, And consider the lovingkindnesses of the LORD.” I would like to receive the grace given by thinking about how we can realize God's great love under the heading “Realize God's great love”.
How can we realize God's great love? With God's wisdom, we can realize His great love. When we have the wisdom of God, we will give heed to “these things” (v. 43). Here, what is “these things” that the psalmist talking about? In other words, what is “these things” we need to pay attention to with God's wisdom? That is “His wonders” (vv. 8, 15, 21, 31). What, then, is the wonders that God had done to the sons of men? It’s God’s work of saving the Israelites. In Psalms 107, we can think of four things about from what kind of situation God saved the Israelites (Park).
First, God saved the Israelites when they wandered in the wilderness in a desert region (vv. 4-9).
Look at Psalms 107:4-5: “They wandered in the wilderness in a desert region; They did not find a way to an inhabited city. They were hungry and thirsty; Their soul fainted within them.” When the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness in the desert region, they were tired due to hunger and thirst. So they cried out to the Lord in their trouble and God delivered them out of their distresses (v. 6). And God not only delivered the Israelites who were wandering in the wilderness out of suffering, but also led them to the city where they would live (v. 7). So, what should the Israelites, who have received the grace of salvation, do? Look at verse 8: “Let them give thanks to the LORD for His lovingkindness, And for His wonders to the sons of men!” Why should the Israelites praise God? The reason is because God satisfied the longing souls of the Israelites and also filled their hungry souls with good things (v. 9).
The world we live in is a wilderness. Living in this wilderness-like world, we are hungry and thirsty. This is extremely natural. However, for some reason, we avoid this reality and like to live in the middle of the city. In this city-like world that pursues the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of this life, we are busy pursuing worldly abundance. And we also gains worldly abundance. Nevertheless, our souls aren’t satisfied. This abundance can never be good for poverty in the wilderness.’ This is because, at least in the wilderness, there are longing and hungry souls who earnestly seek God out of poverty. Therefore, poverty in the wilderness is more precious than the abundance in the city. The God who satisfies our needy souls grants us the grace of salvation when we cry earnestly to God in longing and hungry souls. And God doesn’t allow us to wander in the wilderness, but rather leads us in the right path, to the true city of Jerusalem. Therefore, we must praise God for His great love.
Second, God saved the Israelites when they were in captivity (vv. 10-16).
Look at Psalms 107:10 – “There were those who dwelt in darkness and in the shadow of death, Prisoners in misery and chains.” Why, then, did the Israelites dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death, and were bound by misery and chains? The reason is that the psalmist says: “Because they had rebelled against the words of God And spurned the counsel of the Most High” (v. 11). That sin is strongly going against the Word of God. Those who commit such great sins deserve the punishment of becoming prisoners more terrifying than death (Jere. 22:10) (Park). As a result, God humbled the Israelites with their hard with labor, so that even if they stumbled there was none to help (Ps. 107:12). At that time, the Israelites cried out to the Lord in their trouble (v. 13). As a result, God saved them out of their distresses (v. 13). He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, breaking their bands apart (v. 14). Therefore, what the Israelites, who had received the grace of salvation, must do was to give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness and for His wonders to the sons of men (v. 15). Why should the Israelites praise God? The reason is because God set them free (v. 16).
There are people around us who live in captivity or slavery. Even those who refuse to forgive and refuse to be forgiven are living in captivity. People with alcoholism, drug addiction, and gambling addiction are in some way enslaved. Because of rebelling against God's Word and despising the Most High, we are bound to suffer in captivity or slavery. Therefore, God humbles us and cuts off those who help us. Therefore, when we fall down before God alone and cry out to God in sorrow, like the Israelites, God delivers us from suffering. He cuts off all our chains. God gives us real freedom. Therefore, we must praise God for His great love.
Third, God saved the Israelites when they were on the verge of dying like seriously sick people (vv. 17-22).
Look at Psalms 107:18 – “Their soul abhorred all kinds of food, And they drew near to the gates of death.” Here, the saying that the Israelties’ soul abhorred all kinds food indicates that they were sick and couldn’t eat food (Park). Therefore, the Israelites were close to the door of death. What was the reason? The reason for this was because the fools suffered because of their transgressions and sins (v. 17). At that time, the Israelites cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and God saved them out of their distresses (v. 19). God sent His word and healed them, and deliver them from their destructions (v. 20). In other words, God had His sovereignty and commanded to save the Israelites who were on the verge of dying like a seriously sick people (Park). Therefore, what should the Israelites who had received the grace of salvation do? Look at verses 21-22: “Let them give thanks to the LORD for His lovingkindness, And for His wonders to the sons of men! Let them also offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, And tell of His works with joyful singing.”
I think there are three kinds of gates in this world: (1) the gate of Achor [“valley of Achor”, Hos. 2:15], that is, the gate of trouble, (2) the gate of death (Ps. 107:18), and (3) the door of hope (Hos. 2:15). As we live in this wilderness-like world, in a world of troubled, full of sin, and truly many deaths, even if we pass through the door of pain and death, in the end, we will surely pass through the door of hope. Even today, the Lord is leading us to the heavenly gate. When we think about this saving grace, we cannot help but praise the Lord even to the point of death because of God's great love.
Fourth and last, God saved the Israelites when they were in peril like those who were heading for a storm in the sea (Ps. 107:23-32).
God the Creator spoke and raised up a stormy wind which lifted up the waves of the sea (v. 25) and melted the hearts of the Israelites in their misery (v. 26). He made them to be reeled and staggered like a drunken man (v. 27). “Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, And He brought them out of their distresses. He caused the storm to be still, So that the waves of the sea were hushed” (vv. 28-29). Furthermore, God led the Israelites to their desired haven while rejoicing for serenity (v. 30). This reminds me the hymn “With Christ as My Pilot”: (v. 1) With Christ as my Pilot though billows be high, Though dim be the light-house and dark sea and sky, With Christ at the helm ev-'ry gale we endure, For Jesus the Savior is my Pilot sure, (v. 2) Though tempests may threaten the craft and the crew, And wide gape the jaws of the deep for me, too, With Christ at the oar I am safe in His will, And Jesus my Savior is my Pilot still, (v. 3) If Jesus but speak, in His voice of great pow'r, The billows must sleep and be still from that hour, And I, at the brightness of dawning, shall be, With Jesus, my Pilot, safe over the sea, (chorus) I nothing can fear! I nothing can dread! For Jesus keeps watch here, and by Him I'm led. My seas may be rough, but when voy'-ges are past, My haven of hope will be heaven at last. So, what should the Israelites who have received the grace of salvation do? Look at Psalms 107:31-32: “Let them give thanks to the LORD for His lovingkindness, And for His wonders to the sons of men! Let them extol Him also in the congregation of the people, And praise Him at the seat of the elders.”
Just as a pearl shell makes beautiful pearls deep in the sea even if waves hit the sea and there is a storm, God is transforming us into precious children of God through the storm in this wilderness-like world. Often when the storms of life come and the rains blow, when our hearts are shaken, afraid, and trembling, when we cry out to God in distress, our God rescues us and gives peace in our hearts. That’s why we praise God: “I have found sweet rest for my weary soul, Found a harbor safe tho' the billows roll, Found a Mighty One who can storms control, Leaning on the everlasting arms. Oh, the everlasting arms, How they hold me, Ever hold me, and enfold me; I am safe in life or death, For around and underneath Are the mighty, everlasting arms”(Hymn “I Have Found Sweet Rest”, v. 1).
In the end, God saved the Israelites through suffering and adversity, blessed them, and made them prosper (v. 38). God raised the needy Israelites out of trouble and made their families like a flock (v. 41), so that the upright see it and were glad (v. 42). What are some of the wonders God has done in our lives? Are we realizing God's great love through those wonders? When we were wandering in this world like the wilderness, when we were slaves to sin, when we had to die forever, when storms struck our lives, hasn't God delivered (saved) us? How can we not praising the Lord when we consider this saving grace?
“I've anchored my soul in the ‘Haven of Rest,’ I'll sail the wide seas no more;
The tempest may sweep o'er the wild stormy deep; In Jesus I'm safe evermore.”
(Hymn “My Soul in Sad Exile”, chorus)
“The love of God is greater far Than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star, And reaches to the lowest hell;
The guilty pair, bowed down with care, God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled, And pardoned from His sin.
Oh love of God, how rich and pure! How measureless and strong!
It shall forever more endure, The saints' and angels' song.”
(Hymn “The Love of God is Greater Far”, verse 1 and chorus)
Living while tasting God's great love,
James Kim
(With gratitude for God's saving grace)