God’s Good Earth.
# 8 2021 Dev. Psalm 106:3. God’s Grace! Read all of Psalm 106. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.
Psalm 106:3 “Blessed are those who act justly, who always do what is right.”
Ps. 101 starts a new series of 10 Psalms. This series is like a Psalm within the Psalms. The series is complementary from front to back: Ps. 101 corresponds with 110 and 102 with 109 and so on. Psalms 105 and 106 are the center of this 10 Psalm series.
Ps. 105 is about God’s faithfulness and Ps. 106 is about the people’s unfaithfulness and God’s Geace. The song/prayer begins with positive praise and a request for aid, for prosperity, for joy “and join your inheritance in giving praise” vs.1-5. This is a prelude to a long confession of unfaithfulness to God’s grace. This also applies to us, confession of sin and praise for God’s grace go together.
Vs. 6-39 is a multifaceted confession of sins and unfaithfulness.
Vs.6-12 “when our ancestors were in Egypt they gave no thought to your miracles; they did not remember your many kindnesses, and they rebelled by the sea…” After God saved them and dried up the sea. “Then they believed his promises…” How often have we forgotten all the things God does for us? I speak for myself: my faith has been weak in more than one situation but by God’s grace, I believed His promises and confessed my doubt.
Vs.13-23 shows how quickly the praise and belief vanished, they “did not wait for His (God’s) plan to unfold.” They rebelled again and again, even while God punished them again and again, to no avail. “So he said he would destroy them—had not Moses, his chosen one, stood in the breach before him to keep his wrath from destroying them.” We sin again and again and God continues to forgive because Jesus stands in the gap for us, Amen!
Vs. 24-27 “Then they despised the pleasant land;” Are we satisfied with God’s gifts in our lives? Are we satisfied enough to give back to God’s works of outreach and mercy; to have hands on involvement?
Vs.28-33 “They yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor…” There was idolatry and immorality. I am sad to say that there still is idolatry in this world and among us; self, possessions, power, sex and food. All this is among us, often we are unaware what really is important to us. This reality affects the people around us and hampers the work of God through the church.
Vs. 34-39 “but they mingled with the nations and adopted their customs.” This Ps. reminds me of 2 Pe. 2 “They will secretly introduce destructive heresies,” 3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories.” This is happening in our educational institutions and being accepted by many followers of Jesus. What we are facing today is a Neo Gnosticism. Mark my words, the world is too much with us in the church.
Vs. 40-48 “Therefore the Lord was angry with his people.” God punished but He heard their cry of distress, God remembered His people. Along with the Psalmist we say: Lord forgive us, “Save us, Lord God,” and “Let all the people say, ‘Amen’!”
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