Thursday, August 26, 2010

In The Hours of Pain and Sorrow

Psalm 107 is a Psalm of praise, exhorting the Redeemed of the Lord to say so... to proclaim the steadfast love of the Lord in saving and preserving them.  He gathers His people from far away and leads them on a straight path, satisfying the longing of their soul.  Sometimes, He leaves them in prison and bows them down with hard labour, or turns their rivers into a desert. 

Psalm 107:33
He turns rivers into a desert, springs of water into thirsty ground,
34 a fruitful land into a salty waste, because of the evil of its inhabitants.

Why?  Because He loves them and He is working all things together for good for those who love Him.  As Matthew Henry says, "If Christ be ours, all things, one way or another, shall be for our eternal good."

So how are we to react to the hours of pain and sorrow?   By knowing that the same God who turns rivers into a desert can and will turn a desert into pools of water.

35 He turns a desert into pools of water, a parched land into springs of water.

God alone knows what is best.  He alone is able to teach us to trust Him fully.  He is our shield in times of temptation, our shelter in a weary land.  He knows what it is to be despised and forsaken, to suffer want, to be mocked and smitten and reviled.  He also knows that we are blessed when we partake of His sufferings in some small way.

Ps. 119:65 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.
71  It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.

God has a good purpose in the hours of pain and sorrow.  Trust Him. 
No matter what you are facing, remember that God is able to deliver you, 
and He will deliver you , in His good time.

The last verse of Psalm 107 is a good reminder.
43 Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things;
let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord




1. In the hours of pain and sorrow,
When the world brings no relief
When the eye is dim and heavy,
And the heart oppressed with grief
While blessings flee, Savior Lord we trust in Thee!
While blessings flee, Savior Lord we trust in Thee!

2. When the snares of death surround us,
Pride, ambition, love of ease
Mammon with her false allurements,
Words that flatter, smiles that please
Then ere we yield, Savior Lord be Thou our shield
Then ere we yield, Savior Lord be Thou our shield

3. When forsaken in distress,
Poor despised and tempest-tossed
With no anchor here to stay us,
Drifting, sail and rudder lost
Then save us Thou, who trod this earth with weary brow
Then save us Thou, who trod this earth with weary brow

4. Thou the hated and forsaken,
Thou the bearer of the cross
Crowned of thorns and mocked and smitten,
Counting earthly gain but loss
When scorned are we, We joy to be the more like Thee
When scorned are we, We joy to be the more like Thee

5. Thou the Father's best beloved,
Thou the throned and sceptered King
Who but Thee should we adoring,
All our prayers and praises bring?
So blessed are we, Savior Lord in loving Thee
So blessed are we, Savior Lord in loving Thee
© 2007 Kevin Twit Music (ASCAP).
Used by permission. All rights reserved.



1 comment:

Remember that you will give an account for every word. Respond with wisdom and grace, please.