Daily Worship

They cried… he answered…

Jonathan Fleming March 15, 2021 0 2
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Psalm 107: 1-22 (NIVUK)

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    his love endures for ever.

2 Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story –
    those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,
3 those he gathered from the lands,
    from east and west, from north and south.[a]

4 Some wandered in desert wastelands,
    finding no way to a city where they could settle.
5 They were hungry and thirsty,
    and their lives ebbed away.
6 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he delivered them from their distress.
7 He led them by a straight way
    to a city where they could settle.
8 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
    and his wonderful deeds for mankind,
9 for he satisfies the thirsty
    and fills the hungry with good things.

10 Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness,
    prisoners suffering in iron chains,
11 because they rebelled against God’s commands
    and despised the plans of the Most High.
12 So he subjected them to bitter labour;
    they stumbled, and there was no one to help.
13 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he saved them from their distress.
14 He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness,
    and broke away their chains.
15 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
    and his wonderful deeds for mankind,
16 for he breaks down gates of bronze
    and cuts through bars of iron.

17 Some became fools through their rebellious ways
    and suffered affliction because of their iniquities.
18 They loathed all food
    and drew near the gates of death.
19 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he saved them from their distress.
20 He sent out his word and healed them;
    he rescued them from the grave.
21 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
    and his wonderful deeds for mankind.
22 Let them sacrifice thank-offerings
    and tell of his works with songs of joy.

The section of Psalm 107 that we are looking at today shows three different types of people in need of help: those who are lost in the wilderness, prisoners in chains and those who have gone down a path which would have otherwise ended in death — all of whom cry out to God in their time of trouble or despair and rejoice and give thanks when God delivers them from their crisis.

In this mid-lockdown world, there are many who feel lost and alone. There are many who are imprisoned by what is on their mind. There are many who are locked into situations of addiction or abuse. There are many who have wandered down a dark path that leads to destruction or even death. There are many who are on such journeys without us being aware of it…

May those in such a place feel able to cry out to our good and gracious God whose love endures forever and ever.

Let us pray…

Lord God,

In these days of isolation
and, for some, confusion,
we pray for

the lost
the hungry
the incarcerated prisoner
the prisoner of their own thoughts and fears
the sick and the dying…

We thank you
that you are a God
who listens and answers
who satisfies hunger
who breaks the darkness and the chains
who brings healing and rescue.

Thank you, Lord.

Amen.

Lent Disciplines

What is a song that lifts your spirits? Find a moment today to listen to it, or even play or sing it yourself.