At Our Wits’ End
Some wandered in the desert, lost and homeless. Hungry and thirsty, they nearly died. “Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he rescued them from their distress. He led them straight to safety, to a city where they could live. Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for all his wonderful deeds to them. Psalm 107:4-8
Advertisement
Four times in this psalm, we see God’s amazing response when his people, in desperation, cried out to him for deliverance. Some wandered in the wilderness (v. 4). Some rebelled and were chained and broken by hard labor (v. 12). Some were in distress because of their sins and were at the brink of death (vv. 17-18). Some went off in trading ships and were tossed by a storm (vv. 23-25). But when they cried to the Lord in their trouble, in his unshakable faithfulness and great love he heard their cries and rescued them. He led those in the wilderness to a city where they could live. He snapped the chains of those bound by hard labor and slavery. He snatched those near death from the doors of destruction and sent his Word to heal them. And he stilled the storm, saving those tossed on the sea and bringing them safely into harbor. What a tremendous encouragement to us today. Regardless of how we’ve messed up, regardless of whether our distress is of our own making or not, when we humble ourselves and cry to the Lord, he will unquestionably hear and marvelously rescue.
Prayers:
FATHER, help us to be wise and take all this to heart so that we will be able to see in the history of your people and in our own history yet to be written “the faithful love of the Lord” (v. 43). Help us lift up our eyes and see the incredible things you do in response to our wholehearted cries for help. At our wits’ end, Lord, you glorify yourself!
Quotes:
When we have nothing left but God, then we become aware that God is enough.
Agnes Maude Royden (1876–1956)
The One Year Bible Readings for today are: Ezekiel 20:1-49; Hebrews 9:11-28; Psalm 107:1-43 and Proverbs 27:11.
