October 7, 2009
IN THE WORLD RATHER THAN OF THE WORLD
Psalm 106:32-48
Shareese Rowland
Central Truth
The Lord never turns His ear or His great love from us.
Key Verse | Psalm 106:44–45
Yet he took notice of their distress,
when he heard their cry for help.
He remembered his covenant with them,
and relented because of his great loyal love.
(Psalm 106:44-45)
Psalm 106:32-48
32
They angered him at the waters of Meribah,
and it went ill with Moses on their account,
33
for they made his spirit bitter,
1
106:33
Or they rebelled against God's Spirit
and he spoke rashly with his lips.
34
They did not destroy the peoples,
as the LORD commanded them,
35
but they mixed with the nations
and learned to do as they did.
36
They served their idols,
which became a snare to them.
37
They sacrificed their sons
and their daughters to the demons;
38
they poured out innocent blood,
the blood of their sons and daughters,
whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan,
and the land was polluted with blood.
39
Thus they became unclean by their acts,
and played the whore in their deeds.
40
Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against his people,
and he abhorred his heritage;
41
he gave them into the hand of the nations,
so that those who hated them ruled over them.
42
Their enemies oppressed them,
and they were brought into subjection under their power.
43
Many times he delivered them,
but they were rebellious in their purposes
and were brought low through their iniquity.
44
Nevertheless, he looked upon their distress,
when he heard their cry.
45
For their sake he remembered his covenant,
and relented according to the abundance of his steadfast love.
46
He caused them to be pitied
by all those who held them captive.
47
Save us, O LORD our God,
and gather us from among the nations,
that we may give thanks to your holy name
and glory in your praise.
48
Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting!
And let all the people say, “Amen!”
Praise the LORD!
Dive Deeper | Psalm 106:32-48
Too many times in my life, my circumstances have dictated my relationship with Christ. Just when I think I have it all under control, the Lord allows a trial to crash into my life—like when my mom was diagnosed with cancer in the summer of 2007. In these painful moments I am brought back to humility and am reminded that Jesus, my first love, is in control. Growing up, I remember hearing that "adversity builds character." But the reality is that I prefer the easy, adversity-free life, which I know is nonexistent. Nevertheless, in the midst of my trials and pain, the Lord wants me to rely on Him alone.
The Israelites did crazy and horrible things. They sacrificed their sons and daughters, shed innocent blood, and defiled and prostituted themselves. Through all that, God loved them. "Many times he delivered them, but they had a rebellious attitude and degraded themselves by their sin." (Psalm 106:43) Finally, the Israelites were defeated and destroyed by their sin, and their Father in heaven, in His mighty love, relented. What a love story! I cannot imagine the heartache and grief God endures as He continues to watch His children make bad decisions. As a mother, I can relate on a very microscale. In love, I warn my kids, "Don't do that, sweetie, it will hurt you," and then struggle to see them make a choice that brings pain into their little world.
Is there really a big difference in the Israelites' rebellion and my own rebellion? The Israelites "mixed in with the nations and learned their ways." (Psalm 106:35) John 15:19 tells me that I "do not belong to this world." If I am honest, I have to confess that it is a struggle for me to avoid adopting the customs and lies of the world. Left to myself, I will move toward rebellion. The Lord, in His mercy and grace, has rescued me countless times. I need to repent continually from my self-reliance and arrogant attitude and ask the Lord to continue to capture my wandering heart.
Discussion Questions
1. The Israelites did some things that are almost too awful to think about. Yet we see the Lord provide mercy and grace to them. Is there any area in your life or past that you struggle to "give to the Lord"?
2. In what areas of your life are you most tempted to mix with the culture and allow trappings of the city to become a snare in your own life?
3. This psalm talks abut how the Israelites "failed to appreciate" and "failed to remember" the loving work that the Lord had done in their midst. When was the last time you sat down and thought through the ways God has provided, protected, and pursued your heart?