Day 174. Psalms 106-108

Psalm 106
This psalm—number 106-- praises both God's goodness and "steadfast love" (106:1) and recounts Israel's long and depressing record of rebellion and disobedience. "Both we and our ancestors have sinned," the voice of the psalmist laments (6). And then he goes back to the early history of the chosen people. There is a melancholy rhythm in events—Israel sins, God pardons them and saves them from danger, and they turn around and sin again—and again. It is much like our lives—a pattern of failure and forgiveness. In the wilderness of Sinai they "exchange the glory of God for the image of an ox that eats grass" (20)—wonderful line. God's swears to destroy them for their idolatry, but Moses "his chosen one [stands] in the breach" (23) and pleads for them, and God pardons them. This happens again and again, Israel sins, God is stirred to anger, some man of God intercedes, and God forgives, only to have Israel sin again—in a
tedious circle. The voice of the psalm summarizes the history of God's chosen ones-- "Many times he delivered them, but they were rebellious in their purposes and where brought low through their iniquity. Nevertheless he regarded their distress when he heard their cry. For their sake he remembered his covenant, and showed compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love" (43-45). God keeps the covenant even when people fail—this applies is not simply to the sins of the past. The psalmist's contemporaries have also "committed iniquity, have done wickedly" (6), and God is still merciful and able to forgive the current sins that have caused his people to be strewn "among the nations" (47). If they will repent he will again show favor to them and save and gather them from the far places where they are been scattered, so that the congregation will be able to "give thanks to [his] holy name and glory in [his] praise."
Psalm 107
A dialogue used in worship—a liturgy—this song of thanksgiving has an introduction, four stanzas and a conclusion. The introduction reaffirms the faithfulness of God and calls upon the "redeemed of the LORD"—those whom he has bought back-- to "say so"—to testify in worship to what he has done (107:2). Four scenarios of "lost-ness" are recounted. Stanza one tells of those who were lost in the desert, "hungry and thirsty" (5). They cry to the LORD and he saves them. Now they should thank the LORD who "satisfies the thirsty; and the hungry he fills with good things" (9). Stanza two speaks of those who sit "in gloom, prisoners in misery and in irons" because they "rebelled against the words of God" (11). They are lost in their suffering and isolation. They cry to the LORD, and he brings "them out of darkness and gloom" (14). Now they should thank the LORD who "shatters the doors of bronze and cuts in two the bars of
iron" (16). Stanza three recounts the fate of those who were "sick through their sinful ways" (17). They too cry to the LORD and he sends "out his word"—his command—"and heal[s] them" (20), Now they should "offer thanksgiving sacrifices and tell of his deeds with songs of joy" (22). Stanza four tells the story of some who "went down to the sea in ships" (23). A storm broke upon them, and helpless they "mounted up to heaven, they went down to the depths; their courage melted away in their calamity; they reeled and staggered like drunkards" (26-27). They know they are lost, and they cry to the LORD to save them, and he makes "the storm still . . . and he [brings] them to their desired haven" (29-30). (This cannot help but remind us of the New Testament stories of Jesus calming the storm on the Sea of Galilee.) Now the psalmist tells those who are saved from the chaos of the sea to "extol [the LORD] in the congregation
of the people and praise him in the assembly of the elders" (33). It is the nature of God to bring good out of evil, life out of death, and prosperity out of desolation for the sake of the weak and needy who call out to him for help. (We are reminded of Mary's song in Luke 1:46-55. She "magnifies the LORD because he puts down princes and raises up the lowly. The righteous see how God is always turning things up-side-down for the benefit of the helpless and the lost, and they "are glad," but "all wickedness stops its mouth" (42). The psalmist calls upon those who are wise to pay attention to "these things," and ponder the workings of the "steadfast love of the LORD" (43).
Psalm 108
This prayer for help is formed of fragments of other psalms. We aren't give any details, but there has been some sort of military failure, and the community worshipping in the temple laments that God does "not go out . . . with [their] armies" (11). Without his help they are doomed to defeat—"human help is worthless" 12). Nevertheless, they proclaim that their "heart is steadfast"—they are not afraid because God's "steadfast love is higher than the heavens" his "faithfulness reaches to the clouds" (6). Israel will ultimately be victorious, because the LORD "has promised in his sanctuary" that he will arm the tribes of Israel with his own weapons, and give victory over Israel's threatening neighbors. So God's "steadfast love" gives to those who claim it a "steadfast heart"—a victorious attitude- which no disappointment or setback can shake.