Saturday, December 5th, 2020
For Those Who Need Redemption
Advent is a time of hope as we look forward to the coming of the messiah to save our world from darkness. Psalm 107 is such a great Psalm for this season, because it craftily compares four different groups of people, from the four points on the compass, who were each lost in four different ways. Each group called out to God in their desperation and need, and he heard and answered them.
You will see the division when you look at the repetition in verses 6, 13, 19, and 28: "Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress."
So who were "they," and what led them to call upon God?
These groups are collectively named the "redeemed of the Lord." The first group were hungry and homeless wanderers, the second group were prisoners and rebels, the third group were sick because of their sin, and the final group were focused on doing business, and put their lives at risk.
I suspect each of these groups from the north, south, east and west represents all of the world. Some of us are poor, hungry and thirsty, wandering aimlessly, and in need of rescue. Some of us are defiant to the laws of our land and so find ourselves suffering in prison. Some of us are sick, both physically and spiritually, and often times this may be because of our sin. Finally, some of us are focused on money, willingly exposing ourselves to natural dangers in that process.
So we're all included! All that is required to be rescued, is to call upon the Lord in our trouble. He will then save us from our distress!
If that's not a reason for hope, then nothing else is! Advent is a season of waiting for God's deliverance, and the hope of rescue is for all people, from all points on the compass. Whether you're poor, whether you're a prisoner, if you're sick, or if your pursuit of riches has put you in harm's way, rescue is available!
You must simply call out to Him! He will turn your desert into springs of water! He will make you fruitful! He will satisfy your hunger!
Amen