WHO ARE THE REDEEMED?

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to OurChristianWalk.com.

In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.

Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story — those He redeemed from the hand of the foe, those He gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south.

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

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

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

Some went out on the sea in ships; they were merchants on the mighty waters. They saw the works of the Lord, His wonderful deeds in the deep. For He spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves. They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths; in their peril their courage melted away. They reeled and staggered like drunkards; they were at their wits’ end. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and He guided them to their desired haven. Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for mankind. Let them exalt Him in the assembly of the people and praise Him in the council of the elders.

He turned rivers into a desert, flowing springs into thirsty ground, and fruitful land into a salt waste, because of the wickedness of those who lived there. He turned the desert into pools of water and the parched ground into flowing springs; there He brought the hungry to live, and they founded a city where they could settle. They sowed fields and planted vineyards that yielded a fruitful harvest; He blessed them, and their numbers greatly increased, and He did not let their herds diminish.

Then their numbers decreased, and they were humbled by oppression, calamity and sorrow; He who pours contempt on nobles made them wander in a trackless waste. But He lifted the needy out of their affliction and increased their families like flocks. The upright see and rejoice, but all the wicked shut their mouths.

Let the one who is wise heed these things and ponder the loving deeds of the Lord.

Psalm 107

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

WRITER’S NOTE: I am currently overseas and may not be able to post for a week or so. Please know I will be back writing as soon as possible and there may be no interruption if I’m able to access the internet from sea.

“Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story.”

It’s a proclamation that easily catches your eye at the start of the 107th Psalm.

Life brings a lot upon us and this list grows the longer we live. We end up with experiences that we often draw from and relate to as we talk with others. But do we consider when we talk about these experiences that through many of them, we were redeemed by God?

Redemption is actually the act of redeeming someone, to free from distress from harm. It is a word that conjures up visions of salvation and when we talk about God and redemption, we certainly have been rescued and saved from so many of life’s problems, including death. For through His Son Jesus Christ, who He willingly sacrificed to pay the penalty for our sins, God saved all of mankind who would place their faith and trust in Jesus as Savior. Thus, we all have the potential to be eternally redeemed. The choice is ours to make.

So who are the redeemed? As we look back at the 107th Psalm, we get an idea. They were:

1. Those saved from the hand of the foe.

2. Those God gathered from the lands everywhere.

3. Those who were wanderers.

4. Those who were hungry and thirsty.

5. Those who cried out to God in times of trouble.

6. Those who were in the midst of darkness and despair.

7. Those who were prisoners.

8. Those who had rebelled against God and had repented.

9. Those fools who sinned against God and walking the road of destruction before changing course.

10. Those who were at sea when storms happened and placed them in peril. Life surely brings enough storms on us all.

11. Those who experienced famine.

12. Those who were needy and afflicted.

Who are the redeemed? They are ordinary people like you and me who have experienced the ups and downs of life which at times is far from easy. They are people who have discovered that the God they serve is a God of redemption who judges justly and punishes but who also equally and actually more abundantly loves His children.

This scripture passage concludes by saying that the wise person considers the ways the Lord has redeemed them, pondering all the loving deeds He has performed. My prayer today is that you will do just that for if you do, I am convinced you, like the psalmist, will always exhort others to:

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.

And you say it with conviction because you understand that He has redeemed you.

Amen

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

Send any prayer requests to OurChristianWalk@aol.com