What causes you to give thanks to the Lord, to make his name known, sing and tell of his glory and continue to seek God? What moves you to proclaim the works of God's hands? I know for me it usually comes from recounting how the Lord has shown up for me.
Psalm 105 begins with a number of imperatives. The Psalmist tells his readers to give thanks to God, make known his deed, sing to him, tell of his works, glory in his name, seek the Lord and remember.
Give, make known, sing, tell, glory in, seek and remember. These things are easy to do when times are good, but what about when times are difficult? Is it as easy for you to give thanks for and tell of God's works when things are discouraging and difficult?
When the Psalmist tells his readers to sing and make known the works of the Lord, he also tells them to REMEMBER. He walks the reader through the history of the nation of Israel from the promise of a great nation and the land of promise, through the wandering in the desert, to the taking of the land of Canaan. He gives the evidence of God's faithfulness and protection. He talks about both the miracles and the judgements that took place during their journey... God sent Joseph ahead, placing him in leadership in Egypt to protect them during the famine, the growth of population, water from a rock, a cloud by day and fire by night, and on and on.
My favorite part of the entire psalm is "When they were few in number and of little account, and sojourners in it, wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people, he allowed no one to oppress them, he rebuked kings on their account saying, "touch not my anointed ones do my prophets no harm." God had his eye on his people and was committed to keeping the promises he made to them.
Where is your heart right now? There were many times when the journey of the people of God was difficult, terrifying and fearsome. There were times of judgments (see Achan), and times of miracles, like the parting of the Red Sea. There were times when they had not home, though they had been promised the land of Canaan. However, though they started out few in number, God grew them to a great nation, and protected them along the way.
How has God directed you? Are you feeling "of little account?" Or, maybe you feel disoriented sojourning through circumstances that aren't what you expected? Does God's protection feel far off, or non-existent?
Maybe it's time to Remember. Remember what God did for the Israelites and how he proved himself faithful. Remember how God has worked in your life, leading and guiding even when things seemed so wrong. Remember his promises to you and be encouraged. God is the same God he has always been, and he always cares for his people. Through miracles, provision and protection. God loves us and will care for his children.
Then, after you have remembered for a while, tell others about God's faithfulness, thank him for his good works, sing to him and seek him all the more. He will always remain the same, he cannot change. Therefore, you can count on his goodness.
- Angel C.