Psalm 107--Taking it to Heart

 
He is behind these cycles.  We are within them.   He is eternal.  We are for a moment, at least our earthly life.  How He will reconcile all of this in eternity, outside the circles, is one of the things I enjoy thinking about and looking forward to.  He's got a twist to it all---something beyond our wildest dreams:

The Keeper of Circles

"Those who are wise will take all this to heart; they will see in our history the faithful love of the LORD."  Psalm 107:43

I worry about our country--mostly I try to push such thoughts to the edges of my mind as the problems are so complex that I feel powerless to deeply understand the brokenness, much less do anything to address them.   But, I suspect that America is reaching a zenith of sorts.   

Psalm 107 touches upon God's hand in the sweep from prosperity to humility, and humility to prosperity.  Indeed, it is He who brings water to the deserts, brings nations down or allows them to rise.

"He changes rivers into deserts, and springs of water into dry, thirsty land" -Psalm 107:34

or the converse:


He turns the fruitful land into salty wastelands, because of the wickedness of those who live there. -Psalm 107:35

We saw Lion King this spring.  Part of its success, I believe, is because it touches upon a truthful and enduring theme--"the circle of life."  Truly the Lord is the Master circle keeper.  He created the circles.  He is outside the circles.  He understands them.

Me?  I feel like I am at the mercy of the circles.   Some people look at these forces and mistake them for the creator Himself.  I would argue that You must differentiate.  For some reason, He has designed life this way. There is joy in the movement--the movement of seasons, from spring to summer, fall to winter.   I love looking forward to each new sweep of the landscape.  Likewise, it is intrinsically interesting to watch the unfolding of a life---the bright eyes of a baby fresh from the womb.   As parents, we gain much satisfaction watching those children then grow--physically, mentally, spiritually--it's all marvelous work.   We see these circles in business--the rising of an economy, the bustle of growth and commerce, then the fruit of materialism and self-absorption.   I think we are nearing a crest here---the fruits of 20th century labors are becoming over-ripe and rotten.   We are too fat physically and materialistically and too lean spiritually.   The Lord loves the poor, and He won't allow this hubris to continue indefinitely.   

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him."  -1 Corinthians 2:

Saying So

I'm intrigued by our active role, our participation in the praise and acknowledgement of God.  After all, He could make the rocks cry out, but he leaves it to us--we who are fickle and moody, inconsistent and vacillating constantly.  Yet, He chooses to trust us with His praise.

Psa 107:2  Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy; 


Psa 107:8  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!