READ: Psalm 106
Psalm
106 is another psalm of history and teaching. One of the significant themes in
this psalm is repeating the sins of our fathers.
Verse
6 lays it out for us: We have sinned just like our parents and grandparents
did. The Psalmist does not hide the sins of his people. He is blunt and to the
point. We have done wrong and acted
wickedly. There is no beating around the bush. He lists for several verses
all the things his people did wrong. In verse 8, though, he explains God saved
the people for His name’s sake and to show how mighty and powerful He is. He
did miracle upon miracle for the Israelites, pouring out blessing, and saving
them from disaster time after time. The people turned back to God… but it
didn’t last.
Things
got even worse for God’s people. First they forgot what God had done. Then they
didn’t wait to hear from Him… they stopped listening to God. They gave in to
their cravings and tested God as if He had to prove Himself. They begged God
for things He knew were not good for them. They continued to beg and beg.
Verse
15 tells us God finally gave them what they wanted. But this was one answer to
prayer that wasn’t a blessing at all! Yet they continued to turn away from God.
People were swallowed up by the earth, and burned up by fire. They worshipped
idols and deliberately turned away from God. They even got to the point they despised
the very blessing and inheritance God had given them in the land. They stopped
believing God’s promise. The awful story of their wickedness goes on from verse
6 through verse 43. Their sin is too overwhelming even to read about!
Yet
God took note of their suffering. He didn’t block out their crying. He
remembered the promise He made. Verse 4 says that out of his great love He finally relented. He saved
them again.
This
is why we give thanks. This is why we tell these stories over and over. This is
why we make a point to remember. When we follow God’s prescription to give
thanks, to remember what He has done, and keep believing His promise, we have
the foundation to break the cycle of sin.
JOURNALING &
PRAYER
1. Generational sin
is a real and powerful dynamic in our lives. We see this same issue in the
lives of the Israelites. What one generation did, the next one did as well,
often worse. Ask the Lord if there is a generational root to some of the
struggles you face. If there is, confess your own sin in this area, then break
the bondage of generational sin passed down from your family to you, and
potentially from you into your family (even if you don’t have a family yet).
Thank the Lord for His power to bring us emotional wholeness and forgiveness.
2. Have you ever, or
are you now, asking (begging) the Lord for something and not getting it? Ask
the Lord to speak to you about the request. Ask the Lord to make your heart
willing to have His best, instead of what you want, to avoid the heartache that
may come if you pursue what you want instead of what God wants. Write down what
He is saying about your request. Pray into that very specifically today.
3. Sit quietly today
and listen to the Lord speak to you about his deep love for you. Ask Him to
speak to you about a promise He has made to you in the past, and how He wants
you to move forward from here. Write down what He says. Move ahead confidently
in the direction God is leading you. Keep believing God’s promises to you!
