“His Mercy Endureth For Ever”...the Wayfarer 10/29/13

“His Mercy Endureth For Ever”
10/29/13

“Praise ye the Lord, O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.”

(Psalm 106:1)

“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting  to everlasting: and let all the people  say, Amen. Praise ye the Lord”

(Psalm 106: 48)

Today we go to the book of Psalms for our instruction. This beloved book is most often thought of in the context of the comfort that it offers, and the praise and joy delivered by its authors to God for the favor enjoyed over the millennia.

 It is a book of promise, and of songs passed down from generation to generation.

The verse with which I opened is one of the most often quoted, albeit often out of context as this book is also a book of remembrance.

I chose to use both the opening and closing verses of this particular Psalm as a reminder from whom all mercy and blessings flow, and to whom our allegiance is due.

 As one of my brethren might say in reference to this choice, we also need to examine the middle meat that falls between these two verses of Praise!

In addition to being a song of praise, it is also a prayer of remembrance by its author, and a request for the continuance of the mercy mentioned in that first verse, and a prayer of repentance for past failures despite that given mercy:

“Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord? Who can shew forth all his praise?

Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth righteousness at all times.

Remember me, O Lord, with the favour that thou bearest  unto thy people: O visit me with thy salvation;

That I may see the good of thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that I may glory with thine inheritance”

(Psalm 106:2-5)

The writer begins, as should we as well, when coming in prayer to God, by acknowledging the power of God, and the impossibility of giving proper praise for mercies shown.

He continues by stating that blessings are due those who keep, not their own righteousness, but the righteousness demanded of us by God.

He then requests, as should we as well, that we be remembered in the favor given to His people, and the prayer for salvation and to share the promised glory of an inheritance available only through God… that of eternal life!

This prayer then continues in repentance and praise for mercy given despite the failures enumerated… which are many, and inconceivably repeatedly forgiven by our God!

“We have sinned with our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly.

Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red sea.

Nevertheless he saved them for his name’s sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known.

He rebuked the Red sea also and it was dried up: so he led them through the depths, as through the wilderness.

And he saved them from the hand of him that hated them, and redeemed  them from the hand of the enemy.

And the waters covered their enemies: there was not one of them left.

Then believed they his works, they sang his praise.”

(Psalm 106:6-12)

The writer reminds us of how easy it is to give praise after deliverance from harm. He also reminds us that it is only through the power of God that deliverance is possible.

That same deliverance exhibits itself, and manifests itself in our world today, but most often goes unnoticed by those in receipt of it!

Just as the lessons learned in Egypt were so easily forgotten, so are the lessons of mercies offered so often in the near past forgotten today.

Our forebears were familiar with that mercy, and publicly gave thanks for it when forced into the throes of agony brought on during the war years of the 30’s and 40’s.

They recognized that it was the salvation of an entire people that teetered on the brink of extinction, and that it was only with the assistance of God that we could attain that salvation.

They worked together to overcome evil that would have dominated the world, and gave praise to the One who gave them the strength for that fight.

They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel:

 But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.

And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.

They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron the saint of the Lord.

The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram.

 And a fire was kindled in their company; the flame burned up the wicked.

 They made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the molten image.

Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass.”

(Psalm 106:13-20)

Somehow the lessons learned over the years are forgotten, and nations turn from the blessings offered to the ones they perceive to somehow be more magnificent and rewarding, choosing to honor the things of this world above those of that yet to come… choosing to honor the inventions of man over the glory of God Himself!

The Psalmist is not yet done with the remembrance, nor a warning left to all future generations, including this one, but continues:

“They forgat God their savior, which had done great things in Egypt;

Wondrous works in the land of Ham, and terrible things by the Red sea.

Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them.

Yea, they despised the pleasant land, they believed not his word:

But murmured in their tents, and hearkened not unto the voice of the Lord.

Therefore he lifted up his hand against them, to overthrow them in the wilderness:

To overthrow their seed also among the nations, and to scatter them in the lands.

They joined themselves also unto Baal-peor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead.

 Thus they provoked him to anger with their inventions: and the plague brake in upon them.

Then stood up Phineas, and executed  judgment: and  so the plague was stayed.

And that was counted unto him for righteousness unto all generations for evermore.

They angered him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses  for their sakes:

Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips.

They did not destroy  the nations, concerning whom the Lord commanded them:

But were mingled among the heathen and learned their works.

And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them.

Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils,

And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.

Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions.

Therefore was the wrath of the Lord kindled against his people insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance.

And he gave them into the hand of the heathen; and they that hated them ruled over them.

Their enemies also oppressed them, and they were brought  into subjection under their hand.

Many times did he deliver them; but they provoked  him with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity.

Nevertheless he regarded their affliction, when he heard their cry:

And he remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his mercies.

He made them also to be pitied of all those that carried them captives. Save us O Lord our God, and gather us from among the heathen, to give thanks unto thy holy name, and to triumph in thy praise”

(Psalm 106:21-47)

The Psalmist reminds us once again of what to expect when we forget God, and turn to our own devices

He concludes begging for the continued mercy, and deliverance, noting that God remembers his covenant, despite the forgetfulness and rebelliousness of His people.

We now have a new Covenant, through the blood sacrifice of His Son, and a renewed promise of deliverance for those willing to accept that covenant.

I pray that our memory of that covenant be far stronger than is in evidence in the society in which we find ourselves, whose forgetfulness once more seems to have taken the place of the praise that needs to be given.

I pray that this people, and all peoples, who have enjoyed His blessings remember those blessings, the deliverance already given, and find once more the faith to give that praise.

I state once more that what was not acceptable to God in the past, is still not acceptable, no matter how politically correct we attempt to be.

I close once more with the love given through that new covenant consecrated in the blood of my savior, in prayer for more to remember that covenant and the words given us by that Savior to

“Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”

I remain yet and still the same simple sinner saved by grace through faith in that covenant, a lowly servant and soldier in His service.

2 Timothy 1:12 King James Version (KJV)

¹² For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Amen and Amen.
the Wayfarer