O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,
those he redeemed from trouble
and gathered in from the lands,
from the east and from the west,
from the north and from the south. – Psalm 107:1-3
Every time I read the words of this psalm I begin to sing Chris Tomlin’s contemporary worship anthem, “Forever.” The words declare: “Forever God is faithful. Forever God is strong. Forever God is with us. Forever.” Obviously, Tomlin’s inspiration for such lyrics was the 107th psalm!
Have you experienced the eternal faithfulness of God in your life? Do you believe that God is strong enough to save you from trouble? Do you trust that God is always with you no matter what?
Psalm 107 is a hymn of thanksgiving by the people of Israel to God for delivering them from the Babylonians. For generations, the Babylonians held the people in exile after destroying Jerusalem and wrecking the Temple. God’s people were forced to leave their land and place of worship and make a life in the city of their conquerors. Yet even during their darkest hour, they kept the faith. They knew that God is good and that his love endures forever. When the people finally returned home and face the rebuilding their beloved Jerusalem, they did not fall into despair. Instead, they declared the words of the psalmist!
The New International Version puts an interesting spin on these words saying: “Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story…” Have you experienced hardships and troubles in your life that reminded you of God’s everlasting goodness, strength, and presence in your life? Tell your story to someone new today!
Rev. Alex C. Gallimore