God is Good and Wonderful

"Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!"

Psalm 107:8

God's will is often viewed as a nebulous unknown.  We can wonder what God's will is for a particular situation and can be unsure of how to best pray.  Our confusion grows when we are confident what God's will is and it seems the furthest thing from reality.  God has richly blessed us with His word that speak of His unchanging character, provides examples which show God's will often involves suffering for people He loves, and give directives we can follow by His grace.

Psalm 107 is a beautiful song which extols the greatness and majesty of God.  Four times he repeats the same exhortation that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men.  The goodness of God is beyond reckoning and His wonderful works to us without precedent.  God's goodness is infinite, yet we are finite in our perishing state on earth.  We are ignorant, forgetful, and run out of ideas when there are countless aspects of God's wonderful character yet to be praised.

When I was learning mathematics in school, seeing examples of a formula or process helped me understand how to do the work properly myself.  Similar to how I was taught by my maths teachers and professors, the psalmist gives examples of God's goodness we ought to thank Him for, what His wonderful works look like, and how we put this into practice.  After each repetition of this longing for men to thank God the psalmist provides and example we can put into practice.  Here is a list of things God has done and ways we can thank Him:

• Psalm 107:8-9:  "Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! ⁹ For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness."
• Psalm 107:15-16:  "Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! ¹⁶ For He has broken the gates of bronze, and cut the bars of iron in two."
• Psalm 107:21-22:  "Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! ²² Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare His works with rejoicing."
• Psalm 107:31-32:  "Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! ³² Let them exalt Him also in the assembly of the people, and praise Him in the company of the elders."

God satisfies and fills the hungry soul with goodness.  Our lives which were once empty have been satisfied with the Bread of Life Jesus Christ and the Living Water of the Holy Spirit.  There is nothing good in us and God graciously fills us with Himself.  Like the children of Israel who were in bondage, God has miraculously delivered us from bondage and hell.  We languished without hope of salvation until Jesus crushed the head of Satan and set us free.  These are just the edges of His good ways all who are in Christ have experienced.

In thankfulness for all the goodness God has shown us, we are to "sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving and declare His works with rejoicing."  We may at times feel justified to complain about our troubles or trials, yet it is better and more fitting for us to give the LORD a sacrifice of praise and proclaim His works rejoicing.  When everything seems to be going wrong, God smiles upon us with everlasting love we should celebrate.  This rejoicing and exalting of God is fitting not only in private time with God but in the public assembly.  Singing, prayer, and personal testimony in public and in the congregation are fitting ways for us to extol God and exalt Him.

"Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!"  Isn't our awesome God worthy of all the thanksgiving we can give?  Let us rejoice even our limited praise and thanks is accepted by our great God who loves us according to His grace.

What Cleaning Reveals

Examining our hearts in light of God's word is important for all Christians to do.  As I sat reading the Bible this morning, the light of the sun shining through the window illuminated floating specks of dust previously unseen by my eyes.  The sun's rays did not create the dust but revealed their existence.  God's word and the presence of the Holy Spirit work in a similar manner to reveal the conditions of our hearts.  Psalm 119:105 says, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."  The Bible guides our steps and also provides insight into sin-darkened areas of our lives we never knew existed.

When we become serious about self-examination and take stock of our lives, the need for cleansing goes beyond what we initially see.  We may realise our tendency to exaggerate or curse but didn't notice our habit of gossip and harsh judgments.  I saw a great example of this yesterday when I mopped the predominately white tiles in our house.  As the clean damp mop moved over the surface, removed discoloured spots, and gathered lint it revealed tiny drops of white paint which were invisible when the tile was dry.  The moisture in the mop which lifted dust off the floor showed more than a mop was needed:  the paint was easily removed with a fingernail.  I could see the floor needed mopping, and the act of mopping compelled me to go even further for a quality clean.

A similar thing is true when we are born again and these unpleasant discoveries of the depth of our natural sinfulness becomes evident.  Though our sin is bad news praise the LORD He has provided the good news He is able to wash us clean of all sin and forgive us through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ once and for all.  We are new creations through faith in Jesus yet regular maintenance and even deep cleaning is necessary to maintain a healthy relationship with God.  The longer we live in a house the more potential there is to have dry rot, a roof or shower-pan leak, a pest infestation, spent globes, and grime on benchtops, cabinets, and power points.  Let us not be complacent in the cleansing of our hearts and our need to repent.  Intentional repentance and turning from sins shows us additional hidden sins must be confessed and forsaken.

On Being An Ally

One term I have heard often lately is the importance of being an "ally" to others.  Covenant Eyes, a screen accountability service, also uses the term for people to whom personal internet browsing data is sent to support and encourage healthy internet habits.  Alliances among nations and rulers unites separate groups with the aim to accomplish a goal together.  Both a verb and a noun, the term "ally" is defined as a noun by the Merriam-Webster dictionary in this way:  "a sovereign or state associated with another by treaty or league; one that is associated with another as a helper : a person or group that provides assistance and support in an ongoing effort, activity, or struggle."

Being an ally to support others in their struggles is a noble cause, but the term to me is impersonal and falls short of the ideal:  by their very nature alliances are created due to a cause or joint pursuit rather than the love of people.  Alliances are utilitarian and should the aim be achieved a new cause must rise up to maintain unity.  Alliances enable sovereignty a superficial unity whist enabling permanent separation to exist between the various groups.  These are the the thoughts which spring up in my mind when I hear of my responsibility to be an ally of people who suffer racial discrimination.  At best being an ally is a start but not a satisfactory conclusion for my role in the lives of others because it falls woefully short of the love of God.  More than an ally, I desire is to be a faithful friend to a person who has intrinsic value in themselves.

These musings caused me to consider if I live as a friend of God or I see Him as my divine ally to help me accomplish my aims.  It is possible those who believe in God to seek His power in a utilitarian way rather than humbling ourselves before our sovereign God as His servants.  God is much more than an ally who has power to stop bullies, judge abusers, or overthrow corrupt governments.  Jesus called His followers friends, even as Abraham was called a friend of God because of his faith and obedience.  John 15:12-15 says, "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. ¹³ Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. ¹⁴ You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. ¹⁵ No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you."  Jesus died for sinners and was proved to be their friend by His sacrifice and revelation of divine truth.

The love of God is foreign to this world of alliances, causes, and shifting sands of culture.  God's love and grace is extended to all people of every tribe, nation, and tongue.  God created us for relationship with Him and one another united by His love, joy, peace, and grace.  Jesus did not help us obtain forgiveness and salvation and then take little notice of us until our next struggle:  it is we who are guilty of doing this with Him.  Being an ally to help others in a worthy cause is great, but being a friend to others like Jesus is to us is far better.  

Praising and Blessing

At the prompting of a brother in Christ yesterday I read Psalm 135:1-3:  "Praise the LORD! Praise the name of the LORD; praise Him, O you servants of the LORD! ² You who stand in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God, ³ Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; sing praises to His name, for it is pleasant."  This passage is full of praise and acknowledges the worthiness of the Almighty God, the Creator of heaven and earth.  That God would dwell in a house in Jerusalem where He placed His name is amazing, but even more stunning is God allowed men to enter and serve Him.  No house can contain the infinite, eternal I AM, the one true God who is good and glorious.

The psalmists bids us praise the LORD because He is LORD!  He chose Israel to be His special people and bids all sinners to come to Him and find eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ the Son of God.  We were blind, lame, and deserving of hell yet God has shown compassion and mercy on us by His grace to make our hearts His dwelling place:  the habitation of the Holy Spirit.  Those who desire blessings from the LORD ought to realise in Himself God is greater than all temporal riches, health, and earthly prosperity.  He is most worthy to be praised and receive glory from all His creation.

I find compelling the transition from praising to blessing in Psalm 135.  To praise is to shine, glorify, to make a boast, to boldly proclaim, and the psalmist begins with praising God.  Psalm 135:19-21 concludes, "Bless the LORD, O house of Israel! Bless the LORD, O house of Aaron!  ²⁰ Bless the LORD, O house of Levi! You who fear the LORD, bless the LORD! ²¹ Blessed be the LORD out of Zion, Who dwells in Jerusalem! Praise the LORD!  It is as if from the sheer weight of God's goodness, holiness, and power, the psalmist went from standing to falling to his knees, overcome by our awesome God.  To bless is defined in the Strong's Concordance "to kneel; by implication to bless God (as an act of adoration), praise, salute."  It is fitting we willingly kneel in adoration before the God who calls and enables us to stand in His presence, to be strong in the LORD and in the power of His might.

Praising and blessing God is a reward in itself because He is worthy of all glory and honour.  He is the LORD and we are His willing servants.  We did not choose Him but He chose us out of the riches of His grace.  Whether we stand, walk, or run let us bless the LORD at all times with His praise in our hearts.