Let the Redeemed of the Lord Say So, Part 6

Welcome to Delight in Grace, the teaching ministry of Rich Powell, Pastor of Grace Bible Church in Winston-Salem. As we, the redeemed people of God, gaze on his character and work, our hearts will be drawn to thankfulness. He is just, right, good and powerful.

He uses his power and sovereignty to work for our good and for his glory. When we find ourselves prone to a complaining spirit, we must run to our Savior's feet to remember and reflect on who he is and what he's done. Let's listen to this message from Psalm 107 titled, Let the Redeemed of the Lord Say So. This is part two of a message that was first preached on November 24th, 2024 at Grace Bible Church in Winston-Salem.

Here's how it goes throughout human history. If you insist on false worship and trust, God will stand back and second the motion. That's what he's talking about in these verses.

Really? I'm the tree, you're the branch that grows out of the tree and you want to sever yourself from the tree and you think you're going to thrive? And so here's what happens.

For example, let's give you some examples of history. Judges chapter two, verse 14. So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel and he gave them over to plunderers who plundered them and he sold them into their hand, into the hand of their surrounding enemies so that they could no longer withstand the enemies.

So here's what it looks like. This people was God's people. He created them. He redeemed them. He brought them out of bondage.

Remember Egypt and all that wonderful story, the Exodus, the Red Sea, Mount Sinai, the wilderness, all of that, crossing the Jordan into the Promised Land, all of that wonderful truth of God bringing out his people. And they were his chosen people, which means that they were under his protection and they had his privilege because they had a specific purpose. And God manifested his power through them. All of that is what it means to be his chosen people. And when they insist, when they insist on false worship and trust, then God stands back and seconds the motion. And it's like he's saying, okay, you want to trust these non-gods that cannot satisfy?

Have it your way. And he stands back, he removes his privilege, he removes his protection, and in comes the flood of oppression. And the clouds are dried up. And the land goes dry. That's verses 33 and 34.

Here's another example of that, Jeremiah chapter 12, verses 7 and 8. I have forsaken my house. I have abandoned my heritage. I have given the beloved of my soul into the hands of their enemies.

My heritage has become to me like a lion in the forest. She has lifted up her voice against me, therefore I hate her. Isn't that strong language? You see, the way the Bible uses the word hate.

God loves his people. And when you love, you draw to yourself and you invest yourself in them. What is the opposite of that? The opposite of that is to be indifferent, to just step away as if you don't care. That's hate. It's a form of discipline.

It's a form of discipline. Micah chapter 3 and verse 4, then they will cry out to the Lord, but he will not answer them. He will hide his face from them at that time because they have made their deeds evil. Do you see how over and over again we see in the scriptures what God says? Really, you want to trust something else? You want to find your security and satisfaction in someone or some created thing and not me? Then God says, okay, I'm going to stand back. I'm going to remove my protection and privilege from you.

And let's see how that works for you. That's the story of humanity. But consider what is said in Hebrews chapter 12 verses 5 and 6. And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? My sons, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord nor be weary when reproved by him, for the Lord disciplines the one he loves and chastises every son whom he receives. The Lord disciplines those he loves.

Why? Because his purpose is not to destroy. His purpose is to restore, to draw back and restore. When we undergo the discipline of God, he allows us to recognize our thirst and hunger that exists when we remove ourselves from him. God is good. And so his discipline is because of this in verse 11 of Hebrews chapter 12. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but the latter it yields the peaceable, but later it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. God loves those he disciplines.

You see, what this is, this is sovereign discipline. So that's why verses 33 and 34 are there. And the psalmist is recording this because time and time again Israel in her flourishing would start pursuing other objects of satisfaction and security. And God would let them and they would get thirsty and hungry until, until what? Until they cried out to God again. And God in his goodness and mercy rushes in to restore and to reconcile.

See, we see sovereign restoration then in the next couple of verses. He turns a desert into pools of water and parched land into springs of water. And there he lets the hungry dwell and they establish a city to live in.

The resource, the security, the community, all of that is what's involved in the city. And they sow fields and plant vineyards and get a fruitful yield. By his blessing, they multiply greatly and he does not let their livestock diminish. So you see the blessing of God there because he has restored. His people cry out, and that's what we have in verses 4 to 32, where the people got into trouble and then they cried out to God and then he rushes in to rescue them. And he restores them and blesses them so that once again they are flourishing as his people. This is exactly, exactly, that verse that we know so well that unfortunately has been a little bit overused, but you will recognize this verse 2 Corinthians 7 14. If my people who are called by my name humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land. That is exactly what is described in verses 35 to 38.

They humble themselves, they cry out to God, and God once again restores the covenant blessing upon his people after they have humbled themselves and cried out to him. He is the God who restores and we move ahead to the New Testament and we see the blessing of God and we move ahead to the New Testament and we see Jesus walking on the face of the earth. And he is a man who does perform miracles because he is God's invitation to man. And Jesus performs miracles and the miracles that he does are a glimpse of his sovereign restoration. Because he can, because he wants to, because nothing limits him, not even the laws of nature. And so he restores and the miracles of Jesus are a glimpse of his sovereign restoration as the one who said, I make all things new.

That God, I make all things new. Here's the interesting thing, because in the context of the Old Testament people of Israel, where they would trust in other peoples, they would trust in non-gods that they created themselves and God would stand back and let them pursue that to their own suffering for their discipline. But here's the interesting thing, look at verse 39, when they are diminished and brought low through oppression, evil and sorrow, he pours contempt on princes and makes them wander in tractless wastes. What is God telling us there?

This is sovereign retribution. In Genesis 12, 3, you remember that God is speaking to Abraham, the father of this nation. And in his promise to Abraham in Genesis 12, 3, he says, him who dishonors you, I will curse. Him who dishonors you, I will curse. And I think it's very poignantly portrayed in Zechariah 2, verse 8, for thus says the Lord of hosts, after his glory sent me to the nations who plundered you, for he who touches you touches the apple of his eye.

So just get a picture of this, okay? Israel is flourishing and in her flourishing, she becomes self-sufficient and self-preeminent and she forgets God and she starts pursuing other forms of satisfaction and security and she starts worshiping man-made gods. And they keep pushing back against God and saying, no, but we will have it our way. So God stands back and as he removes his protection, in come the oppressors. Thanks for joining us here at Delight in Grace. You've been listening to Rich Powell, the lead pastor at Grace Bible Church in Winston-Salem. The Delight in Grace mission is to help you know that God designed you to realize your highest good and your deepest satisfaction in him, the one who is infinitely good. We hope you'll join us again on weekdays at 10 a.m.