Meditations on the Psalms #231

Psalm 107 Part 5 

Vs33-38 begins part 2 of the psalm. The theme is the same, but the poetic form has changed. There is, however, still literary skilfulness in these 2 stanzas. Vs33-38 uses the imagery of soil; vs39-42 uses the imagery of the soul. The refrains are gone; instead of pictures here are reflections, instead of examples there are proofs. Part 2 is about God’s providential government of the world and His transforming power.  
The God who has authority over the stormy seas can also transform creation itself! The transformation can be from good to bad (a fruitful land into barrenness) if the goal is the judgment of the wicked (v33-34). 

God’s power to transform can also be used to transform from bad to good. Dryland can be turned into places of fruitfulness; ‘water springs,’ (v35-38.) The hymn of praise ascribes to the Lord the power to change things. His authority is limitless. He can reverse the condition of anything and therefore the way of life of anybody! My life was transformed from a barren place to fruitfulness nearly 50years ago.  
God can also transform the oppressed and afflicted. V39ff are matters of the soul. The princes of v40 are not diminished because they are princes but because they are godless, and the poor are not exalted because they are poor but because they are Godly.  

Don’t we long for the fulfilment of v42b when “unrighteousness will shut its mouth”? As Job said “injustice will be silenced” (Job5:16.)   
In Conclusion, v43, the psalmist invites us to look at the way God works in the world, both in responding to those who cry out to Him and in His ability to bring low and raise high. Wisdom tells us to take notice. It is you the reader that is in the fourfold picture of plight and salvation, and it is the lovingkindness (Chesed) of God that you are now to praise with new insight. God can cause us to rise above our circumstances as much as he can heal (forgive) our wanderings in sin. 

The righteous will become wise by studying the acts of the Lord in the affairs of humanity. TBC   

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