Savior of the Shipwreck
The redemption of the Lord came at a high price when He bought His people back from Satan’s legal right to own them through sin. He paid with the sinless blood of His own Son, Jesus. But the beautiful, powerful act of redemption didn’t stop there! Because of the ongoing battle between Satan and the Lord in the heavenly places, our natural man and our spirit will continue to battle as well. We need the redemption of the Lord continually from all kinds of trouble. “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed,” Paul wrote. “Perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” (2 Corinthians 4:8) Your salvation from death was paid for. Now, your salvation from “life” needs His attention!Β
[This is the fourth and final part of an eye-opening series from Psalm 107 about four conditions of redemption God’s people experience throughout our lives and through this series you will see what you, yourself, have walked through and – I hope – your eyes will be awakened to remembrance and newness in how you praise and thank the Lord for what He has done for you!]
Your situation…Β
“…Some went down to the sea in ships,Β to do business in the vast waters; they saw the works of theΒ LordΒ and His wonders in the deep water. For He commands and raises the stormy wind,Β which lifts up the sea waves.Β The sailors went up to the sky, they came down to the depths;Β their strength melted because of the great danger. They reeled to and fro and staggered like drunken men,Β and were completely confused…” (Psalm 107:23-27)
There are times in life when we need rescue from something we didn’t do to ourselves, something we didn’t deserve, something that caused harm, pain, trauma, fear and worse. But, through Jesus Christ, there is no reason to continue living under the oppression of these trials. You’re not alone! “The sailors went up to the sky, they came down to the depths; their strength melted because of the great danger. They reeled to and fro and staggered like drunken men, and were completely confused…” Has that ever been you?
[Read Part 3 of this series here: “The Fear of Falling”]
Have you ever looked around in utter confusion at all the difficulties, all the storms, all the ups and downs – How did I get here?! I was just minding my own business, being a good Christian and BOOM: My spouse died, my child became ill, I have cancer, I was in a car accident, my house burned down, I was taken to court, I lost my job… the list goes on. Sometimes, it is so bad that there isn’t any thing else you can do except for CRY OUT to the Lord for rescue!Β
Your redemption…
I didn’t say “pray to God.” I said CRY OUT. Scream at the top of your lungs. If you’re in a deadly storm where the waves are crashing over you, you’re about to be shipwrecked, crashed into the ground, drowned under the water and broken in half, you don’t “pray”. YOU CRY OUT. You scream until you are hoarse, you shriek, desperate, in need, with only one Hope to save you. “The righteous CRY OUT, and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles. TheΒ Lord is close to the brokenheartedΒ and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:17-18) The Lord is a refuge; He is a rescuer of those who cry out to Him; His ears are open to the desperate wails of His people who are in trouble -and He is the God who saves! (Psalm 88:1, Psalm 55:16)
Your witness of worship will show someone else the Savior in the storm, promising that God will come through for them too!.
“Then they cried out to theΒ Lord in their trouble,Β and He saved them out of their distress. He made the storm calm,Β and the sea waves were still. They were glad because the waters were quiet, so He brought them to their desired harbor.” (Psalm 107:28-30)
Did you catch that? He calms the storm inside of you, then outside of you. The raging waters that almost drowned you? Quieted. And there’s more! “He brought them to their desired harbor…” Remember, you were promised in Psalm 37:4 that if you would, “Delight yourself in theΒ Lord, He will give you the desires of your heart.” THIS IS IMPORTANT: The desires of your heart are not the same thing as a “dream come true”. The “desired harbor” Jesus will take you when you are rescued from the storm is the place where HIS dreams for you will come true!
Your response…
“Let them praise the Lord for His goodness and for His wonderful works to the people! Let them exalt Him in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.” (Psalm 107:31-32)
[Read this next: “Are you disappointed with God?”]
The fact is, some trouble we bring upon ourselves, some others cause to us and some is just “life” and it’s natural state of being as part of the fallen world, but all battles are spiritual at their root! (Ephesians 6:12) Psalm 107 shows that even well-intentioned people who didn’t sin and who didn’t rebel can still fall into trouble, without even trying too, and need the Lord to rescue them. Has that ever happened to you?? No matter what kind of rescue you need, whether from the wilderness, your own rebellion, your sinful choices or the ravages of life in a fallen world- God will rescue you! For no other reason than this: “He delivered me because He delights in me.” (Psalm 18:19) This is why we worship! We don’t worship because LIFE is good, we praise the Lord because HE is good!
Praise the Lord 1) for His goodness and 2) for His wonderful works in your life. 3) Exalt Him in the congregation, praise Him in the assembly– tell everyone who will listen what God has done! Testify! Be a witness! Encourage those weak and struggling in their faith through what God has done for you. Your witness of worship will show someone else the Savior in the storm, promising that God will come through for them too!
Donβt forget to pick up a copy ofΒ The Way of the WorshipperΒ on Amazon β and AVAILABLE NOW you can also purchaseΒ The Way of the Worshipper: A Devotional WorkbookΒ forΒ deeper study, personal examination and spiritual growth!
