Dave's Diary

This week our Psalm of the week is Psalm 126, another “song of ascent”. We’ll reflect on it each day in light of a daily Psalm that connects to it in one way or another. It’s another gem of a Psalm and I pray it will be life-giving to you.

Daily Readings: Psalm 107 and Psalm 126

Today you’re invited to memorise Psalm 126:1-2a
¹ When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,
    we were like those who dreamed.
² Our mouths were filled with laughter,
    our tongues with songs of joy.

First, take time to commit it to memory and then meditate on it throughout the day in light of Psalm 107.

Like Psalm 126 – which is widely understood to rejoice in the restoration of God’s people from exile in Babylon – Psalm 107 also presents God as our Deliverer and Saviour. It celebrates God’s saving work for people who have gotten themselves into situations of suffering. There are people wandering in the wilderness (v.4-9), captives (v.10-16), people afflicted with illness (v.17-22), and people in peril at sea (v.23-32). In each of these sections of Psalm 107, two refrains consistently repeat. Each time the people are in desperate situations we are told: “Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress.” (v.6; 13; 19 and 28) And each time God delivers them, the people are exhorted: “Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind.” (v.8; 15; 21 and 31)

The Psalm ends on this note: “Let the one who is wise heed these things and ponder the loving deeds of the Lord.” (v.43) With that in mind: Take some time to ponder on the last 24 hours, the weekend that has passed, or maybe the last season of your life. Has there been a moment that you needed to cry to the Lord in a moment of trouble? Look for signs that he has answered (or begun to answer) you in His unfailing love; and if so, give thanks to the Lord.

Then look ahead to the coming day or week. Are there situations you dread? Is there some encounter, appointment or meeting that you’d rather avoid, but know you need to face head-one? Cry to the Lord this morning for help and then face that situation knowing that God’s unfailing love is already going ahead of you to bring you through it.

Loving Father, thank You for rescuing me from sin and death, through the saving work of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Please continue to rescue and deliver me from every situation I dread. Strengthen me to be more than a conqueror I pray, so that my mouth may be filled with laughter and my heart with songs of joy. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.