Dave's Diary

Daily Readings: Psalm 116 and Psalm 126

Today you’re invited to memorise and reflect on Psalm 126:4, but to do so in the context of the first 4 verses together. Here they are:
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.
Then it was said among the nations,
    ‘The Lord has done great things for them.’
³ The Lord has done great things for us,
    and we are filled with joy.

⁴ Restore our fortunes, Lord,
    like streams in the Negev.

Do you notice the clear shift as verse 4 begins? From celebrating the past wonders of God’s deliverance, the people of God are bold enough to pray for God’s future restoration too. Remembering God’s grace in the past had so built their faith that they were willing to plead for a restoration as miraculous as streams flowing in the Negev desert.

A similar connection between past deliverance and future faith is found in our daily Psalm 116:1-2

 I love the Lord, for he heard my voice;
    he heard my cry for mercy.
² Because he turned his ear to me,
    I will call on him as long as I live.

As Psalm 116 unfolds, it becomes clear that God, in grace and compassion, has rescued the Psalmist from the brink of death. But notice that his past deliverance did not only lead him to respond with love (v.1), deep-seated peace (v.7), a commitment to faithfulness (v.9) and worship (v.14 & 17). It also led him to say over and over again, “I will call on Him (the Lord)” (in v.2, 13 and 17).

Remembering God’s past deliverance should inspire us to call on Him with even greater faith for the future. Just as we have spent time this week remembering and pondering God’s wonderful works in our past, let’s take time today to call on Him with great faith to move in power in our future. Perhaps yesterday’s ‘small miracle’ of some shuffling steps can become today’s confident stride forward as we call on God to build us up, grace upon grace (John 1:16). Can you see a situation looming where you’ll need God’s power to be at work? Take time to ponder that and then, fuelled by your faith from past deliverances, call on Him to, “Do it again, Lord!”