The Message, March 10, 2024: "Forever in Joy!" Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22

Author: Rev. Scott W. Cousineau
March 12, 2024

 

“Forever in Joy!”
A Message by Rev. Scott W. Cousineau
Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22

            “Put that down!” “Why?!” “Because I said so!”

“Are you sure this is okay?” “Yes. Go ahead.” “Okay … if you say so.”

            “Stop doing that!!” “Why?!” “Because I said so!”

            “Is this the right way to do this?” “Yes.” “Are you sure?” “Yes.” “Okay … if you say so.”

            Do any of those scenarios sound familiar? Have you heard them yourselves? Have you said them?

            “Because I say so,” or “if you say so” implies or assumes some position of power or authority. Or that the person saying it believes that they possess some authority over you. The phrase may also imply that the individual saying those words possesses some expertise that qualifies them to … say so.

            In our psalm this morning, the psalmist instructs us to say so.

            “O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever.
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.” (Psalm 107:1-2a, NRSV)

            But the question is … what qualifies us to say so?

On our Lenten journey thus far, we have explored two other psalms. Psalm 25 was a plea for help. David had lost his way and implored God to ‘teach him, to show him the Way back to God.’

            Psalm 19 was in instructional intended to teach faithful kings how to live and how to model faithful behavior for their people.

            This morning’s psalm is a psalm of celebration. The margin notes in the Jewish Study Bible indicate this this psalm is supposed to begin with the word, “Hallelujah!”

            “Hallelujah! Give thanks to the Lord!”

            And why is that? What is the cause for celebration? The exile was over. The dispersion was over. The Children of Israel were heading home.

            But it was more than that. The journey home was not an easy one. They did not load up the SUV and the U-Haul trailer and jump on the turnpike. There were difficulties and struggles for the people.

            If we were to look at the psalm in its entirety, we would see that the psalmist divided the people into four different categories. The ‘sheep of the field’ … Yahweh’s flock … were returning to their pastures, but they experienced distress along the way.

            There were those who were weary travelers. They wandered in the desert and the wasteland. Those sheep were in great need. They were so hungry and thirsty they were in danger of perishing.

            There were those who were being punished. They were in prison. They were still being held captive.

            There were those who were tossed about by the storms at sea. Their lives were threatened. They were at their wits’ end.

            And then there were those who we heard about in our passage this morning who were sick unto death. They were the foolish ones, the disobedient ones, or the sinful ones. They were so sick that they could not eat.

            There are some interpreters that postulate that there may have been some who were physically ill. They suffered from some terrible disease. And then there are others that speculate that their illness was spiritual in nature, and the inability to “eat” referred to their relationship to holy scripture.

            The phrase “eating the scroll” is used to describe the acceptance of a message from God in order to proclaim it to the people. (Ezekiel 2:8-3-11; Jeremiah 15:16)

            Those who were foolish or disobedient had fallen away from the Word of God, they were no longer ‘consuming’ God’s Word.

            However, in either interpretation, and in every case, no matter the circumstances, the people called out to God in their distress and God redeemed them. God saved them. This psalm is a song of celebration. It sings of God’s deliverance of the people … no matter what.

            God performed wonderful works or deeds for the people.
            Those who wandered in the wasteland and desert were fed.
            Those who were bound were liberated.
            Those who were foolish or disobedient were given new life.
            Those who were fearful had been given new hope.

            In every case, the people called out to God for help and in every case God delivered. God saved. God loved. And in every case the people offer thanks and praise to God. They sang songs of praise. They sang songs of joy.

            The psalm is about the awesome power of God’s steadfast love. It is a psalm that praises God for being faithful and trustworthy. It was a song of worship that spoke to the people of God’s powerful activity in their history. It offered hope and life to those who sang these words generations ago. And it is a song that offers hope and joy to people today.

            The psalm spoke to those who wandered lost in the wilderness and wasteland of the desert. And it speaks to those who find themselves wandering and lost. It speaks to those who are experiencing a wasteland of the soul.

            The psalm assures us that God will lead the way. God will bring you home.

            It spoke to those who were captive and imprisoned. And it speaks to anyone experiencing oppression. It speaks to anyone experiencing misery or darkness or gloom.

            And it assures us that God helps those who feel as though they have no one to turn to. God will set you free from your exile.

            It spoke to those who were tossed at sea and were fearful for their lives. And it speaks to anyone that finds themselves in the “depths” or in despair. It speaks to those who experience chaos and terror.

            And it promises us that God is our safe harbor. God is our firm ground.

            It spoke to those who were foolish or disobedient. It spoke to those who had fallen away from God and experienced a hunger in their souls. And it speaks to anyone who feels lost. It speaks to anyone longing to be fed and nourished.

            And we can take comfort in the knowledge that God will save. God forgives our foolish ways. God offers us grace … and hope … and life.

            God’s steadfast love is sufficient for any situation, even the worst possible scenario. Nothing is impossible for God.

            And our response must be to say so. We must sing songs of praise. We must sing songs of joy.

            May we live as thankful people.
            May we live lives that proclaim God’s glory.
            May our lives “speak” and “sing” songs of joy! Amen.

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