Family of God: Re: [FamilyofGod] SOUNDING OUT:

amen

Shelley

FamilyofGod@yahoogroups.com (moderator)

Awake4HisReturn@yahoogroups.com (co_owner)

The_Glitter_Room@yahoogroups.com (owner)

If any man come after me , let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me

From: sogwap <amba55ador4chr15t@yahoo.com>
To: FamilyofGod@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Fri, June 10, 2011 10:06:16 AM
Subject: [FamilyofGod] SOUNDING OUT:

SOUNDING OUT:
God has Done Great Things For Us

Psalm 126:1,2:
When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.
2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.

How strange that God's people would be surprised when God delivers with his mighty hand. God can turn any situation "right side up." There is nothing beyond His power and providence. We expect Him to work in a mighty way in the lives of His people. When God worked in such a mighty way to turn the captivity of His people, they could hardly believe it. It was almost too good to be true. They had lived so long under the oppression that they had almost given up hope. Now it was as if they wondered, "Could it indeed be real?"

God turned their sorrow into rejoicing. The time in captivity is not as important as the deliverance from the captivity. "When" deals with time. Proverbs 13:12 says, "Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life." We should never give up hope; so what if it takes longer than we would like. We should not dwell on the length or misery of the captivity, but rather rejoice when the deliverance comes.

Christians who dwell more upon what they have gone through than upon what God has done for them, rob themselves of the joy of living. Enduring difficult situations is seldom fun, but the end of the captivity is always a cause for rejoicing. What is our impression of life? Is it continual conflicts, deep afflictions, and sad adversities? Or, is it a continual feast upon the great things God has done for us?

Then is another word that deals with time. It refers back to verse one. Look at what happened when God turned the captivity of His people. First let's note the response of God's believing people: "our [plural] mouth [singular]" and "our [plural] tongue [singular]." The people responded unanimously with laughter and singing. It was as if they had one mouth and one tongue. They were united in their rejoicing. The pain of the captivity was swallowed up by the elation of God's mighty power working on their behalf.

Next, let's note the response of the unbelieving heathen: "The Lord hath done great things for them." They recognized it was not by chance. God worked deliberately and completely. They recognized that it was not just common or ordinary things that God did. They recognized that God moved on their behalf.

Then verse three begins like verse two ends. This time it is God's people declaring, "The Lord hath done great things for us." (That's the figure anadiplosis.) God's people are the "apple of His eye" (Deuteronomy 32:10; Psalms 17:8; Zechariah 2:8). What was the end result? God's people were glad. They spoke of it, and it changed their attitude or disposition. Psalm 40 echoes similar sentiments.

Psalm 40:1-5:
I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.
4 Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
5 Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.

We should speak of God's wonderful works. Yes, we may endure trials, but we are delivered out of them (II Timothy 3:11; 4:17,18). Yes, we have our weaknesses and shortcomings, but we also have an all-sufficient Savior, who works on our behalf and helps us overcome our frailties. God can turn any captivity. Remember how God turned the captivity of Job?

If we remember and recount the difficulties we have been through, let us not forget that we have been through them safely and profitably. We have not remained in captivity. He has turned our sorrow to rejoicing. The deeper our troubles have been, the louder our thanks to God should be. He has led us through all, and preserved us until now. As Charles Spurgeon once said, "Our griefs cannot mar the melody of our praise, we reckon them to be the bass part of our life's song,"

REMEMBER: "The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad."