Psalm 106:23-48 (KJV): Nevertheless He regarded their affliction when he heard their cry

From Psalms

Psalm 106:23-48

²⁴Yea, they despised the pleasant land,
      they believed not his word:
²⁵But murmured in their tents,
      and hearkened not unto the voice of the LORD.
²⁶Therefore he lifted up his hand against them,
      to overthrow them in the wilderness:
²⁷To overthrow their seed also among the nations,
      and to scatter them in the lands.

²⁸They joined themselves also unto Baalpeor,
      and ate the sacrifices of the dead.
²⁹Thus they provoked him to anger with their inventions:
      and the plague brake in upon them.
³⁰Then stood up Phinehas, and executed judgment:
      and so the plague was stayed.
³¹And that was counted unto him for righteousness
      unto all generations for evermore.

³²They angered him also at the waters of strife,
      so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes:
³³Because they provoked his spirit,
      so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips.

³⁴They did not destroy the nations,
      concerning whom the LORD commanded them:
³⁵But were mingled among the heathen,
      and learned their works.
³⁶And they served their idols:
      which were a snare unto them.
³⁷Yea, they sacrificed their sons
      and their daughters unto devils,
³⁸And shed innocent blood,
      even the blood of their sons and of their daughters,
whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan:
      and the land was polluted with blood.
³⁹Thus were they defiled with their own works,
      and went a whoring with their own inventions.

⁴⁰Therefore was the wrath of the LORD kindled against his people,
      insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance.
⁴¹And he gave them into the hand of the heathen;
      and they that hated them ruled over them.
⁴²Their enemies also oppressed them,
      and they were brought into subjection under their hand.
⁴³Many times did he deliver them;
      but they provoked him with their counsel,
      and were brought low for their iniquity.

⁴⁴Nevertheless he regarded their affliction,
      when he heard their cry:
⁴⁵And he remembered for them his covenant,
      and repented according to the multitude of his mercies.
⁴⁶He made them also to be pitied
      of all those that carried them captives.

⁴⁷Save us, O LORD our God,
      and gather us from among the heathen,
to give thanks unto thy holy name,
      and to triumph in thy praise.

⁴⁸Blessed be the LORD God of Israel
      from everlasting to everlasting:
and let all the people say, Amen.

Praise ye the LORD.

Every verse I read this morning, from 23 to 43, I kept looking for the Isrealites fate to turn.  I knew the story so I knew it would eventually.  But, like a movie that keeps you on the edge of your seat it just seemed like nothing could go right for the Isrealites.  They constantly made bad choices.  They constantly angered God.

In these verses, I saw some similarities with my own story.  All too often I fall into the snares of our society.  All too often I fall for the marketing that we are constantly inundated with.  The sex, the pursuit of money, the lust for power, the myths, and the out-and-out lies.  That's not even to speak of the selfish and sinful things I did when I lived in my addiction.  Certainly I supported the sex industry (of porn, strippers, and prostitutes) and in that it could be said I sacrificed our sons and daughters.  My faith was in the idols of my addictions and surely I must have angered God, so he let me wander so far that I risked everything I truly valued.

Thankfully though, along came verse 44.  Along came the grace of God - Amazing Grace, indeed.  "Nevertheless, He regarded their affliction when he heard their cry."  Save us O Lord.  And so it was just like this for me.  When he saw that I was ready and I could stand the suffering no longer, and I called out to Him, he took notice of my cry.  He showed his grace on me and began to work in my life.  Praise ye the Lord.

I pray that for other addicts out there, especially those that still suffer, that they can see there is way out from all of that.  That through God the suffering can be "stayed" (verse 30).  That God can work in anyone's life as He did in mine, through the 12 steps, and through meetings and other addicts.  God be with you.

Thanks for letting me share.