Steadfast Love in Affliction预览

When we are in times of difficulty and affliction, we can put all of our hope in God’s steadfast love. His steadfast love is not only resolute and firm, it is faithful, constant, devoted, and committed. It is not fickle. It does not change. His love endures forever!

Psalm 107 is a wonderful picture of God’s steadfast love towards His people in the midst of their affliction. Consider some examples of the Lord’s reactions to His people’s pain in this psalm. He delivers them from their distress (v. 6) and destruction (v. 30). He leads them by a straight way (v. 7). He brings them out of darkness and the shadow of death (v. 13) and to their desired haven (v. 30). He bursts their bonds apart (v. 14). He shatters the doors of bronze and cuts in two the bars of iron (v. 16). He sends out His Word and heals them (v. 20). He makes the storm be still (v. 29). He raises up the needy out of affliction (v. 40).

The psalmist repeatedly points out in this psalm that the Lord's people have sinned against Him, rebelled against Him, turned away from Him, and suffered the rightful consequences of their actions. Yet, when they cry out in distress, the Lord still answers them. Although not every affliction in the psalm is a result of the people's sin, this is still significant and encouraging. How merciful is our God!

Notice how every act of deliverance in the psalm is ascribed to God. Not to us. The psalmist does not say, “We caused the storm to be still,” or, “We burst our bonds apart.” The psalmist proclaims that God alone performed these things. No one is capable of doing them! God alone and only by His grace and strength through His love.

His steadfast love is available to every one of His children when we cry out to Him in our distress.