Psalms 107;31 says, Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! This is once more a call for people to praise God for His goodness and wonderful works. We should praise God for Who He is, the Creator and Sustainer of everything, and not for what He can do for us materially. Verse thirty-two adds, Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders. The people of Israel were called on to praise God when they assembled together, and so should we as followers of Christ. Verse thirty-three states, He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground; God can dry up the rivers and springs if He chooses to do so. Verse thirty-four adds, A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein. God can slowly make a fruitful land barren, if the people there become to wicked. We should keep that in mind today. Verse thirty-five states, He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings. Just as God can turn the water into a wilderness and watersprings to dry ground, He can do the opposite. Just because we are blessed today and others aren't doesn't mean that it will always be that way. It ultimately depends on our relationship with God, individually and as a nation. Verse thirty-six adds, And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation; God can bring the hungry to dwell in a city fit for habitation. We as Christians are brought into God's kingdom, which is a place that is spiritually fit for habitation. Verse thirty-seven continues, And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase. Though God brings the hungry into this land, they are still expected to work. We should never expect to just sit back and have God bless us as followers of Christ. We have a purpose and work to do that is about more than just material things. Verse thirty-eight declares, He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease. The psalmist said that God blessed those that put their faith in Him with more than enough to just survive, but once more I don't believe that we should expect God to make us rich materially. Even if we are faithful, we may still struggle financially. Verse thirty-nine adds, Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow. I believe this is what happens when those who are supposed to be God's people turn away from Him. Verse forty continues, He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way. God pours His contempt on those rulers of His people who have turned away from Him, and allows them to be defeated. Verse forty-one states, Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock. As I have stated before, I don't believe that being poor itself brings a person blessings from God nor salvation itself, but if a person has accepted Jesus Christ as his or her Savior and Lord and are made poor because of their faith, then God will one day richly bless them. Verse forty-two adds,The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth. When the righteous see what God is doing, they will rejoice. This is not the self righteous, but those who are made righteous the only way a person can be made righteous, and that is through faith in Jesus Christ. Verse forty-three continues, Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD. If we are wise, we will understand these things as they are revealed to us by God.
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