We often approach the psalms, as well as the historical sections of the Bible, to see how God acted in the lives of saints from another era. But I wonder do you ever see yourself in the psalms?
Take Psalm 106 for example. It chronicles the sins of the nation of Israel over a period of some 800 years. Most of us know how unfaithful the covenant people of God were. They were guilty of rebellion, discontentment, idolatry and unbelief–just to name a few of their more prominent sins. And the pattern of those centuries was one of sin, bondage, repentance and God’s rescue. What we see in stark contrast to their unfaithfulness to the covenant is God’s unswerving commitment to His people–whether in blessing them for obedience or chastening them in their sin.
Do you see this in your own life? You and I sin and yet we too see God’s mercy and faithful discipline. We often can think, “Isn’t God wonderful and I am not so bad either!” But the truth is God is merciful and we are sinners.
Israel forfeited so much blessing in their lives, but often God graciously called them to repentance and they confessed their sin and experienced restoration. If we want to receive God’s favor, we must do what the psalmist does in Psalm 106. Confess our sin, recall God’s goodness, and look to him by faith for His present and future blessings.
