By Deanne Puryear, Guest Writer
I find myself in many wonder moments in this season of life. Wondering how could such a great and sovereign God love me? Wonder of creation and the changing of the seasons. Wonder at the reality that I am only 22 years old and there is a lifetime ahead of me. Wonder in the faces of loved ones who reflect the image of Christ. Wonder in the unexplainable reality of salvation and grace. Wonder of the narrow road that often feels smaller by the day.
I believe there is beauty in this wonder. God created mankind with brilliant and creative minds that are curious and just might dare to dream fantastic dreams. The wonder also leaves many questions in the midst of the awe. I find myself landing on these questions:
- Who is my God?
- What is He up to?
- How do I trust Him?
- Where is He leading?
- Why me? Why now?
I can’t help but believe in the wandering of the desert, the Israelites probably wondered some of these same questions. Psalm 105 is a recap of all God has done for the Israelites from the moment He made His covenant with Abraham until the nation finally inhabited the promised land. This psalm is a reminder of all God has done so that Israel can trust all God will do.
7 He is the Lord our God; his judgments govern the whole earth. 8 He remembers his covenant forever, the promise he ordained for a thousand generations—9 the covenant he made with Abraham, swore to Isaac, 10 and confirmed to Jacob as a decree and to Israel as a permanent covenant: 11 “I will give the land of Canaan to you as your inherited portion.”
42 For he remembered his holy promise to Abraham his servant. 43 He brought his people out with rejoicing, his chosen ones with shouts of joy. 44 He gave them the lands of the nations, and they inherited what other peoples had worked for. 45 All this happened so that they might keep his statutes and obey his instructions. Hallelujah!
In this passage we begin to find some answers to the questions:
Who is my God? “He is the Lord our God” (v7)
What is He up to? “His judgements govern the whole earth” (v7)
How do I trust Him? “He remembers His covenant forever” (v8)
Where is He leading? “He brought His people out with rejoicing” (v43)
Why me? Why now? “All this happened so that they might keep His statues and obey His instructions.” (v45)
God is always faithful and we are able to see this characteristic in His activity throughout the Old Testament. His work in the nation of Israel is a reminder of the God we serve and why we choose to trust Him. In the midst of the wonder that leads to questions, the truth remains that God is faithful and will continue to be. In the same way that Israel had to hold fast to the promises God made hundreds of years to Abraham, we get to hold fast to God’s character and lean in the truth of who He is, despite my own wonderings. The psalmist reminds Israel to rejoice in His faithfulness and we get to be encouraged to praise Him in the same way:
“1 Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; proclaim his deeds among the peoples. 2 Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell about all his wondrous works! 3 Boast in his holy name let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. 4 Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. 5 Remember the wondrous works he has done, his wonders, and the judgments he has pronounced, 6 you offspring of Abraham his servant, Jacob’s descendants—his chosen ones.”
