I’m in a weekly study of joy, just going through the Bible
looking at each mention of the word and studying/reflecting on the context of
the rest of the chapter. I’ve definitely been enjoying this time with a couple
other ladies from my church!
This past Saturday we looked into Psalm 105. The mention of
joy is near the end of the chapter, but the verses before definitely lead up to
it. So here are my reflective notes on Psalm 105….
105:1-6 – The call/application: To be in relationship with
God! Speaking to Him and speaking about Him to others. Seeking Him out, and
remembering His marvelous works. And thus the rest of the Psalm!
105:7-12 – God’s character, specifically focused on the
promise He made and His commitment to keeping it.
105:13-15 – Historical overview: God’s protective hand over
His people—not allowing the kings of the nations to harm them.
105:16-22 – Joseph—tested by the LORD until the time was
right for him to take charge.
105:23-25 – Israel’s time in Egypt—numbers increased, but so
did hatred of them.
105:26-36 – The plagues sent against Egypt, to compel them
to let God’s people go.
105:37-41 – God’s provision for His people during the Exodus—booty,
a cloud/fire protection, food, and water.
Why all of this? Verse 42 points back to verse 8—God had
made a promise to Abraham, and He remembered it!
105:43 – Thus “He brought out His people with joy, His
chosen ones with gladness.” It took centuries
of time and apparent setbacks before the right time came for God’s plan and
purposes to be fulfilled. Joseph didn’t feel joy when he was sold into slavery,
but that was a step in the joyful Exodus. Four hundred years of Israelite
slaves didn’t experience the joy of release—but their descendants did.
105:44-45 – God did all that so His people would receive the
land of the Gentiles and keep His law
there [which they did NOT do very well!].
This chapter was a good reminder for me this week. Tomorrow marks
a year since I left Uganda, and that anniversary could get me stuck in grieving
what I miss and what I lost last year. But this chapter is a reminder to me
that God doesn’t just work joyful things through the good times. No, He is
working out His plan in ALL things, no matter how hard/bad they look or feel to
us at the time.
I find it interesting that, unlike a sermon, this Psalmist started
off with the application. Verse 1-6 are full of commands: to sing, to glory in
His name, to remember His wondrous works. And
yes, sometimes that includes remembering the hard times, as this Psalm does—but
to do so with eyes focused on the ways that God fulfills His promises and redeems
the suffering into joy!!!
So that’s my goal for tomorrow and this week: to remember
His faithfulness and the joy that He works out through the suffering and the
scars.
