God’s Loving Kindness
Responding to God’s Lovingkindness 5 Jan 2025
Happy New Year 2025! Lisa and I spent the last few days in Singapore with our son and his family, including going with them for a few days to Taipei. On one outing, David, one of our grandsons, and I were in a Grab-taxis. We forgot to take out the 3-year-old grandson’s pusher from the boot and only remembered when the car had disappeared into the busy streets (pop. of Taipei is 2.5 mill.) Everyone was upset and distressed. Over lunch we prayed that we would be able to recover it. I prayed hard in my heart. It seemed impossible because the Grab driver didn’t respond to his company’s messages and we had to leave the next day. David went to the local police to report it for insurance purposes. Praise God, the police found the driver and we could recover the pusher! They searched through CCT camera records with the number plate and found a video of us, including me, getting out of the Grab-taxi.
I share from a beautiful, poetic psalm all about experiences of God’s loving kindness, Psalm 107 (NIV). What can we learn from this? What is its message?
The first thing is to thank God for his lovingkindness. It says, “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever” (v1). The keyword in Psalm 107 is “hesed” (in Hebrew). It appears six times, more than most psalms. ‘Hesed’ is translated in various places in the OT as ‘love endures’, ‘kindness’, ‘mercy’, ‘unfailing love’, and ‘loving kindness’. (It is the OT equivalent of ‘agape’ love in the NT). In Psalm 107, the emphasis is that God’s loving kindness is forever. It is a permanent characteristic of our God. He always expresses loving kindness in our experiences of him and we should remember to thank him.
The next thing to observe is in verse 2–“Let the redeemed of the LORD tell their story.” Share your experiences of God’s loving kindness. “Redeemed of the LORD” means that a price has been paid to save you. For Israel in the OT, this was with the blood of a lamb for each family, enabling them to avoid the angel of death. In the NT, we are redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus shed on the cross. Verse 2-3 continue–“…those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south.” We are saved from all our troubles (“foes”)– from Satan, our sinful nature, and from the judgment of God. We are saved from all over the world. Jesus said “…many will come from the east and the west and will take their places at the feast …in the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 8:11).
Saved from Four Types of Trouble v4-31
1) Being isolated– found a city! v4-9 “Some wandered in desert wastelands… they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle.” Somehow I felt very lonely as a teenager but kept looking to God. Amazingly, I now have a wonderful wife, 3 sons, and 4 grandsons, and I belong to a church of precious, very caring people. God has delivered me from many troubles.
2) Spiritual bondage– set free! v10-16 “Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness, prisoners suffering in iron chains… they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He… broke away their chains.” We live in a spiritual environment. There are demonic forces that can bring bondages. Jesus sets us free!
3) Physical illness– healed! v17-22 “Some… suffered affliction because of their iniquities. They loathed all food and drew near the gates of death. Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble… He sent out his word and healed them… Let them… tell of his works with songs of joy.” Health issues can have many causes, including eating poorly and old age. Call out to God for healing; healing of the soul, of course, being most important for eternity.
4) Natural disasters– storm calmed! v23-31 “Some went out on the sea in ships … They saw the works of the LORD… he spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves… their courage melted away… they cried out to the LORD… He stilled the storm … he guided them to their desired haven.” We can face natural disasters, plane crashes, and more likely work issues (as “merchants”). Call out to God and he will bring you to a safe place.
It is wise to ponder and learn from these experiences of God’s lovingkindness (v32-43). We are easily prone to forget. So, what do we learn?– God’s loving kindness will be forever. Call out to God in times of trouble. Share experiences of God’s help. This brings joy to good people and silences the accuser. (There are too many accusers of Christianity these days, to their peril!) Psalm 107 concludes, v42-43, “The upright see and rejoice, but all the wicked shut their mouths. Let the one who is wise heed these things and ponder the loving deeds of the LORD.” Thank God often for his loving kindness, share your experiences and learn from them. “They triumphed… by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony” (Rev. 12:11). Happy and blessed 2025!