Psalm 147

1 Praise the Lord! How good to sing praises to our God! How delightful and how fitting!
2 The Lord is rebuilding Jerusalem and bringing the exiles back to Israel.
3 He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.
4 He counts the stars and calls them all by name.
5 How great is our Lord! His power is absolute! His understanding is beyond comprehension!
6 The Lord supports the humble, but he brings the wicked down into the dust.
7 Sing out your thanks to the Lord; sing praises to our God with a harp.
8 He covers the heavens with clouds, provides rain for the earth, and makes the grass grow in mountain pastures.
9 He gives food to the wild animals and feeds the young ravens when they cry.
10 He takes no pleasure in the strength of a horse or in human might.
11 No, the Lord’s delight is in those who fear him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love.
12 Glorify the Lord, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion!
13 For he has strengthened the bars of your gates and blessed your children within your walls.
14 He sends peace across your nation and satisfies your hunger with the finest wheat.
15 He sends his orders to the world— how swiftly his word flies!
16 He sends the snow like white wool; he scatters frost upon the ground like ashes.
17 He hurls the hail like stones.[a] Who can stand against his freezing cold?
18 Then, at his command, it all melts. He sends his winds, and the ice thaws.
19 He has revealed his words to Jacob, his decrees and regulations to Israel.
20 He has not done this for any other nation; they do not know his regulations. Praise the Lord!
Our God is a God of redemption.

Have you ever felt you have strayed so far from God's path that you will never find yourself back on track? Look at the nation of Israel...exiled in a strange land...because of their own stubborn lack of faith. But yet, David says "the Lord is rebuilding Jerusalem and bringing the exiles back."

More than that..."He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds". So, not only is God a God of redemption, He is also a God of healing.

And, He can do it. God can do whatever He pleases. After all, "He calls the stars by name. His power is absolute and His understanding is beyond comprehension".

In other words, nothing can stop God from lovingly redeeming us when we stray.

But...on what basis? Humility.

David says "the Lord takes to pleasure in the strength of horses or in human might. The delight of the Lord is in those who fear Him".

Are you feeling a bit alienated today? Would you like to find yourself back in the center of God's will? Swallow your pride, "put your hope in His unfailing love"...instead of your own intuition...and see what happens.

Live boldly out there today...