GIVE THANKS FOR DELIVERANCE
LESSON FOR THE JUNIOR CLASSES
STUDY SCRIPTURE: PSALM 107
KEY VERSE
Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.
Acts107:6
INTRODUCTION AND STUDY
Do you understand the vital importance of being Redeemed, that is, brought out of a lifestyle and way of thinking and living which will lead to bad pain and eventually your destruction?
Have you ever made a mistake?
Have you ever done something based on incomplete information that somebody gave you and it turned out that your mistake was quite a bad one that can come back to damage you and make people upset at you?
When you find out about this mistake how you react? If you have done something really bad to someone without really knowing the seriousness of what you did do you turn around and apologize, and feel very sorry for what you have done and even repented, making a complete turnabout and doing things the right way? Do you know that you should thank your Helper?
This is what happened to some people who lived in the country of Israel. They had to make a decision as to how they would behave when God made a Covenant with them and laid down the way they should live in order to have happiness and fulfillment. But like many of us the people of Israel kept on making giant size mistakes. They thought that they could do as they pleased and ignore the commandments God had given them as well as the agreement they had made when God made the Covenant with them.
This Psalm pointed out to the people that the only reason they had survived was because of the nature of God. God was good. He had an extraordinary and amazing kind of love. This was a steadfast or faithful love for the people. When they disobeyed God and worshipped idols like their neighbours did, and treated their own fellow citizens badly, God had to bring trouble on them to get their attention. God watched over them, made them travel for 40 years through the desert wilderness, having to depend on God for food and water. God even had to allow their enemies, the Assyrians and the Babylonians to conquer them and take them into exile away from their country where they lived in bondage and subjection.
But God, when they cried out to Him for help, and repented of their sins, helped them, rescued them from bondage and redeemed them.
The writer of the Psalm we are studying listed many events in the life of Israel and showed them that in every case God came to their rescue and delivered them.
Praise and thanksgiving were rightfully due to God. They owed their life and their prosperity to Him.
We can learn many lessons from their experiences and what God did for Israel. As well we can see how God worked to solve the problems of His people.
We learn that at all times, good and bad, we must praise God with strength, energy, truthfulness, and joy. He is the only Deliverer we will ever have. He is the only refuge from disaster we will ever have. He is the only One who loves us so deeply that He will keep coming to our help showing great patience.
So if you are troubled, confused, searching for help, restless, wanting a straight way to live, wanting not to keep on stumbling, the only way out is to go to God, tell Him what you are feeling and what you are doing. Because God is gracious and merciful, and because you belong to Him, He will never forsake you. It sometimes will take a little while to straighten out your situation, but depend on Him for He will work and do everything to benefit you. God is always good. He will always free you from your enemies.
So the writer of the Palm calls on you to be wise and pay close attention to what God has done for you in the past, and what He will do for you in the future. His promises are sound. They will never be broken.
Do not make excuses that your situation is too bad to be corrected. God has all power and wisdom. Nothing can stop His tenderness, His mercy, and His intention to forgive and help you.
So thank and praise God, for He does little things that are good, and Big things that are good. He is the greatest Deliverer and He deserves your thanks and praise.