Psalm
108 reminds me of the High Tide Charts that were given out in the
area I grew up. These small cards were printed for the entire season
and noted the exact time each day when the water would be at its
highest and lowest level, along with the sunrise and sunset. This is
vital information because during low tide, only narrow, well marked
channels are deep enough for navigation, as the sand bars and shoals
become visible above the water. Looking back, I find it amazing how
predictable the tides and sun are. There are very few things in life
that are this stable. Some people are unaware that these charts
exist, others choose to ignore the information, and still others
learn to trust them as reliable. Interestingly, this has no effect
on the certainty of the tide coming in and going out. I believe this
is the foundation for this psalm of David. David discovered that
God’s Word is reliable. He had learned to trust in the Word and
the
God behind the Word.
He begins, “My
heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing and make music with all my
soul“.
I believe David wanted everyone to know the certainty of God’s
promises, “I
will praise You, O Lord, among the nations. For
great
is Your love“.
And notice he adds, “Your
faithfulness reaches to the skies“.
Even during the most chaotic times of our life, we can trust that
the sun will rise exactly as God ordained it, as a reminder of His
trustworthiness.
David
continues with a very public plea. “Save
us and help us with Your right hand, that
those
You love
may
be delivered.”
I believe David wanted everyone to know his God as Lord. He adds
that God gives bountifully to those that trust Him. “In
triumph I will parcel out… and measure off“.
Next David notes that God marked out the land and I am reminded how
often people would get stuck in the shallows in our bay. They would
run aground when they failed to follow the marker buoys. Large,
expensive boats became trapped unable to continue with their plans.
I think it one of these times that David asks, “Is
it not You, O God,
You
who have rejected us and no longer go out with our armies?“.
Are you stuck in the mud? Friend, God does not reject us forever.
Often,
these big boats would call out to be towed, but if they delayed too
long, the only option was to wait for the tide to come back in.
After a helpless situation like this, I think David learned to call
out to God, “Give
us aid against the enemy, for
the
help of man is worthless“.
Maybe you have ignored the marker buoys and run aground in your
life. Please do not give up hope. The tide will rise and the sun
will come up again in the morning. David concluded, “With
God we will gain the victory, and He will trample down our enemies“.
God sent the Savior to lift us up out of the muck because we could
not free ourselves. John 3:17 reminds us, “For
God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to
save the world through Him“.
God is stable, even when we are off course. God’s Word is
trustworthy.