Psalm 107:8, 15, 21, 31 all say the same thing:
Oh, that men would praise [and confess to] the LORD for His goodness and loving-kindness and His wonderful works to the children of men!
The phrase "Oh that men would" is not in the original manuscripts. The translators added this for "clarity"! It actually says the same thing as verse 1:
O give thanks to the LORD
"Thanks" and "praise" are the Hebrew word "yadah". It means: to give thanks, to laud, to praise. His "goodness and loving-kindness" is the Hebrew word "checed". I want to share the full meaning of this word from the Vine's Expository Dictionary. It gets slightly complicated, but is very enlightening:
The Septuagint nearly always renders checed with
eleos
("mercy"), and that usage is reflected in the New Testament. Modern translations, in contrast, generally prefer renditions close to the word "grace." KJV usually has "mercy," although "loving-kindness" (following Coverdale), "favor," and other translations also occur. RSV generally prefers "steadfast love." NIV often offers simply "love."
In general, one may identify three basic meanings of the word, which always interact: "strength," "steadfastness," and "love." Any understanding of the word that fails to suggest all three inevitably loses some of its richness. "Love" by itself easily becomes sentimentalized or universalized apart from the covenant. Yet "strength" or "steadfastness" suggests only the fulfillment of a legal or other obligation.
The word refers primarily to mutual and reciprocal rights and obligations between the parties of a relationship (especially Yahweh and Israel). But checed is not only a matter of obligation; it is also of generosity. It is not only a matter of loyalty, but also of mercy. The weaker party seeks the protection and blessing of the patron and protector, but he may not lay absolute claim to it. The stronger party remains committed to his promise, but retains his freedom, especially with regard to the manner in which he will implement those promises. Checed implies personal involvement and commitment in a relationship beyond the rule of law.
Behind all these uses with man as subject, however, stand the repeated references to God's checed. It is one of His most central characteristics. God's loving-kindness is offered to His people, who need redemption from sin, enemies, and troubles. A recurrent refrain describing God's nature is "abounding plenteous in checed" Ex 34:6; Neh 9:17; Ps 103:8; Jonah 4:2. The entire history of Yahweh's covenantal relationship with Israel can be summarized in terms of checed. It is the one permanent element in the flux of covenantal history. Even the Creation is the result of God's checed Ps 136:5-9. His love lasts for a "thousand generations" Deut 7:9; cf. Deut 5:10 and Ex 20:6, indeed "forever" (especially in the refrains of certain psalms, such as Ps 136).
The association of checed with "covenant" keeps it from being misunderstood as mere providence or love for all creatures; it applies primarily to God's particular love for His chosen and covenanted people. "Covenant" also stresses the reciprocity of the relationship; but since God's checed is ultimately beyond the covenant, it will not ultimately be abandoned, even when the human partner is unfaithful and must be disciplined Isa 54:8,10.
Verse 43 says this:
James 4:1 says this:
What James is saying here is that when we have disagreements and strife within the Body, it is because of our human, or flesh, nature! It is "natural" to look out for ourselves and our own interests before we think of the other person. It is NOT, however, GOD'S nature! He lives in us, making us new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17) that never existed before! We SHOULD be acting just like Jesus did! In order to do so we must be DOERS of James 4:7:
Jeremiah 13 and 22 continue with the LORD giving Jeremiah messages of warning to Israel and Judah. A key verse for seeing God's heart and the hearts of the people that caused them to go into captivity is Jeremiah 22: 21:
God ALWAYS warned and instructed His people in the way that was right in His eyes and would keep them in a place of His protection, provision, and safety! These people, in their prosperity, ease and comfort, thought they no longer needed the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! Then, when they were reaping the results of their stubborn disobedience, they would begin to call out and cry out to Him for deliverance. Did He deliver them? ALWAYS, but in HIS timing! We must ask ourselves how WE react to times of prosperity, ease and comfort! Do we neglect the time spent in fellowship with God and in His Word once we get what we desired of Him? It takes the same diligence to KEEP the answers that we desired of Him as it took to get to that position in the first place! There is no stopping! Be diligent and you will be free and stay free! Thank You, Jesus!
Shalom in Him!
