I LOVE doing word studies to found out the different meanings of any particular word and how it affects what the Word is really saying! In Psalm 107:2 we see this:
2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom He has delivered from the hand of the adversary,
We have sung the chorus many times that goes:
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so
Lat the redeemed of the Lord say so
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so
I'm redeemed, I'm redeemed, Praise the Lord!
That's great and it's true! I AM redeemed, and so is everyone who has received Jesus of Nazareth as Lord and personal Saviour! BUT, that is NOT what this verse is saying! "So" is actually NOT in there! This is what it literally says (from Young's Literal Translation):
2 Let the redeemed of Jehovah say, Whom He redeemed from the hand of the adversary.
What are they supposed to say? We find that in verse 1:
1 O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever!
The redeemed of the Lord are not supposed to just SAY that they are redeemed, we are supposed to say that HE IS GOOD! AND, that His mercy and loving-kindness last FOREVER! That's the message! That takes the focus off of US and puts it back on the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! Where it belongs! AMEN!
Verses 8, 15, 21 and 31 all say:
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.
What they actually say is this:
They confess to Jehovah His kindness, and His wonders to the sons of men.
"Confess" is the Hebrew word "yadah", which we know means: to give praise, to laud, to confess, to give thanks, to throw down! What these people did was to "throw down" praise and thanksgiving to HIM! It is the natural by product of a grateful, thankful heart to give glory and honor and praise to the One, True God! So let's DO IT! Here is the song "We The Redeemed" from Hillsong United:
Luke 19 covers the events of what is celebrated in many Christian churches today, Palm Sunday! John's Gospel mentions the palm branches. But we are most concerned with verses 35-38, after the disciples returned with the donkey colt:
35 And they brought it to Jesus; then they threw their garments over the colt and set Jesus upon it. 36 And as He rode along, the people kept spreading their garments on the road. 37 As He was approaching [the city], at the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples began to rejoice and to praise God [extolling Him exultantly and] loudly for all the mighty miracles and works of power that they had witnessed. 38 Crying, Blessed (celebrated with praises) is the King Who comes in the Name of the Lord! Peace in heaven [freedom there from all the distresses that are experienced as the result of sin] and glory (majesty and splendor) in the highest [heaven]!
We walked what may have been the road that Jesus took into the city when we were in Israel last year! Here are two pictures from there. One is of part of our group on the road and the other is of the sealed gates that have been built upon the real Golden Gate, or Beautiful Gate, that will open up to receive the Messiah when He returns to earth to rule and reign for 1000 years! We are SO very close to those times! Hallelujah!
One thing that we, in our nation and at this time, do not understand, is the absolute connection between the land and the people of it! Everything that the people of Israel did affected the land they possessed! If they obeyed God, then the land was blessed, and the people because of it! If they disobeyed God, then eventually the land would suffer, and the people because of it! Some of that is what is being covered in Deuteronomy 21-22. That is also what has happened, to some extent, in the United States of America! The sins of this nation against the Word of the One, True God is already being reaped in natural and environmental catastrophes! God's Word SAYS that these things will happen, with more frequency, as we see the end draw near! Don't get into doubt, worry, fear and unbelief! You STILL have a Covenant with the One, True God though the precious Blood of Jesus of Nazareth! Find out what belongs to you and walk in it with confidence, boldness and authority! HE will back you up completely! AMEN!
Shalom in Him!
