GOD’S WRATH, MERCY AND DELIVERANCE
- Olufunmilayo Adekusibe
- 3 days ago
- 5 min read
Today’s Reading:
Psalm 106:40-48
Jeremiah 10:17-25
Luke 20:45-21:4
“Therefore, was the wrath of the Lord kindled against His people, insomuch that He abhorred His own inheritance. And He gave them into the hand of the heathen; and they that hated them ruled over them. Their enemies also oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their hand. Many times did He deliver them, but they provoked Him with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity. Nevertheless, He regarded their affliction, when He heard their cry. And He remembered for them His covenant, and repented according to the multitude of His mercies. He made them also to be pitied by all those who carried them captives. Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the heathen, to give thanks unto Thy holy name, and to triumph in Thy praise. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the Lord.” (Psalm 106:40–48 AKJV)
Psalm 106, in general, is a song of national repentance, as the people of Israel returned from captivity. It reflects Israel’s repeated cycles of sin, judgment, repentance, and deliverance in the promised land. God patiently delivered them in spite of their forgetfulness and self-willed rebellion. Verses 40–48 describe God’s wrath against His people for their rebellion, but also His mercy and covenant faithfulness in delivering them from oppression. It highlights the cyclical nature of their sin and God’s mercy, culminating in a prayer for salvation and praise.
God’s Wrath (vv. 40–42)
These verses describe God’s anger toward His people for their persistent rebellion, leading to them being handed over to their enemies, who oppressed them. From the time of the Judges until the Assyrian and Babylonian captivities, God used the hand of Israel’s enemies to discipline them for their sin. “And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served the Baals; and the Lord delivered them into the hands of their enemies” (Judg. 2:11–23; 3:8, 12). Israel endured oppression (v. 42). God allowed trouble to come upon the Israelites to help them. Similarly, God sometimes allows trouble in our lives because it shapes our character:
Humbles us;
Weans us from the allurements of the world and drives us back to God.
Vitalises our prayers.
Allows us to experience more of God’s faithfulness.
Makes us more dependent upon God.
Encourages us to submit to God’s purpose for our lives; and
Makes us more compassionate toward others in their affliction.
God’s Deliverance and Mercy (vv. 43–46)
These verses speak of God’s repeated acts of deliverance despite Israel’s continued rebellion. He heard their cries, remembered His covenant, and relented from His anger, showing compassion and pity toward them. The emphasis is on the unconditional nature of God’s covenant with Abraham.
“For their sake…” complements God’s primary motivation—acting for His own name’s sake (v. 8). “He remembered His covenant” answers the psalmist’s earlier prayer (vv. 4–5).
Regarding the Abrahamic Covenant:
The descendants of Abraham would multiply, and
They would possess the land (Ps. 105:9–10; Lk. 1:72–75).
This is a beautiful picture of God’s great love for His people, who deserved only judgment. Fortunately, God’s compassion and mercy toward us are not limited by our faithfulness to Him. God was merciful to us by sending His Son to die for our sins. If He did this while we were captive to sin, how much more merciful will He be now that we are His children? Because God is compassionate and merciful, each time Israel cried to Him, He remembered His covenant promises and delivered them from their enemies. The New Testament warns that what happened to Israel should serve as a lesson to us in this dispensation of grace through our Lord Jesus Christ. We should be careful to avoid the mistakes that Israel made (1 Cor. 10:11).
Prayer for Salvation (vv. 47–48)
These verses express a prayer for salvation and for regathering from exile, acknowledging God as the source of hope and deliverance. The psalmist pleads on behalf of the nation in light of the Abrahamic Covenant—that the nation may be regathered in Israel. He remembers what Moses’ generation forgot: God as their Saviour (v. 21). Even though the tribes of Judah and Benjamin returned in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah, the text also looks forward to the ultimate regathering of Israel at the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to rule over the promised Davidic kingdom (2 Sam. 7; Rev. 20; Eze. 37:11–28; Zech. 12–14). At the end of this sad list of failings, the psalmist prays on behalf of his people. He cries out for deliverance, suggesting he himself is among the captives in Babylon. He asks God to gather His people from the nations so they may once again give thanks and praise His holy name:
“Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to Your holy name, and glory in praising You” (v. 47).
With this hopeful prayer, the psalmist closes the fourth section of the Psalms (90–106) with a grand benediction: “From everlasting to everlasting.” This highlights the eternal character of God, Israel’s Saviour. God has repeatedly shown His compassion and His willingness to forgive. The psalmist is confident that God will answer this prayer because the Old Testament includes many examples of God’s response to humble confession (1 Kgs. 8:22–53; Ezra 9:5–15).
A Call to Praise
The passage concludes with a declaration of the blessedness of the Lord God of Israel and a call for all the people to say, “Amen. Praise the Lord!” We should reflect on how this passage relates to our personal struggles with sin and God’s ongoing grace and mercy. As believers, we must always be prepared to confess our sins—personal, family, tribal, or national. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn. 1:8–10). Then, as God’s forgiven people, we should praise Him for forgiveness through His Son and for His promises in Scripture. Rather than provoking Him to anger as Israel did, we should live so that His name is praised forever.
OLUFUNMILAYO TITILOLA ADEKUSIBE
To surrender your life to Christ, say this prayer aloud. “Father, I acknowledge my sin against You. I repent and ask for forgiveness, in the name of Jesus. I surrender to the Lordship of Jesus. By the power of Your Holy Spirit, take control of my heart and lead me in Your path of righteousness. Thank you, Lord.” If you said the prayer, Congratulations! You are welcome to the body of Christ. Prayerfully look for a living church and meet the resident reverend, pastor or priest.
Prayer:
The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein.
Praise ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good, for His mercy endures forever.
Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord? Who can show forth all His praise?
Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that does righteousness at all times.
Hear us, O Shepherd of Israel, You who lead Joseph like a flock; You who sit enthroned above the cherubim, shine forth! Before nations call upon your name, especially our nation, Nigeria, stir up your power and come to save us!
Restore us, O God; cause Your face to shine on us with favour and approval, and we shall be saved.
Turn again in favour of us, O Lord of hosts; look down from heaven and see, and take care of our nations, in Jesus’ name.
Lord, the Scripture says that You will build Your Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail. Separate Your Church from the evil systems of the world, in Jesus’ name.
Father, with Your mighty power, walk in the midst of our youth, fill their hearts with Your love and lead them in Your paths of righteousness. Let the blood of Jesus separate them from the evils of the new media, in Jesus’ name.
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