SOUNDING OUT:
God Has Done Great Things for Us
How strange that God’s people would
be surprised when God delivers with his mighty hand.
God can turn any situation “right side up.”
There is nothing beyond His power and providence. We
expect Him to work in a mighty way in the lives of His
people.
When
God worked in such a mighty way to turn the captivity
of His people, they could hardly believe it. It was
almost too good to be true. They had lived so long under
the oppression that they had almost given up hope. Now
it was as if they wondered, “Could it indeed be
real?”
God turned their sorrow into rejoicing. The time
in captivity is not as important as the deliverance
from the captivity. “When” deals with time.
Proverbs 13:12 says, “Hope deferred maketh the
heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree
of life.” We should never give up hope; so what
if it takes longer than we would like. We should not
dwell on the length or misery of the captivity, but
rather rejoice when the deliverance comes.
Christians who dwell more upon what they have
gone through than upon what God has done for them, rob
themselves of the joy of living. Enduring difficult
situations is seldom fun, but the end of the captivity
is always a cause for rejoicing. What is our impression
of life? Is it continual conflicts, deep afflictions,
and sad adversities? Or, is it a continual feast upon
the great things God has done for us?
Then
is another word that deals with time. It refers back
to verse one. Look at what happened when God turned
the captivity of His people. First let’s note
the response of God’s believing people: “our
[plural] mouth [singular]” and “our [plural]
tongue [singular].” The people responded unanimously
with laughter and singing. It was as if they had one
mouth and one tongue. They were united in their rejoicing.
The pain of the captivity was swallowed up by the elation
of God’s mighty power working on their behalf.
Next, let’s note the response of the unbelieving
heathen: “The Lord hath done great things
for them.” Note specifically:
| |
1 |
Who
got the glory? |
The
Lord |
2 |
They
recognized it was not by chance.
God worked deliberately and completely. |
hath
done |
3 |
They
recognized that it was not just common or
ordinary things that God did. |
great
things |
4 |
They
recognized that God moved on their behalf. |
for
them. |
|
|
Then verse three begins
like verse two ends. This time it is God’s people
declaring, “The Lord hath done great things
for us.” (That’s the figure anadiplosis.)
God’s people are the “apple of His eye”
(Deuteronomy 32:10; Psalms 17:8; Zechariah 2:8). What
was the end result? God’s people were glad. They
spoke of it, and it changed their attitude or disposition.
Psalm 40 echoes similar sentiments.
Psalm 40:1-5:
I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto
me, and heard my cry.
2 He brought me up also
out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set
my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
3 And he hath put a new
song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall
see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.
4 Blessed is that man that
maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud,
nor such as turn aside to lies.
5 Many, O LORD my God, are
thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts
which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in
order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them,
they are more than can be numbered.
We should speak of God’s
wonderful works. Yes, we may endure trials, but we are
delivered out of them (II Timothy 3:11; 4:17,18). Yes,
we have our weaknesses and shortcomings, but we also
have an all-sufficient Savior, who works on our behalf
and helps us overcome our frailties. God can turn any
captivity. Remember how God turned the captivity of
Job?
If we remember and recount the difficulties we
have been through, let us not forget that we have been
through them safely and profitably. We have not remained
in captivity. He has turned our sorrow to rejoicing.
The deeper our troubles have been, the louder our thanks
to God should be. He has led us through all, and preserved
us until now. As Charles Spurgeon once said, “Our
griefs cannot mar the melody of our praise, we reckon
them to be the bass part of our life’s song,”
REMEMBER: “The Lord
hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad.”
