1 Samuel 29-31, Psalm 106:24-48, Mark 13:14-31, 2 Corinthians 11:16-33

Psalm 106:24-48:

The litany of sins of God’s people continues. They refused to enter the Promised Land (106:24-27). They worshipped idols even in the desert (106:28-31). They even caused Moses, that meekest man on the face of the planet, to become bitter (106:32-33). They did not drive out the pagan peoples from the Promised Land, ending up following their detestable practices including child sacrifice (106:34-39). Therefore, God “gave them into the hand of the nations” (106:41). Many times, though, he delivered them, “when he heard their cry” (106:44). “For their sake he remembered his covenant” (106:45).

Why does this psalm continue to tell this sorrowful tale of the failings of God’s people? We thought of several reasons when we looked at the first part of this psalm. In addition, though, and most importantly, the psalmist recounts this story to cause God’s people to “cry” out to God again. As he puts it himself in verse 47:

“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 your praise”

Would you use these words yourself today to call upon God? Ask God to “save” you, to “save” his people, that they may give thanks to God’s name?

The Bible is consistent in its witness to the fact that God hears the “cry” of his people (see 106:44; see Exodus 2:24, Luke 18:1-7, Acts 4:31). Oftentimes, God brings to the forefront our failures as his people in order to cause us to cry out to him for salvation. So, when you hear of the sin of some Christian leader or individual, or indeed a moment in the past of some Christian movement that is far from salubrious—remember; remember to “cry” to God for salvation. Let the litany of the sins of God’s people cause you to join together with our praying men and women across the worldwide church and together let our words be heard by the God Almighty himself. That he may come and save us, and that we might give thanks to his holy name!