Clergy/Leaders’ Mail-list No. 2-068 Sunday 07 Apr 2002

Reading: PSALM 106 – A FAITHFUL LORD

(From ‘Encounter with God’ Bible Reading Notes)

‘Who can proclaim the mighty acts of the Lord, or fully declare his praise?'(Ps 106:2) Still, no harm in trying!

The history of God’s people is always a record of inadequate obedience. As it recounts the formative events of Israel’s salvation, this psalm describes how at each stage – crossing the sea, fashioning a golden calf, refusing to enter the promised land, and worshipping the idols of Canaan – God’s people prove themselves rebellious, faithless, and resentful.

Remarkably, Israel’s unfaithfulness only serves to demonstrate God’s faithful and forgiving love. The psalm begins and ends by citing the reasons why God refuses to give up on such a ‘stiff- necked people’. First, ‘he saved them for his name’s sake, to make his mighty power known’ (v 8). Israel’s unfaithfulness provides the perfect test – and proof – of God’s graciousness and grace. Yet God is equally motivated by concern for his children: for their sake he remembered his covenant, and showed compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love’ (v 45, NRSV).

This sense of history moves the psalmist to prayer, as he calls out for God to deliver his people from their current distress (v 47). In fact, he confesses that he himself needs salvation as much as anyone: ‘Remember me, O LORD, when you show favour to your people; help me when you deliver them’ (v 4). For this is the way of all prayer: the more we pray for others, the more we recognise our own need; the more we seek God’s mercy and compassion, the more we see them in God’s dealings with a broken creation; and the more we reflect on the history of God’s people, the more we realise that this has always been his way with us.

As you acknowledge both your own failures and those of the church, remember that ‘if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself’ (2 Tim 2:13).

– Rev Dr Michael Knowles

Copyright Scripture Union, 2002

To order your quarterly edition of ‘Encounter with God’ or to enquire about other SU publications, contact the office nearest your region:

Australia – East Asia – Pacific – USA – or http://www.scriptureunion.org Canada – UK & International Office –