Just before writing the previous blog that spoke about regaining our identity as Children of God, I came across Psalm 106 while praying the Office of Prayers for the Church. As I looked at the Psalm, I was amazed at the correlation between what the Israelites had done in the past and how we are today, where those sins are being repeated. This is one of those critical reasons why we must study the word of the Lord and never forget the past.

It is no wonder why the days are getting darker, persecution against the Church of Jesus Christ is increasing, so many are walking away from the Church, and the world no longer sees any relevance for the Church and her teaching. As a nation (and the world) we are in outright rebellion against God.

Like the prodigal son in Luke, Chapter 15, we as a people have taken our inheritance of all our gifts, blessings, and abilities from God and left His family. The prodigal took his share and went out on his own to live as he desired, regardless of the dishonor he would bring upon his family. The prodigal’s father allowed him to go, but knew that the kind of life the son was seeking would eventually bring about heartache and difficult times. The father knew that one day his son would see his life unravel and, in humility, return, and he longed for it.

God our Father, anxiously awaits our return. For us to accomplish this, we must follow the way of the Prodigal and that of the Israelites, who despite their evil ways are never forgotten by their loving Father.

Let us go to Psalm 106 and see the example of the Israelites and reflect on how our world is repeating the sins of the past and discover what we need to do to return to the family. Space does not allow me to quote the entire Psalm so I encourage you to grab your bibles and follow along.

Vs. 6 – “Both we and our ancestors have sinned; we have committed iniquity, have done wickedly.”

Today – There is very little acknowledgement of our sins, even in the Church. A vast majority of the believers seldom avail themselves to the Sacrament of Reconciliation to acknowledge their sins.

Response – The return always begins with the acknowledgement of our sins. Until we honestly go before God, admitting the error of our ways, we won’t be able to return to the Blessing of God.

Vs. 7 – “did not consider your wonderful works”; they did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love, but “rebelled against the Most High at the Red Sea.”

Today – The World not only rejects the historical record and the numerous witnesses of the activity of God, they seek to rewrite the historical effort to achieve their own evil agenda. There has been a constant effort to remove God and any image of God from the public domain: from prayer in schools to the Ten Commandments to un-defining marriage between a Man and a Woman to the sanctity of human life, the culture has consistently grown in rebellion.

Response – We must acknowledge that our silence has made us complicit in this rebellion, repent and speak the truth, trusting that God will sustain us in the truth. 

Vs. 13 – “But they soon forgot his works”; they did not “wait for his counsel.”

Today – Rebellion has caused the world to no longer seek to know Him or his ways. They would have all scriptures totally eliminated from public consumption, like communism seeks to accomplish. If we pray and don’t get the response we want, when we want it, we simply leave God and go attain it for ourselves. When we are powerless to affect change, like cancer, and don’t get the healing we desire, we rise up in anger and blame God for it. 

Response – God dispenses mercy and blessing upon those who acknowledge that they are unworthy to receive it. In pride do we rise up and demand that God accomplish our will. We are not God, but we live like his equal. We must repent and yield to the Truth.

As you can see there is a common thread beginning to appear just in the first three passages sighted. There is a direct correlation between our activity and the rise of evil in our days. There is a remnant that is seeking to be holy and faithful. That remnant must rise and allow their light to shine brighter. We are not done with this Psalm. For the sake time and space, we will continue this study in our next installment.

Until then, might I offer a suggestion that we go back and meditate on Psalm 106:1-13. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the many ways in which we all to some degree commit the same sins today. Ask the Spirit to show you how God’s love waits to bless those who will yield. Until our next time, I meet you in the silence of prayer.