I once heard an “old-time” preacher bring a message entitled “Let the redeemed of the Lord say ‘So’”. The theme of the message was how bad things happen to good people, to which he responded, “SO”!
Now, let me first say submit to you, this precious man of God took a giant leap of liberty with this passage found in Psalm 107:2. To say he was “reading into” this passage is putting it lightly. But if you allow me a little liberty, I want to use this man’s message to make a point!
The Passage reads, “Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;” This verse is only a part of the whole thought which should read in context of verses 1-3, 6, which reads:
“1 O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. 2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy; 3 And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.” 6 Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.”
Therefore, the “So” is simply restating the fact the “…He is good and His mercy endures forever.” To which I say a hearty, AMEN!
However, much like the flow of the old-time preacher’s sermon, I sometimes feel like just shouting out “So”!!!! Do you ever feel that way? You just want to tell Satan, “look dude…you have thrown your very best at me this week, but I want to remind you that I have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb; you can’t touch me! You can't harm me! You are a defeated foe and your days are numbered. You have launched an all-out attack to which I say… “SO”!!!!!!
I know it seems a little dangerous to taunt satan (not a typo, I never capitalize his name!), the prince of the power of the air. But let me remind you…The Apostle Paul did just that! Looking to his second letter to the church in Corinth, Paul explained in detail the hurt, turmoil, etc. that both he and they would endure, and had endured.
In 2 Cor. 4:8-16 he states “8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted , but not forsaken ; cast down , but not destroyed ; 10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 11 For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death works in us, but life in you. 13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken ; we also believe , and therefore speak ; 14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. 15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. 16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. “
Now, if Paul would have stopped right there in verse 16, his point would have been clear. But the Apostle Paul who, himself had be persecuted, shipwrecked, bitten by a serpent, stoned, beaten, imprisoned, and would ultimately be martyred by beheading, says something profound in the next verse.
Paul concludes this thought…”17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;”
What??? Did I just hear him right? Did he say,“light afflictions”! Why did Paul say this? Having studied the life of the Apostle Paul, I believe this was a strategic step of faith to shout both in that day and through the corridors of time, “SO”! He was saying, “satan, you threw your best at me, but the power that lives in me, is greater that the power you have! Therefore, with all your efforts, satan, I an Apostle of Jesus Christ say to you, “SO”!
The thought of this truth is as equally profound in application. You see, when we give merit to the enemy’s impact on our life, we tend to diminish the impact Christ has in us. I will admit there is a fine line here toward becoming cynical concerning trials, but the safeguard is to realize how trials enter into a child of God’s life in the first place.
The book of Job tells us of a cosmic struggle that continues over our soul. Job 1 speaks of the angels going before the Lord and satan also ( v6). In verse 8 it was God who initiated the attack on Job asking satan “hast thou considered my servant Job…?” Of course satan had considered him, but since he was such an upright man, who feared the Lord, he could not touch Job. In fact, satan recognized the “hedge of protection about him…” (v10). Without getting into the entirety of the storyline, we see God lowering that hedge “so that” satan could attack Job (killing his children, destroying his homes, livestock, and all Job had).
The result of Job’s initial actions were much like Paul’s statement of “light affliction”. In verse 20 Job “arose, an rent his mantle, and shaved his head(a sign of mourning and prayer), and fell down upon the ground and worshipped .” And the BIG punch comes in verse 21 as Job says “I came naked into this world, and that’s how I am going out”, as if to say “SO”!
“Let the redeemed of the Lord say ‘SO’!” Sure, we need to shout of His mercy and love that endures throughout the ages, from everlasting to everlasting. But, don’t you just think that every now and again, a BIG, LOUD, and CONFIDENT “SOOOOOO” will do us all some good?
If you are a child of God reading this, your sin-stained soul has been made clean; you have been made whole; the old has become new; and you are redeemed, literally placed in a position of acceptance by Almighty God!
When difficulty comes…and it will, roll down the window of your car, open the back door of your home, or stand up right in the middle of your workplace, and tell satan “SO!”
I am “SOOOOO” blessed!
Marc
