Read Psalm 107:33-43 33He turns rivers into a desert, springs of water into thirsty ground, 34a fruitful land into a salty waste, because of the evil of its inhabitants. 35He turns a desert into pools of water, a parched land into springs of water. 36And there he lets the hungry dwell, and they establish a city to live in; 37they sow fields and plant vineyards and get a fruitful yield. 38By his blessing they multiply greatly, and he does not let their livestock diminish. 39When they are diminished and brought low through oppression, evil, and sorrow, 40he pours contempt on princes and makes them wander in trackless wastes; 41but he raises up the needy out of affliction and makes their families like flocks. 42The upright see it and are glad, and all wickedness shuts its mouth. 43Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord.
The last verse of the psalm is an admonition for all of mankind to pay attention, don’t miss the lesson of the psalm, be wise and attend to these things.
What things?
The great reversals.
Great reversals?
Yes. That is what the psalmist wants us to consider – God as the great reverser. Things going great in the land of the wicked? Not for long. The fruitful land becomes a salty waste (Sodom). The humble and righteous struggling to make ends meet? The desert becomes a pool of water. Princes? Brought low. The needy? Raised up. The wicked? Mouths shut. The upright? Glad.
This is the culmination of all things. The goal of the gospel. The great reversal. Be wise. Don’t miss it. All of scripture and all of history point to it.
Even more so, Christ in you IS it. The great reversal has already begun in your heart and soul. You came to Christ lowly, humbled, and in need of him, nothing to offer and everything to gain. And what has the shared life of Christ done in you? Satisfied your parched desires with a stream of living water. Turned your desert heart into a fruitful farm. Brought you from the orphanage of loneliness into his family flock. And prepared for you a city to live in.
To live is Christ is to attend to these things. To be aware of and meditate upon every spiritual blessing in Christ. To be glad in your present hope and future home.
You: In what way have you been resisting God’s great reversals?
You in Christ: In what way is union with Christ a great reversal?
Christ in you: When can you meditate on the hope you have in Christ?
Prayer. Jesus, I often lose sight of all my blessings in you. Help me to be wise. Help me to attend to these things by your spirit. Amen.
To Live is Christ 