Give thanks for God's Divine Mercy!

I was watching an interview with Ralph Martin of Renewal Ministries this morning. I was reminded of how grateful I should be for the divine mercy of God. With this as a focus, I read again the scripture passage this morning taken from Psalms 31-32, Acts 23 (I have discovered that the biblegateway.com also has the NRSV of the Catholic Bible!).

In Psalm 31, King David was in great distress because of the enemies without and the turmoils within. This is how he described them:

• His enemies were "those who pay regard to worthless idols" (verse 6)
• They were adversaries who scorned him and abandoned him (verse 11), and who intended to harm him (verse 13)
• He felt ashamed and trapped and in need of a refuge (verses 1&4)
• His grief and sorrow were eating up his body and soul (verses 9&10)
• He felt broken and lost: "I have passed out of mind like one who is dead; I have become like a broken vessel." (verse 12)

 And this was his resolve:

• He chose to take refuge in the Lord (verse 1); He is the rock of refuge and a strong fortress (verse 2). I have the image of him cuddled up tightly in God's strong arms.
• He appealed to the great Name of God (His nature to protect His own) "You are indeed my rock and my fortress; for your name’s sake lead me and guide me," (verse 3). God will do it - He will not share His glory with others!
• He committed himself to the faithful Redeemer: "Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God." (verse 5). God knows what is best for him. 
• Praise Him for His steadfast love! O praise HIM! "I will exult and rejoice in your steadfast love," (verse 7); "O how abundant is your goodness that you have laid up for those who fear you, and accomplished for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of everyone!" (verse 19); "Blessed be the Lord, for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me" (verse 21).
• Love Him and be faithful to Him! "Love the Lord, all you his saints. The Lord preserves the faithful, but abundantly repays the one who acts haughtily." (verse 23)
• Be strong! "Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord." (verse 24)

Psalm 32 is really a continuation of Psalm 31 in that King David resolved to:

• celebrate God's mercy (His forgiveness of his sins): "Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Happy are those to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit." (verses 1&2) 
• confess and not to keep silence (verses 3-5) and the faithful will be preserved! "You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with glad cries of deliverance." (verse 7). This beautiful verse reminded me of the hymn "You are my hiding place".
• The deliverance is real! "Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart." (verse 11)

"Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Ephesians 5:15-20)

Here is another good hymn to listen to: Give thanks (with a grateful heart)