The Lovingkindness of the LORD
“He turns a wilderness into pools of water, and dry land into watersprings. There He makes the hungry dwell, that they may establish a city for a dwelling place, and sow fields and plant vineyards, that they may yield a fruitful harvest. He also blesses them, and they multiply greatly; and He does not let their cattle decrease. When they are diminished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow, He pours contempt on princes, and causes them to wander in the wilderness where there is no way; yet He sets the poor on high, far from affliction, and makes their families like a flock. The righteous see it and rejoice, and all iniquity stops its mouth. Whoever is wise will observe these things, and they will understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.” (Psalm 107:35-43 NKJV).
Many times in the Bible a wilderness is representative of a state of disorder; an uncultivated, uninhabited, barren plain; a wasteland, dry and desolate. It also represents sin. Looking back at the forty years of wandering the Israelites did in the wilderness we see that it was their rebellion that caused them to remain in the wilderness (remain in their sin), and therefore could not cross over into the Promised Land God wanted them to enter. There are seasons in all our lives we spend wandering in the wilderness. This chaos and disorder that we just can’t seem to escape from could be caused by our own stubborn will, or the stubborn will of those we do life with, or even the stubborn will of those who seem to have governing power over us. Whether by our own choices and the choices of others, we do find ourselves going through a desolate and dry land sometimes.
The Psalm above says the God turns a wilderness into pools of water, and a dry land into watersprings. I looked up the Hebrew word for watersprings and found that it could also mean exit, egress, gate, fountain, and go forth. God provides a way out, from wilderness into pools of water. From an uninhabited and barren land to a city of habitation. From dry and desolate to fruitful harvest and blessing. This is a promise that is available to us through the righteousness of Jesus, by the lovingkindness of the LORD.
In Isaiah 54, God reveals a new covenant that is extended to us: “’For this is like the waters of Noah to Me; for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah would no longer cover the earth, so have I sworn that I would not be angry with you, nor rebuke you. For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but My kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace be removed,’ says the LORD, who has mercy on you…’In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you. Indeed they shall surely assemble, but not because of Me. Whoever assembles against you shall fall for your sake.’” (Isaiah 54:9-10, 14-15 NKJV).
This covenant from God promises He will not be angry with or rebuke us. Isn’t that a refreshing reminder, that no matter our condition, no matter our past, no matter our mess, we can come to God and know that He will never be angry or rebuke us? We also have the promise of His kindness and peace that will never be removed from us. The mountains around us can crumble into nothing and the hills be removed from our midst, but we will never be separated from His kindness or His peace. He goes on to say that we will even be established in righteousness and that oppression and terror shall not come near us. That whoever assembles against us shall fall. I think being established in righteousness is the key here that assures that we experience what God has promised.
Taking it even further we see in Isaiah 61 that God is the one who establishes us in that righteousness. “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness.” (Isaiah 61:10 NKJV). It is through Jesus that we have salvation and righteousness. God provided everything needed for this covenant, our only part in it is to respond. To accept what He is offering to us. Jesus is our exit gate out of the wilderness. He is the Living Water that will bring an abundant harvest. In Jesus, we have access to this promise of blessing, fruitful harvest, peace, provision, prosperity, and protection from oppression and affliction. We need not fear for “whoever assembles against you shall fall for your sake.” (Isaiah 54:15 NKJV). The Amplified Translation says, “whoever attacks you will fall because of you.” (Isaiah 54:15 AMP).
This may start within us, but it will end up transforming everything outside of us as well. Our inner wilderness (sinful nature) is conquered by the blood of Jesus, “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9:14 NKJV). We have become a place of habitation for the Spirit of God to dwell; a waterspring (fountain) within us, “’He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive,” (John 7:38-39 NKJV). When we live from the reality of what has transformed within us, we can effectively transform the reality of the world outside of us. Psalm 23:5-6 says, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” Isaiah 54:17 says, “No weapon formed against you shall prosper.” Romans 8:31-32 says, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” Romans 8:37 says, “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” 1 John 4:4 says, “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”
When Jesus is LORD over us on the inside, manifestations of blessing and promise pour over us in such a way that even in the harshest circumstances we see amazing provision. When He is our source of life, He provides everything we have need of. It’s like we are floating along in a protective bubble, and even traveling through the desert we always seem to have water. Even wandering in the wilderness, we always seem to find the exit gate. Even plowing through a barren land, we harvest an abundance of fruit. There may be storms all around us, but the peace of God within us commands the storm to be still and the wind and waves obey. It doesn’t matter what the world looks like all around us, or what seemingly threatening or rocky circumstances we face. We have a promise from God that He will take care of us, He will protect us, and He will prosper us. All because we stepped into the righteousness of Jesus. When the LORD is our Shepherd, we shall not want! (Psalm 23:1)
“Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance. Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make and everlasting covenant with you.” (Isaiah 55:1-3 NKJV).