As we read about how many times the children of Israel turned away from God and then suffered the consequences of their sins, we might be tempted to wonder how they could have been so stubborn and foolish. We might even think they were dumb. And yet we do the same thing. We cry out for help. God hears us and helps us turn our lives around. Then like the Israelites did, we get comfortable. We forget about God and live our own way. It’s amazing that a small nation like Israel survived and rebuilt the ruined temple in fifty-two days. We too can cry out to God, confess our sins, and rebuild our lives, our marriages, our families, our jobs, and our churches. Then we also can stand and praise the Lord for his compassion to us time after time.
What a marvelous picture of the patience of God! He lets us taste the results of our wrongdoing, bad decisions and awful mistakes. He gets our attention sometimes by allowing things to happen. But it is only in order that we might hear what He is saying and be delivered. God delivers us time after time because He loves us. His love is everlasting and even when we're struggling, He is worthy of our praise.
Let's praise the Lord for who He is, what He's done, and what He's capable of doing. Let's believe together that as we surround Him with praises, He will be near; and as we continue to trust in Him and He will deliver us "Time after Time"!