"Blessed are they who always do just and right.
Remember me, O YAHWEH, when YOU show favor to your people; rescue me when YOU deliver them; let me see the triumph of YOUR faithful; let me share the joy of YOUR nation;' and join YOUR people in praising YOU.
...they mingled with these nations and learned to do as they did.
In serving the idols of the pagans, they were trapped into sacrificing children to demons, shedding the innocent blood of their sons and daughters to the idols of Canaan, polluting the country with blood. They defiled themselves by what they did, playing the harlot in their worship.
The anger of YAHWEH grew intense and HE abhorred HIS inheritance."
- Psalm 106:3-4, 35-40
(It is not only praise that the remembrance of our pasts calls forth: the story of the Old Testament is a story of people's sin and GOD's mercy, and 'we have sinned like our ancestors'. We join with our ancestors in confessing it. To have sinned is not fatal; but to fail to acknowledge it, is. This cuts us for the people of GOD, the people redeemed, the people of GOD's mercy. The words of the Psalmist in verse 4 are similar to the good thief recorded in Luke 23:42, 'JESUS, remember me when YOU come into YOUR kingdom.' This is a very powerful acknowledgement which brought instant results. It teaches us not to lose faith, even at the eleventh hour and in the very last minute. JESUS always answers our prayers now, as HE did then in Luke 23:43, 'Truly, you will be with ME today in paradise.'
With this psalm, we recognize ourselves sinners before GOD, sinners as our parents, and we expect to be saved by grace.)
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