Hello again, and welcome back! So good to be here with you today.
Friend, as I remember my former way of life, Psalm 107:10 described me perfectly: “Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness, prisoners suffering in iron chains.” The darkness was “utter” or complete, and the chains were “iron” or unbreakable!
Alcohol invited me to come and drink away my guilt, to drown out the voice of condemnation. Drugs kept promising me an escape from all my problems by going on a beautiful “trip,” flying without wings. And smoking assured me that my stress would melt away through a few puffs.
This bondage is darkness, utter darkness where I could see no way out. I was bound in iron chains, unbreakable chains where there was no escape, no freedom.
I made vows, promises, resolutions - all to no avail. I told my wife I would stop only to run out and do it again. I have done things that I never thought I would do. It breaks my heart to think of it.
Question 1. Do you relate to the above description? If so, how?
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I convinced myself that smoking wasn’t that bad and that I could stop anytime. So I can say that my darkness was absolute but I was blind because I didn’t even recognize it as darkness and I didn’t see the chains. I felt like I was freely choosing this. I was deceived to see my chains as a symbol of freedom.
The tragic part about living in darkness and suffering in iron chains is that we cannot simply choose to live in the light, break the chains, or walk out of prison. We can’t work our chains off, step them off, program them off, vow them off or, in any other way, remove them. This inability to save ourselves is why there are so many repeat customers in rehab and other reform programs.
It takes the power of the Living God, the power of the Holy Spirit, to rescue us from darkness, to break our chains, and set us free. So, we must turn to the Lord, cry out to Him and seek Him for change. He has the power to change hearts. He can free us! This exact truth is what the next portion of Psalm 107 says:
“Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness, and broke away their chains. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron.”
Psalm 107:13-16 NIV
Question 2. According to Psalm 107:13-16 NIV, what things did the Lord do for the people who cried out to Him? Please list as many as you see:
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