Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2627 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before.
In today’s Wisdom Nugget, we’re on the final leg of our trek through the powerful Psalm 66 in the New Living Translation. We’ve joined the psalmist in calling all the earth to shout joyful praises to God for His awesome deeds and universal power. We’ve reflected on how God preserves and refines His people through trials, bringing them to a place of abundance. Now, in the concluding verses, the psalmist transitions to a deeply personal testimony, inviting others to hear what God has done for him.
This shift from communal praise and historical reflection to individual experience is significant. It reminds us that while God works on a grand scale throughout history and for His entire people, He also intimately engages with each one of us. His power and faithfulness are not just abstract concepts; they are realities played out in the lives of ordinary individuals.
Let’s delve into the final verses of Psalm 66, starting with verse 16:
(Reads Psalm 66:16-18 NLT)
Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what he did for me. For I cried out to him for help, praising him as I prayed. If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.
Guthrie Chamberlain: The psalmist extends a personal invitation: “Come and listen, all you who fear God.” He’s not calling out to just anyone, but to those who already have a reverence and respect for God. This suggests that sharing our personal testimonies is often most impactful among fellow believers, those who can understand and appreciate the hand of God at work. He wants to “tell you what he did for me” – to share his story, his personal encounter with God’s power and grace.
In ancient Israelite culture, sharing personal testimony was a vital part of communal worship and discipleship. It wasn’t about self-promotion, but about magnifying God and encouraging others in their faith. When someone experienced a significant deliverance or saw God answer a specific prayer, they would often publicly declare it, perhaps at the Temple, as a way of giving thanks and bearing witness to God’s faithfulness. Imagine gathering with others who also “fear God,” eager to hear how He has intervened in a fellow traveler’s life. These shared stories would strengthen their collective faith and remind them of God’s ever-present help.
The psalmist recounts his prayer: “For I cried out to him for help, praising him as I prayed.” This paints a picture of a prayer offered in a time of need – a cry for help – but importantly, it was a prayer intertwined with praise. Even in the midst of difficulty, the psalmist maintained a heart of worship, acknowledging God’s character and past faithfulness even as he pleaded for intervention. This is a powerful model for our own prayer lives. Even when we are desperate for help, we can still find reasons to praise God for who He is, trusting in His good nature regardless of our circumstances.
Then comes a profound...
