I've posted the Psalm for the week again below. Take a look at the stories going on here. Do you resonate with the exiled? the wandered? the homeless? the prisoner? the one who has rebelled?
Pay special attention to that section where you feel a connection to the story being told. Read the bold letters in that section and sit with the God who redeems you. Say or write a prayer in response to how you have been redeemed OR if there is a place where you feel you currently are that needs to be redeemed.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies. For he has gathered the exiles from many lands, from east and west, from north and south.
Some wandered in the wilderness, lost and homeless. Hungry and thirsty, they nearly died. “Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he rescued them from their distress. He led them straight to safety, to a city where they could live. Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them. For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.
Some sat in darkness and deepest gloom, imprisoned in iron chains of misery. They rebelled against the words of God, scorning the counsel of the Most High. That is why he broke them with hard labor; they fell, and no one was there to help them. “Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He led them from the darkness and deepest gloom; he snapped their chains. Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them. For he broke down their prison gates of bronze; he cut apart their bars of iron.
I think in some ways I can relate to the exiled. We haven’t met in person as a church for a year now. And the church has not done a good job of helping us all stay connected. I feel cut off from the church and my community of God‘s people.