Psalm 107:10-16 “Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron, because they rebelled against the words of God, and condemned the counsel of the Most High. Therefore he brought down their heart with labor. They fell down, and there was no one to help. Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and broke away their chains. Let them praise the LORD for his loving kindness, for his wonderful deeds to the children of men! For he has broken the gates of bronze, and cut through bars of iron.”

Just as we all don’t have the same experiences in life, so the Israelites experienced different things in exile. Some wandered in the desert (107:4), but some experienced imprisonment and hard labor. The ones pictured here are said to be suffering because of their continued rebellion. Was their rebellion that much worse than those who were wandering in the desert? Or is this just a general statement regarding why Israel went into exile? I think that it’s entirely possible that this is just a general statement, and the Psalmist is showing us that different Israelites experienced different hardships, but all cried out to God and experienced his help.

Whatever you’re going through right now, you can cry out to God. Even if you have rebelled against Him, if you turn back to Him with a contrite heart He will hear, and you’ll have reason to praise Him!

Luke 15:20-24 “And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.”

For additional worship: The Prodigal Son (Out of the Wilderness Wild and Drear)

Out in the wilderness wild and drear,
Sadly I’ve wandered for many a year,
Driven by hunger and filled with fear,
I will arise and go;
Backward with sorrow my steps to trace,
Seeking my heavenly Father’s face,
Willing to take but a servant’s place,
I will arise and go.

Refrain
Back to my Father and home,
Back to my Father and home,
I will arise and go
Back to my Father and home.

Why should I perish in dark despair,
Here where there’s no one to help or care,
When there is shelter and food to spare?
I will arise and go;
Deeply repenting the wrong I’ve done,
Worthy no more to be called a son,
Hoping my Father His child may own,
I will arise and go. [Refrain]

Sweet are the memories that come to me,
Faces of loved ones again I see,
Visions of home where I used to be,
I will arise and go;
Others have gone who had wandered, too,
They were forgiven, were clothed anew,
Why should I linger with home in view?
I will arise and go. [Refrain]

O that I never had gone astray!
Life was all radiant with hope one day,
Now all its treasures I’ve thrown away,
Yet I’ll arise and go;
Something is saying, God loves you still,
Tho’ you have treated His love so ill,
I must not wait, for the night grows chill,
I will arise and go. [Refrain]