Psalm 107b

10 Some sat in darkness and the deepest gloom,
prisoners suffering in iron chains,

11 for they had rebelled against the words of God
and despised the counsel of the Most High.

12 So he subjected them to bitter labor;
they stumbled, and there was no one to help.

13 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.

14 He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom
and broke away their chains.

15 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for men,

16 for he breaks down gates of bronze
and cuts through bars of iron.


When I read this my mind automatically recalls the verse from Isiaih 60, "Arise shine for your light has come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you."

The first part of this psalm lays out the case condeming many of us. We have neglected the word of God. We have tried it out own way. We despisd the counsel of the one who wants to set us free and we've forged our own chains.

I can't help but sit here and relate to the metaphor given, "some sat in darkness and deepest gloom, prisoners suffereing in iron chains." We suffer, when we fail to abide in his word, when we reject his gentle leading, when we go our way, we suffer.

But when we cry out, when we cry out everything changes. The psalm says when they cried out to the lord he led them out of the gloom and darkness and broke away their chains.

We must remember that Christ came to set the captives free! to give sight to the blind! and to destroy the works of the devil.

"Arise shine for the light is come! and the glory of the lord is risen upon you!"