March 10, 2026

What does it mean to, “understand the lovingkindness of the LORD?” Or how does wisdom allow you to “observe the things of Yahweh’s doings?” The details of this verse in ps 107:43, are given in the verses previous . Basically, ps 107:1-42,  is a description of Israel’s stumbling around in their self-willed pursuits, and then when the consequences for their bad choices and disobedience snare them in deep troubles, they cry out to Yahweh's mercy and He faithfully delivers them. Yahweh was [is] always about restoration… and likewise He is the same today. Fact is, we can’t survive our self-willed failures without His lovingkindness and restoration in our lives.

When we study the Torah and watch the lifestyle of Yeshua, we can become wise… provided we will learn what Yahweh intends for us to know… if we disregard the lessons therein, we travel our own careless options and will, sooner or later, need Him to deliver us from the messes we seem determined to get ourselves into. Have you ever wondered why some people just simply refuse to give any attention to Yahweh’s point of view… so that His wise instructions and teachings can help them improve their lives?

When you read ps 106,  you will note a couple of words, [Therefore and Nevertheless], they are “cause and effect” teachings of the above comments. Have you anything going on in your life that seems troubling and constantly oppressive or increasingly harder and more debilitating? Like you take one step froward, and something moves you two steps backward? It may be that the enemy of your soul and the “steal, kill, and destroy” [jn 10:10]  meddling into your circumstances is related to the “therefore” ebb and flow of lifestyle you are living. Sometimes we miss the lessons and their implications in our lives… just saying.

Judy and I, for her 84 birthday, had the wonderful experience, this past week, of spending a few days at a north-woods lake cottage with our three children. It was there, while thinking about how blessed we [our family] has been, that I was thinking about how much we love our children; suddenly I felt Yahweh inspired me to consider how much He loves us [His children]… and how He desires us to spend special time with Him, and how He rejoices in that… think about it. We need to do it often!  It is what keeps our hearts knitted together with Yahweh's heart and keeps us on the right path through this life’s journey.

When I read the living examples of the Children of Israel in their turbulent generational days, trying to find happiness and the good life, instead had many pitfalls and sad experiences as recorded in Psalms 106 and ps 107.  It also troubles me to realize so many people [and families] yet have tragic and difficult times in this life… It seems the loss of spiritual insights and Biblical understanding is dominant in our society/culture in most people’s lives today. It seems probable that this could be greatly improved if people could understand the “lovingkindness” of Yahweh and His yearning desire for us to turn to His deliverance… It is only a “heart cry” away, because He has shown us His pattern for “Therefore and Nevertheless;” here is the picture as I see it:

Because of their multitude of transgressions in ps 106;  it says:

“Therefore the wrath of the Lord was kindled against His people,
So that He abhorred His own inheritance.
41 And He gave them into the hand of the Gentiles,
And those who hated them ruled over them.” ps 106:40-41 nkjv

Then this:

“Nevertheless He regarded their affliction,
When He heard their cry;
45 And for their sake He remembered His covenant,
And relented according to the multitude of His mercies.” ps 106:44-45 nkjv

Consider these words of the Prophet Isaiah:

“Surely He has borne our griefs
And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” isa 53:4-6 nkjv

As believers and joint heirs of the promises of Yahweh to the “Fathers of the faith” and for “His Great Name’s sake,” we who believe and trust in Yeshua’s work [in our behalf] at Calvary, can look at our failures… and know “therefore” the justice of the Torah requires the penalty… Yet “nevertheless” because of being redeemed by the blood of the Lamb of God… Yeshua/Jesus… we have been restored, which is what Yahweh is all about. Blessed be His Holy Name forever.

Shalom, John