Shriveled Souls

One commentator has said, "No other nation keeps as good track of its sins as Israel!"

Psalm 106, appointed for today's Morning Prayer, begins, "Praise the Lord, Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good..." and then proceeds to list our forebears' sins of the Exodus and the Wilderness wanderings.

Taking miracles for granted
forgetting God's many kindnesses
rebelling by the Red Sea
not waiting for God's counsel,
they craved and craved
and tested him

He gave them what they craved BUT
Shriveled up their souls.

We ourselves are well acquainted with these sins and shrivelings. When I fall away, I feel a wasting away of heart and soul, (as the Israelites were "wasting" or "crushed" in v. 43). The remedy is METANOIA, turning to God and

remembering the miracles God has shown
returning to the ways I know are right
waiting in confidence for God to act
appreciating the miracles God has already done for me.

Remember us, O God, in Your great hesed. Save us from shriveling ungenerous dried up unloving smallness of heart. "Save us... and gather us..." that we may praise You (v. 47).

Amen