“Some went off to sea in ships, plying the trade routes of the world. They, too, observed the Lord’s power in action, his impressive works on the deepest seas. He spoke, and the winds rose, stirring up the waves. Their ships were tossed to the heavens and plunged again to the depths; the sailors cringed in terror. They reeled and staggered like drunkards and were at their wits’ end. “Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He calmed the storm to a whisper and stilled the waves. What a blessing was that stillness as he brought them safely into harbor! Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them. Let them exalt him publicly before the congregation and before the leaders of the nation. He changes rivers into deserts, and springs of water into dry, thirsty land. He turns the fruitful land into salty wastelands, because of the wickedness of those who live there. But he also turns deserts into pools of water, the dry land into springs of water. He brings the hungry to settle there and to build their cities. They sow their fields, plant their vineyards, and harvest their bumper crops. How he blesses them! They raise large families there, and their herds of livestock increase. When they decrease in number and become impoverished through oppression, trouble, and sorrow, the Lord pours contempt on their princes, causing them to wander in trackless wastelands. But he rescues the poor from trouble and increases their families like flocks of sheep. The godly will see these things and be glad, while the wicked are struck silent. Those who are wise will take all this to heart; they will see in our history the faithful love of the Lord.”
Psalms 107:23-43 NLT
The wise take to heart the faithfulness of God. They disregard the situation, other than its implications for the godly. That is to say that they hold fast to the premise that God will provide. The situation is merely a backdrop for this providence. It is merely the impetus under which God’s providence will be made full. The wise see these things and take to heart the cleverness of God. They understand that there is no situation in that is too massive to handle. There is no situation too complicated for him to decipher . There is no situation too dangerous for him to traverse. He is both the largest and the smallest thing when either is most needed. He hears the pleas of those in peril and he listens. He is there and he is not silent. The wise see every situation as an opportunity to watch the master craftsman ply his trade and the artist create a masterpiece. When he cries out, it is a cry of desperation, but not a cry of hopelessness. He knows that the one who can save him will do so, in this life or the next.
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