“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.” Psalm 107:1-3 ESV
Reflection: how is it possible to exist in two places at once?
This idea of being at two places at once requires a bit of mental gymnastics. We are so used to thinking only of our physical existence, that we often forget we are three in one – body, mind and soul. Created in the image of God. We physically experience our existence through our senses. But, let me ask you. When a writer creates a fictional story, it is done only by his mind, right? Think about what happens to you when you read his story. You are also transported to a different place, an imaginary place in your mind, that can seem very real. Or think about when we daydream, we also can be mentally transported to a different place; possibly a place we have physically been before. Interestingly, we can even be transported in time.
Then we have come to our third dimension to us – our souls. Where does that exist? For instance, we read this mysterious verse by Paul “and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,” Ephesians 2:6 ESV. He is clearly not talking about a physical existence in the body; rather, he refers to a spiritual existence with Christ. Actually, if you think about it, we are pretty used to saying things like “I am with you in my prayers”, or “I could feel your prayers”. What is that, if not a spiritual presence? Jesus said repeatedly that he was one with the Father; yet he prayed to his Father.
As we read the Bible, it is easy to get confused about these three dimensions, as some is written about the physical, some about the mental and some the spiritual. Psalm 107 is one of those which is a bit confusing when you first read it. Let’s look at a few examples. “Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in; hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them.” Psalm 107:4-5 ESV. At first, it looks here as if he is writing about a physical wanderer in the desert, possibly even reminiscent of the exodus from Egypt. But then we notice the reference to the soul, which gives us a clue that he is not talking about a physical, but rather a spiritual journey. Let’s read on. “Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He led them by a straight way till they reached a city to dwell in. Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.” Psalm 107:6-9 ESV.
“He led them by a straight way till they reached a city to dwell in.”
I love this metaphor that the Lord can lead those who are lost, wandering around “in the desert” spiritually speaking, leading them to the safety of a city. The city of the Lord. But is this city real? Does it actually exist or just an idea? Imaginary? David often uses structural descriptions of the Lord, such as being a fortress, “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” Psalm 18:2 ESV. a hiding place of safety; “You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah”Psalm 32:7 ESV. He is clearly not talking about a physical place, but a spiritual one. Salomon described the Lord as a strong tower “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.” Proverbs 18:10 ESV.
When we were children, we much easier could “image things” unseen, possibly looking beyond the physical. As we read on in psalm 107, we see a continuous blurring of the dimensions, of physical, mental and spiritual. “Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and in irons, for they had rebelled against the words of God, and spurned the counsel of the Most High. So he bowed their hearts down with hard labor; they fell down, with none to help. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and burst their bonds apart. Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! For he shatters the doors of bronze and cuts in two the bars of iron.” Psalm 107:10-16 ESV.
Jesus used many parables to explain something we cannot physically see, often starting with “The kingdom of heaven is like…”. Reading the word of God, engaging with God requires us to go way beyond the physical. And some (many?) get stuck there in the physical, having a hard time even praying for something that is not physically possible. We have to “let go” of our physical limitations, and in faith enter the kingdom, the city of God. Perhaps today, spend some time with psalm 107 to help you paint a picture beyond the physical world. To strengthen your faith and trust in God.