(October 16, 2025) Brian Bell shares about repeating oneself…

Question: Ever been told you talk too much?

A few decades ago, I was told that I tended to repeat myself… no, not by my wife, Eveline (she who says that I am ‘the quiet man’!’).

But seriously, did you know that Psalm 107 is a chapter of repetition? I was taught that when scripture repeats a matter it’s emphasising a matter of real importance. So, I trust that you too sense that God is saying very important to our hearts here.

1. Repeating Praises
The psalmist’s desire here is that the redeemed would ‘… praise the Lord for His great love and for the wonderful things He has done for them’ (v8, repeated in v15,21,31).

It’s so many today that people don’t see or will not acknowledge God’s hands in the affairs of humanity— what I would term the goodness of God, which is designed to lead the unsaved to repentance. (Incidentally… goodness is an attribute of God but does not make Him any less Holy or just!).

So often we praise the Lord when we are feeling good about ourselves… or perhaps when life’s circumstances are to our liking as (like the song that goes, ‘Life is easy when you’re up on the mountain.’ But Christians can be expressed irrespective of our mood or circumstances!

Acts 16:19ff is a great scriptural example of this. Paul and Silas were imprisoned at Philippi and despite everything they praised God… and… other prisoners listened!

Such praise helps us focus on the God who is above all, and it is worth repetition!

2. Repeating Prayers
Paul and Silas were into repetition here! ‘“Lord help!” they cried in their trouble and He rescued them from their distress’ (v6a, repeated in v13,19,28).

Notice when the repetitive praying happened because of the fact that they were in trouble. Message Bible puts verse 6 this way ‘… then you called out to God in your desperate condition.’

Personally I’ve done this in my own past life experiences. There is a sense in which this is good particularly —

(i) When we’re in some desperate condition of some sin and cry out to God for forgiveness.
(ii) Someone accepts Jesus as Saviour and salvation (and receives such from our loving God).
(iii) In times of national distress, most notably when awful tragedies or atrocities take place.

But… too often prayer is ‘an escape route, an emergency lifeline’ for some. We must be sincere! God is gracious and will often answer such prayers— but He longs that we pray out of our love for Him and desire to open our hearts to Him… and that is worth repetition.

3. Repeating Promises
God’s response to that cry for help is comforting and assuring: ‘He rescued them from their distress’ (v6b, repeated in v13,19,28).

What great positive response we can receive to our prayers when we cry to the Lord to be delivered from any distress. I suggest three aspects…

(I) Deliverance from our past—
‘You must be born again’ Jesus told a religious man (John 3:7). He told a woman taken in adultery, ‘Go and sin no more’ (John 8:11). Scripture says that He will ‘hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea’ (Micah 7:19), what preachers term ‘the sea of His forgetfulness.’

Do you have a past that won’t let you go? Bring it to the cross of Christ, repent and ask forgiveness—don’t depend on self-righteousness, which in God’s eyes is as filthy rags. Even if you’ve strayed like the Luke 15 prodigal, the Lord is waiting to welcome you back. You can be sure He will receive you!

Even trusting Jesus as Saviour while we’re live in these bodies of flesh, Jesus warned that in the world we will have tribulation— ‘Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows’ (John 16:33a). But added that we can be of good cheer (tharseo…having courage).

(ii) Deliverance in the present—
While we live in these bodies of flesh, even trusting Christ as Saviour, Jesus said, ‘In the world you will have tribulation but be of good cheer for I have overcome the world’ (John 16:33).

Whether you face sickness in your body, a struggle with a besetting sin, an uncertain future, keep holding to His promises. Faith brings us through (1John 5:4).

Message reads ‘I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.’

(iii) Deliverance for the future—
Our Lord promised that He will return for His church, His born-again children. While it can be too easy to lose sight of this promise, it is so important that Christians understand this scriptural truth in our generation. Despite the dark times, God is still in control!

Now we don’t have to be overly concerned about when the Lord will return. That’s a promise of deliverance yet to be fulfilled and known only to Father God (Matthew 24:36).  Know that we have been told to be ready, to be on guard (Mark 21:33).

I recall one day opening the door when our doorbell rang. A gentleman identified himself as a Jehovah’s Witness and asked me if I had confidence for the future. Psalm 107:1Mge exhorts, ‘Oh, thank God— He’s so good! His love never runs out’ and my reply was not what that man expected: ‘We are very confident about the future because our future is in the hands of the Lord Jesus!’

4. Repeating Power
Christians should continue to praise God for His goodness and power… such prayers are always worth repetition. And they encourage our hearts!

Gordon Jensen’s song Redemption Draweth Nigh come to mind… (bracketed emphasis mine):
‘Keep your eyes upon the eastern sky (this means my focus).
Lift up your head (this means be encouraged) redemption draweth nigh.’

May you be focused on all He has done, is doing and will do for you!

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Brian Bell is a diaconate member, Christ Church (Congregational) Abbots Cross, Northern Ireland, and a volunteer with Disabled Christians Fellowship Ireland. Brian describes himself as ‘grateful for the privilege and opportunity given me to serve my Lord.’
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