The Law of Kinship

I love the verse in the Bible that says "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so." (Psalm 107:1) But, what I like best about that verse, is the fact that the psalmist goes on in the following verses to define who the redeemed are, and, what they've been redeemed from.

Back in the day when this was written, the reader understood what the word redeemed meant. They knew there was a provisional law that enabled a family member to buy back a relative, or a piece of property. It was known as the "law of kinship." The Law of Kinship has less to do with being set-free by an owner, and more to do with the reclaiming of a thing or person, by a family member.

As I read this I asked myself who the redeemed were and what they needed to be redeemed (bought back) from. So who are the redeemed? According to the following verses, they are those who have been delivered from the hand of the enemy; those who are outcasts; the lonely and alone; the parched and dry; the depressed, They make up the population of those who were between a rock and a hard place; persons who have dwelt in darkenss; folks who are prisoners of their own making; people who have ignored good counsel; the ones who are distressed; shattered and foolish. And the list goes on. They are the rebellious, those who act without reason and all those who need to be ransomed. But, it is clear in this passage that in order to get ransomed, one must be willing to humble themselves, cry out to the Lord (Psa. 107:13)and be prepared to be redeemed!

Be prepared . . . hmmm, I realize that preparation requires something on my part. It is not only a stand I take, it is decision to accept change; a decision to participate with God in the excitement of being redeemed, as a person would seeing someone coming to their rescue. We need to be prepared to be redeemed from ourselves; redeemed from our wrong decisions; and redeemed from being prisoners of our own sin. Redeemed by your nearest kinsman . . . and who is that? No one else but your Heavenly Father! He loves us so much, there is no length that He won't go, to reach us. So remember, there are some things God does NOT know! That's right. He doesn't know a life He can redeem. He doesn't know a marriage He can't mend. He doesn't know a sin He can't forgive, or a darkness He can't bring light to!!