The Straight Way Through the Wilderness

Day 2: Psalm 107 and the Lenten Journey from Desert to City

A Straight Way to a City

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

In the pathless mazes of the desert, Yahweh makes way for his people. This is what Jesus does for us during Lent: he provides a clear path to the city of God. We all need a new orientation in our journey to the city of God.

The desert paths of Lent can be filled with frustrations, complaining, hunger, and thirst. So if we are going to wake up tomorrow and for the remaining weeks of Lententide, we need to refresh, reorient, and restart our journey. Psalm 107 is more than just the redemption of the Israelites; it is a model for redemption. God is moving his people, his bride, from the desert to the city, from ruin to a new civilization. He is forming through his people a new polis, a new city that shines brighter than all other cities.

Lent is formation.

It’s improving in our image-bearing status, or as the Westminster Confession says, “improving our baptisms.” But this improvement comes through the crucified way.

The Paradox of the Crucified Way

We often ask, “Why does life feel so complicated?” In many ways, it is because the road to the cross is not smooth or simple. Following Christ untangles us slowly, and that work can feel heavy.

Yet Lent is not meant to be misery. If you are setting aside food or certain habits in this season, remember that the Lord also gives rest and joy. Sundays remain feast days, and each morning is a fresh mercy — a new chance to rise and gladly renew your devotion to the crucified Christ.

The Lenten journey is a mix of hunger and satisfaction. Sometimes God gives us bread from heaven: a cloud by day and a pillar by night. Lent is paradoxical in the best of ways. Anyone who has been a Christian, even for a short period of time, knows that life is not neat. It is full of knots that must be untangled by careful processing and resting.

The Lenten promise is a call to embrace the road to the cross like a firm handshake. Lent is a holy contract between God and his people. Israel’s road was difficult, Jesus’ road was difficult, and so we can expect our road to be difficult as well.

But the road to the cross is not an abstract paradox. It is a powerful promise. It ends with Calvary, and Calvary is as objective as any object we can see or touch. The wood was tangible. The blood was visible. The suffering was real. But Lent is not about remembering our suffering; it is about remembering the sufferings of Jesus. So we must keep our Lenten eyes Calvary-bound.

Walking Together to the Great City

On this second day of Lent, we unite ourselves to a greater Prophet. We drink from a Spiritual Rock who truly and forever takes us into his arms and guides us through the wilderness to the city. Psalm 107 is given so that we may remember that the Lenten journey is not the end, but the beginning — a journey that culminates on Resurrection Sunday.

The wilderness trouble is a picture of the isolation of the life of sin from the life of faithfulness. Sin isolates you. Sin prefers to wander rather than confess. Sin desires darkness rather than light, blindness rather than sight.

It was only when Israel cried out to God that he brought them to a faithful and worshipping community. So let us walk together side by side, prayer by prayer, confession by confession, until we reach the great city where the resurrected Jesus awaits us.

---

Nuntium

• I will be traveling to the Northeast next week for several speaking engagements. Pray especially for my trip to Lancaster, PA, for the Strawbridge forum.

• Such a delight to see Pastor Wilson ministering in Word at the Pentagon: