Psalm 107

Have you ever been in a place of self-made distress?

Usually when this happens to me, it’s because I failed to heed advice and warnings from those who have “been there, done that”, and I then proceed to “prove them wrong” by going ahead with my plan, and…falling into distress.

Notsogood.

I love Psalm 107. Not only does it admonish us to praise the Lord for His goodness and His wonderful works to the children of men, it also shows the mercy of God by how He redeems those who would put themselves in a place of distress through rebellion.

Vs. 8-15 These are powerful words about how the Lord delivered those who rebelled out of the darkness and affliction they brought upon themselves by rebelling against His Word. Sometimes we think we know a better way than what God’s Word tells us. Scripture can be crystal clear about what will happen, what consequences I will face if I do ‘xyz’, and yet sometimes I think I will be the exception. (Hasn’t happened yet!!)

Rebellion brings me to a place of bondage and affliction. I have guilt because I rebelled. And now I am in bondage to my choices, and those consequences. -And yet God will hear me in that place, and not only redeem me, but break those bands that were holding me so tightly, and bring me out of darkness and the shadow of death!

vs. 17-18 Fools are afflicted because of transgressions and iniquities. They draw near the gates of death. You’d think I’d learn my lesson the first time, and realize that walking in disobedience causes me grief. That I’d know by now that I will experience affliction because of my rebellion. But no, I stubbornly try to prove that I am okay. Not only okay, but RIGHT. -Eventually this affliction will lead me to a place of death. I could be so overwhelmed with guilt and shame that I refuse to eat. Maybe I despair of life and want to die. Perhaps, though, that is when the light goes on, and I realize how far away from the Lord I have fallen.

vs. 19 Yet even then God saves! -There is no drawn-out plan here in these verses for getting back on the right track. God’s children cried out, and He saved them. God is always ready to hear our prayer of repentance. He is always ready to forgive. He is rich in mercy. But sometimes we convince ourselves we’re ‘too far gone’. That there is no way God could love us, or ever forgive us. WRONG.

vs. 20 He sends the Word to heal them and deliver them. -I think this is so beautiful!! The Word they originally rejected and rebelled against becomes their deliverance and healing! Whenever I think I know better than the Word, or think that something else will have the answers or relief that I seek, I come to this Psalm and remind myself that God’s Word is what is good and right and true. It is what heals and restores.

vs. 21-22 The natural response of praise to being redeemed is to sacrifice with thanksgiving, and declare the works of God with rejoicing. -If you’ve ever been in a dark place, and God brought you out of it, you just can’t help but tell everyone what He has done! Even if yours isn’t a dark road paved with ‘bad’ sins, God still delivers and heals. Complacency, laziness, and pride are dark places spiritually. Every redemption story starts with darkness and moves to light. The power of our God’s goodness (remember, that leads us to repentance), and His wonderful works toward us!!

Has God given you a lively hope? What has He done for you? How has He healed you through His Word?

Praise Him for what He has done!

Psalm 107:8-22
Psa 107:8 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
Psa 107:9 For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness. that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
Psa 107:9 For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.
Psa 107:10 Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;
Psa 107:11 Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:
Psa 107:12 Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.
Psa 107:13 Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.
Psa 107:14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.
Psa 107:15 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
Psa 107:16 For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.
Psa 107:17 Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.
Psa 107:18 Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death.
Psa 107:19 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses.
Psa 107:20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
Psa 107:21 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
Psa 107:22 And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing. that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!