Like most Christians, I have several favorite psalms. Over the last few years our psalm today, Psalm 107, has joined the ranks as one of my several favorite psalms. All throughout this psalm the author proclaims that the Lord can bring us deliverance from anything that we go through. Let’s look at this psalm together and see the Lord’s deliverance for us, giving Him thanks and praise, and then tell everyone what He has done for us (vs 1 - 2).
As we read Psalm 107 we see how this psalm tells of four different types of people in distress, and how God rescues them. First there are those who are lost and wandering (vs 4-9). Then there are those in prison (vs 10-16). Thirdly are those who are sick (vs 17-20). Finally, the last group are those in storms (vs 23 - 30).
The first group the psalmist discusses are those who are lost and wandering (vs 4 - 9). Many folks at one time or another may find themselves physically lost. Perhaps the GPS failed them, or they misread a map, a wrong turn is made, and now they are lost. Sometimes if one is out in the wilderness getting lost can be quite serious, with a lack of food, water, or suitable shelter. Being lost also refers to each of us before we have come to Christ for salvation. Anyone who has not found salvation in Jesus is lost, hungry, thirsty, and exhausted. Jesus tells us in John 14:6 that He alone is the Way. For those who are hungry and thirsty, Jesus is the Bread of Life (John 6:33), and Living Water (John 4:10-14). He is also the Giver of Rest (Matthew 11:28-30). God brings deliverance to all those who are lost and wandering from Him.
The second group our psalmist describes are those in prison (vs 10-16). People can find themselves in either a literal prison or a figurative one - one of addictions or emotional torments. Sometimes our prison is brought about because of our own sin (vs 11 - 12). However, when we cry out to God, He promises to bring us deliverance.
The third group who cry out to God in our Scripture passage today are those who are sick (vs 17 - 22). By no means is every sickness caused by sin. However, there are some times when poor choices in lifestyle or in one’s behavior will bring on illnesses, and it seems to be this that our psalmist is addressing here. Regardless of the reason for an illness, there is deliverance found in Jesus.
The final circumstance that the psalmist describes here is of those who find themselves in storms (vs 23 - 32). Again, this can refer to both literal storms or figurative storms. Though I enjoy watching thunderstorms from my front porch, if they get too wild they can be scary. I’m sure storms at sea, like described here, are even scarier. Storms in life can be equally scary. These storms seemingly toss us around just like a sailor on board a ship. Most of us have been through just such storms in life, or we are currently in one. The waves are towering over us, and our little boat is in danger of capsizing!
Where do we turn to? We are at wit’s end! (vs 27). As the psalmist says throughout this psalm, we need to cry out to the Lord in our trouble, and He will bring us out of our distress. Sometimes troubles can be a blessing in disguise if it is a problem that drives us to God. Let the trouble we face compel us to call upon Him. He wants to rescue us!
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