Psalm 107
Let them thank the Lord
This is the song of the Old Covenant Church celebrating the salvation of God, which we as the New Covenant Church sing transposed into the key of Jesus Christ, knowing the salvation we have in him.
This Psalm provides a number of vivid and potent images of both the consequences of our sin and the great salvation of God. We will see ourselves in here. Let’s also hear the call this Psalm:
We are those who are to give thanks to the God because steadfast love to us in Christ endures forever!
1 Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures for ever!
2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say so,
whom he has redeemed from trouble
3 and gathered in from the lands,
from the east and from the west,
from the north and from the south.
4 Some wandered in desert wastes,
finding no way to a city to dwell in;
5 hungry and thirsty,
their soul fainted within them.
6 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
7 He led them by a straight way
till they reached a city to dwell in.
8 Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
9 For he satisfies the longing soul,
and the hungry soul he fills with good things.
The first generation of Israel after the liberation from Egypt were confined to wander in the wilderness when they refused to go into the promised land at the report of the spies of giants dwelling there (v4). The language of wandering is the same used to describe the sheep that have gone astray in Isaiah 53.6. They wander as a consequence of their sin.
The people then cried out to God who, in faithfulness to his promises, hears his people and draws them out of the arid wilderness to a place of plenty (vv6-7). This is a great picture of God’s salvation, where he calls his people, lost in all four points of compass (v3), drawing them back into his presence of abundance.
Jesus announced that he is the Good Shepherd, who would bring his sheep from many nations and draw them back into his fold, a place of security and satisfaction (John 10.16). In the new creation, people from every tribe, tongue and nation will gather before the throne of the Lamb, who is the Shepherd (Revelation 7.17).
This song then remembers God’s salvation in the past, points towards Jesus and his future work. Therefore, let us remember our God, and give him the thanks he deserves (vv8-9).
10 Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death,
prisoners in affliction and in irons,
11 for they had rebelled against the words of God,
and spurned the counsel of the Most High.
12 So he bowed their hearts down with hard labour;
they fell down, with none to help.
13 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death,
and burst their bonds apart.
15 Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
16 For he shatters the doors of bronze
and cuts in two the bars of iron.
Darkness throughout Scripture is an image of decay, ignorance, sin, and ultimately death. It is the last element most in sight here, where darkness is tied to the shadow of death (10, 14). The people had rebelled against God and so they had been cast into the darkness with the verdict of death hanging over them.
Once more the cry of the people is recorded (v13). You can hear the desperation and urgency in it and so does God.
He answers though not because of the fervency of their faith but according to his faithfulness. The promises made to the people of God at Mount Sinai is fulfilled through Jesus in the church. Peter tells us that the church is delivered from darkness into the light (1 Peter 2.9).
And so the church which has been redeemed from darkness is to proclaim the excellencies of Christ recounting the wondrous works of God who redeemed us (vv15-16).
17 Some were fools through their sinful ways,
and because of their iniquities suffered affliction;
18 they loathed any kind of food,
and they drew near to the gates of death.
19 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
20 He sent out his word and healed them,
and delivered them from their destruction.
21 Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
22 And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving,
and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!
Because of their folly and iniquities, the people are suffering pain and hunger, close to the gates of death (vv17-18). Their decisions to turn away from the wisdom and ways of God have harmed them in numerous ways, leaving them is a desperate situation.
The people cry out again to God and once more we God hears them. This is not because of quality of the eloquence or contrition but it is according to the mercy of God in Christ Jesus (Titus 3.4-5).
God sends out his word, which heals and delivers his people. Jesus, the Word sent by the Father, is the one who is wounded, stricken and afflicted in the place of his people so we might be healed (1 Peter 2.24). It is in believing the gospel that we find restoration.
What else might we do in response to this but loudly sing songs of thanksgiving, which are laced with unadulterated joy (vv21-22)?
23 Some went down to the sea in ships,
doing business on the great waters;
24 they saw the deeds of the LORD,
his wondrous works in the deep.
25 For he commanded and raised the stormy wind,
which lifted up the waves of the sea.
26 They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths;
their courage melted away in their evil plight;
27 they reeled and staggered like drunken men
and were at their wits’ end.
28 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
29 He made the storm be still,
and the waves of the sea were hushed.
30 Then they were glad that the waters were quiet,
and he brought them to their desired haven.
31 Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
32 Let them extol him in the congregation of the people,
and praise him in the assembly of the elders.
The seas have often been a place where those running away from their troubles have fled. Jonah is the most famous example of that, running in the exact opposite direction that God commanded him to go. But while out at sea, God sent a mighty storm, just like the one in this song, which terrified all those on board.
One of our favourite songs in the Kelleher household over the last few years has been Wendell Kimbrough’s version of Psalm 107 (the link to the song is below). He says that some have known it as the ‘Drunken Sailor Song’, as one line reads “Then we cried like drunken sailors to the only One who hears.” Kimbrough points out that this line comes almost straight from verse 27. Those in distress call out like a drunk man, because the drunk man has no inhibitions. So it is with those who are fearful of death are no longer afraid to cry out to God. And he hears.
When the disciples were on a ship and a great storm tossed them about threatening their lives, they cried out to their Lord. Jesus calmed the great storm with just a word, rebuking it, hushing it and bringing silence (Mark 4.35-38). They were then brought safely to shore.
Jesus is the one with the power to still the seas and quell the storms of this world. Let’s bring heart and lips filled with gratitude when we gather together to worship (vv31-32).
33 He turns rivers into a desert,
springs of water into thirsty ground,
34 a fruitful land into a salty waste,
because of the evil of its inhabitants.
35 He turns a desert into pools of water,
a parched land into springs of water.
36 And there he lets the hungry dwell,
and they establish a city to live in;
37 they sow fields and plant vineyards
and get a fruitful yield.
38 By his blessing they multiply greatly,
and he does not let their livestock diminish.
39 When they are diminished and brought low
through oppression, evil, and sorrow,
40 he pours contempt on princes
and makes them wander in trackless wastes;
41 but he raises up the needy out of affliction
and makes their families like flocks.
42 The upright see it and are glad,
and all wickedness shuts its mouth.
43 Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things;
let them consider the steadfast love of the LORD.
The final call to the church in this Psalm is the summons to consider what we know about God and what he has done for us. This is the activity of the wise, to see God’s steadfast love in action (v43).
God’s steadfast love works in reversal. Those who have given themselves to evil see their prosperous lands turned arid (vv33-34). And the needy who cry out to Jesus see their lives turned from misery to joy (vv35-38, 41).
As blind Bartamaeus cried out “Son of David, have mercy on me” (Mark 10.48) and was healed by Jesus, so we who cry out “Have mercy on me” will be forgiven our sin and reconciled to God.
This is the steadfast love of God. Let’s consider it (v43), and give thanks to our good God (v1).
Glory be to God the Father, whose steadfast love endures for ever.
Glory be to God the Son, was sent in love to heal the afflicted.
Glory be to God the Spirit, who lifts our cries of faith to the throne room of heaven.
Ever three and ever One.
Home Group: Ecclesiastes 8.1-15
What reasons are we given to keep the King’s command (2-8)? What wise advice does the Preacher give us for achieving this? How does Jesus give us an example for submitting to earthly institutions (see 1 Peter 1.13-25)? Does it make a difference if they are unjust?
Why do the hearts of men commit evil according the Preacher (10-11)? Why should we instead fear God (12-13)?
The preacher sees injustice in the surprising reversal of fortunes for the wicked and righteous in verse 14. What is more surprising about his commendation in verse 15? How is this an appropriate way to respond to injustice in the world?