Psalms 107
Chuck Smith on Psalms 107
Verse by verse, the C2000, 1979 to 1985 and C3000, 1985 to 1999 series. Permission granted by The Word For Today.
C2000 · 1979 to 1985
Chapter introduction
Let's turn now in our Bibles to Psalm 107.
Verse 1
The hundred and seventh psalm begins with an exhortation to us to
Give thanks unto the LORD (107:1),
And the basis for the thanksgiving is His goodness and His mercy. Two things that we really should be thankful for: the goodness of God to us, and then God's mercy unto us. How thankful I am for the mercy of God. Were it not for the mercy of God, where would I be tonight? Surely not here.
But,
for his mercy that endureth for ever (107:1).
Now, as we go through the psalm, the first verse exhorts us to praise. But then the psalm goes on and begins to talk about certain people and their condition. And then we find the oft-repeated phrase. In fact, it's repeated about three times, or four times through the psalm, "Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and His wonderful works to the children of men!" Oh that men would really learn to just praise God for His goodness to us. I think that we reflect too little upon God, because I really don't think that you can seriously reflect upon God without praising and without thanksgiving. When you really just start to reflect on His goodness, on His blessings, on all that He's done, the praises just sort of come.
Verse 2
Second verse he said,
Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy (107:2);
We've been redeemed, Peter tells us, "not with corruptible things, as silver and gold, but by the precious blood of Jesus Christ" (I Peter 1:18,19). You've been redeemed; you ought to talk about it. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so. We were actually in the bondage of sin. We were slaves to Satan. Paul said, "Who in times past walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, that even now works in the children of disobedience: among whom you all had your manner of living in times past as you walked after the lust of your own heart and your own mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others" (Ephesians 2:2-3). But from that disastrous state, the Lord has redeemed you. "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy."
Verses 3–6
And he gathered them out of the lands, from the east, from the west, the north, the south. They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in. Then hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of all their distresses (107:3-6).
So he is describing, really, the condition of the nation of Israel that God has gathered out of all of the lands. The people who wandered after the dispersion, "hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them out of all their distresses."
Verses 7–9
And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation. Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness (107:7-9).
Now that goes back to verse 5, where it speaks of their condition, "Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted." Verse 9, "For He satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness." The longing soul—the soul is the consciousness of man. And somehow there is a consciousness in every man that life must be something more than what I have yet experienced. Somehow I feel there is more to life. The longing soul of man He satisfies.
Now we start into the second strophe of this psalm as he begins to describe another group.
Verses 10–11
Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron; Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the Most High (107:10-11):
So the second group he is talking about, a group who are bound in afflictions and irons, men who are in real trouble. And the reason for their trouble: their rebellion against the words of God, their scorn for the counsels of God. How many times have we gotten into trouble when we rebelled against the counsels of God? I can do it my way. Just leave me alone, Lord. I'll go my own way. And I am trying to do my own thing, and it has led me into bondage so many times. Sometimes we wonder, how in the world could I ever get in such a mess? It's because we rebelled against the words of God. We scorned His counsel.
Verses 12–13
Therefore he brought down their heart with labor; they fell down, and there was none to help. Then (107:12-13)
Verse 13
In this sad condition,
they cried unto the LORD in their trouble (107:13),
Going back to verse 6, the first group who cried unto the Lord in their trouble.
Verses 13–14
and he saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in two (107:13-14).
Now the breaking of the bands in two go back to verse 10, "Being bound in affliction and iron." God breaks the bondage that we experience.
Verse 15
Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! (107:15)
And then going back once again.
Verse 16
For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder (107:16).
Now he deals with another category.
Verse 17
Fools, because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted (107:17).
We bring a lot of grief on ourselves.
Verse 18
Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat (107:18);
Now this to me is interesting, because it seems to be describing a vegetarian and it calls them fools. And they do act a little funny at times if you observe them. They seem to be lacking protein in their diet. "Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat."
and they draw near unto the gates of death (107:18).
Verses 19–20
And again,
Then [in this condition] they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses. He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from his destructions (107:19-20).
How many times God uses His Word to heal, to deliver, to set us free. How many times when I've had a particular problem and I was very concerned and as I was praying, the Lord would send His Word. He would give me a scripture in my heart. A scripture would flash in my mind, and that scripture was just what I needed. How many times when the Word of God has flashed in my mind in a particular circumstance, I said, "Thank You, Lord, I really needed that." For the scripture was just exactly what I was needing at that time. And it ministered to me, and it was strength to me, and it brought me through.
Verses 21–22
Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing (107:21-22).
Now, in the Old Testament, in order to approach God they had to come to the priest with sacrifices. And there were different sacrifices that were offered in the Old Testament. There were the sin offerings, the sacrifices for sin of which we are all very familiar. But there were also what they called the peace offerings, which was just really... the idea behind the peace offering was communion with God. It was bringing a sacrifice and they would barbecue it for you and then you'd sit down and eat with God. Part of it would be burned unto the Lord, His portion, and then you would eat your portion, and it was just an offering of communion. I want to just draw close to God and just sit down and have a meal with the Lord. And so you'd offer a peace offering unto God.
Then there was also the burnt offering sacrifices. And the burnt offering sacrifices were sacrifices of consecration unto God. God, I want to consecrate myself to You. And so I would offer to the Lord a burnt offering sacrifice which was a sacrifice signifying my commitment of myself to God. So the different sacrifices that were offered.
Now we say, "Well, we're living now in the gospel of grace, and Jesus sacrificed Himself once and for all." Yes, as a sin offering. And that takes care of the sin sacrifice completely. But there are sacrifices of the New Testament that we are exhorted to offer unto God. Not animal sacrifices, but fruit sacrifices. "Let us offer unto God the sacrifice of praise, even the fruit of our lips" (Hebrews 13:15). And so praising God becomes actually a peace offering. As through praise, I come into communion with God. "For the Lord inhabits the praises of His people" (Psalm 22:3). The sacrifice of praise and that of commitment of myself as I am worshipping the Lord and I just yield my life to Him.
So there are sacrifices of praise and here, the psalmist said, "Let them sacrifice the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and declare His work with rejoicing." We were talking with a group of people today and we were saying, "We need to get together some night and just talk about the Lord and all of the wonderful things He's doing." Just spend an evening. Just getting together talking about the goodness of God, and the work of God, and the blessings of God. What a profitable evening that would be, as we just sit together and we just talk about, "Oh, you remember what the Lord did? Oh, isn't that glorious?" And just rejoicing, you know, as you talk about the glorious works of God.
There's an interesting thing when people get together to talk about the Lord. The Lord is always interested in it. He's interested in what you have to say about Him. Just like you're interested when people talk about you; you want to know what they're saying. And you get a chance, you know, you hear your name, and you know how you tune in on your name and you get real quiet and you listen to see what they're saying. Well, the Bible indicates that God does something like that, too. It says, "They that love the Lord spake often of Him" (Malachi 3:16). And the Lord made a record of the things that they were saying. God kept a record. And in that day, they shall be accounted as jewels. God loves people to talk about Him. And so here, "Declare His works with rejoicing."
Now we come into a fourth category of people. A fourth section of this psalm. This is for the sailors.
Verses 23–24
They that go down to the sea in ships, that do their business in great waters; These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep (107:23-24).
The ocean is always a marvel. I love... I'm a very water-oriented person. I love the water. I love diving down and looking at the coral and the various fish, and it's just the works of God. "They see the works of the LORD, His wonders in the deep."
Verses 25–27
For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifts up the waves thereof. They mount up to heaven, they go down again into the depths: and their soul is melted because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, they're at their wit's end (107:25-27).
You ever been in a storm at sea? Huge waves.
Verses 28–30
And then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he brings them out of their distress. And he makes the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they're quiet; so he brings them into their desired haven (107:28-30).
The work of God bringing us into the desired haven. Beautiful.
Now the psalm ends with just exhortations unto, again, of praising the Lord for His works, and it begins to list many of the works of the Lord.
Verses 32–43
Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders. For he turneth the rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground; A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein. He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings. And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation; And sow the fields, and plant the vineyards, which may yield the fruits of increase. He blesses them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and he allowed not their cattle to decrease. Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow. And he poured contempt upon the princes, and causes them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way. Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh his families like a flock. The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth. Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the loving-kindness of the LORD (107:32-43).
So the final verses just sort of a conclusion to the psalm saying that "Whoever is wise, and will observe these things." What things? Praising, thanksgiving. "Even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD."
C3000 · 1985 to 1999
Chapter introduction
This begins what is called the fifth book of the psalms; they are divided into these books. This is called Deuteronomy. I suppose because it corresponds with the fifth book of the Torah. The psalmist begins this psalm as psalm one hundred and six with a call to give thanks.
Verse 1
O GIVE thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever (107:1).
The goodness of the Lord is going to be recounted to us throughout the chapter. The goodness of the Lord is his responding to the call of his people for help. In their distress they cried unto the Lord and the Lord heard and delivered. So God’s goodness in delivering his people from their distresses. The mercy of the Lord will be demonstrated through this psalm in the fact that he does get us out of our trouble, which, for the most part are our own faults.
As we go through this psalm we will see how that our folly gets us into trouble, we are distressed, we cry to the Lord, he hears and he delivers. The goodness of God and the mercy of God will be declared to us through this psalm. So the encouragement of the people to give thanks to the Lord for his goodness and for his mercy that endures forever. Over and over again though we, by our own folly, get into trouble, we cry to God and he gets us out. His mercy endures forever.
Verse 2
Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, (107:2).
That is let the redeemed of the Lord declare his mercy that it endures forever.
whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy; (107:2).
Redemption, a glorious thing. One of the blessings of God to us is the fact that he has redeemed us from the power of darkness, from the power of sin. I was a slave to the flesh and I was a slave to sin but Jesus Christ paid the price of my redemption. So Peter tells us that “We are redeemed not with corruptible things such as silver and gold from that empty life that we used to live but with the precious blood of Jesus Christ”. Again, in Revelation five when the redemption will become complete, we read that
“As Jesus takes the scroll out of the right hand of him who is sitting upon the throne the twenty four elders come forth with their golden vials filled of odors, which are the prayers of the saints and they offered them unto the Lord. They sang a new song saying Thou art worthy to receive the glory and the praise and the honor for thou art worthy to take the scroll and loose the scrolls thereof. For thou hast redeemed us by thy blood out of nation, tribe, kindred and people and hath made us unto our God kings and priests and we shall reign with thee upon the earth”.
In the first chapter of Ephesians, as Paul is recounting for us the spiritual blessings that we have, one at the top of the list there is that “redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of our sins”. The idea of redemption is purchasing something that was lost. You were lost but Jesus purchased you and you’ve been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ. You don’t have to live as a slave to the flesh or to sin anymore. The price of your redemption has been paid through Jesus Christ.
Paul tells us in Romans eight that we and “All of creation groan and travailed together until now as we are waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God to wit, the redemption of this body”. Now that’s my problem, I have a redeemed spirit but I’m living in an unredeemed body and that creates quite a conflict. My body is of the flesh and still has the desires and the motions of the flesh. My spirit has been redeemed and has the longings and the desires towards God. My flesh is fighting against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh, these two are contrary. So I groan and travail “Oh God how long till you free me from this body of flesh, until I have that new body; the building of God not made with hands, eternal in the heavens and that wont be subject unto the things of the flesh and wont have those desires of the flesh?”
Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy; (107:2).
Satan who held us captive. Of course in the sense of the scripture here, God had redeemed his people out of their Babylonian captivity. This first reference is to those who were redeemed from their captivity in Babylon.
Verse 3
And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south (107:3).
The word “south” in the Hebrew is “seas”. So the areas across the Mediterranean where they had been scattered.
Verse 4
They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; (107:4).
A single path actually.
They found no city to dwell in (107:4).
They were wandering in the pathless wilderness, lost and no city to dwell in.
Verse 5
Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them (107:5).
It can become very distressing, it can become very difficult when you’re hungry and thirsty, and you are faint and weak. Thus there in that wilderness they were fainting and weak, their souls fainting in them.
Verse 6
Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses (107:6).
The interesting thing in all of these to me is that they don’t cry unto the Lord until they are really at the bottom. I wonder why that is so. As long as we have strength it seems that we struggle, as long as there’s another angle it seems that we are going to try to work it. Why is it that we wait until we are at the end of the rope before we call unto the Lord? Here they are lost in the wilderness, they are fainting and they are about gone then they call unto the Lord as a last resort and his mercy endures forever. The Lord hears them and he delivers them out of all of their distresses.
Verse 7
And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation (107:7).
They were lost, they couldn’t find their way but God led them by the right way. It is so good to commit our lives and our ways to the Lord so that he will lead us in the right way. There used to be a hymn that was sung years ago in the church, years and years ago, even before my time. The verse said “Which way shall I go cries a voice in the night. I’m a pilgrim of weary and spent is my light. To the right, to the left on me if I knew. The way is so dark and the travelers so few.” In response there comes, “Nearer, nearer thee my friend is the old wayside cross covered with liken and moss. It’s cross beam shall point to the” well I lost it but it’s been years and years ago. So often we find ourselves at that crossbow of which way shall I take. I want to take the right way. How good it is to commit your ways unto the Lord and know that he will direct your path. Lord you show me the right way.
Here they were lost in the wilderness, they were fainting, they were weary, they were distress and they cried unto the Lord and the Lord led them by the right way to the city of habitation. Then this oft repeated refrain, we are going to get it several times.
Verse 8
Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! (107:8).
We should not take the blessings of God for granted. We should always be careful to give God praise and thanksgiving for the work that he does in our lives.
When ten lepers came to Jesus seeking to be healed Jesus said, “Go your way and show yourself to the priest”. This was the first step of restoration back into society after a leper was healed. As they were going to the priest, in faith at the command of Jesus, they discovered that their leprosy was gone. In that discovery, one of them turned and came running back to Jesus to give thanks to the Lord for healing him from this loathsome incurable disease. Jesus said “Where there not ten who were cleansed? Where are the nine?” That probably is a pretty good average.
Out of people who have received the blessings from God, the goodness of God and the answers to prayer maybe one in ten stop to give thanks and say “O Lord, I appreciate that”. We are so prone when God delivers us to attribute it to natural causes. “Well I just figured they would come through. That’s great”. We are so prone to just attribute the work of God in delivering when we cry, we pray and we’ve done everything we can, we are at our wits hand and we say “God help! Help!” and God helps then we say, “O never mind Lord. I just got a call and I won a new car so never mind Lord things worked out”.
Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! (107:8).
It’s because God so often and usually works in our lives in very natural ways. There is seldom this flash of brilliant light and you’re thrown on ground and God demonstrates his power and you’re shaking and open your eyes to find the answer to your prayer. He works things in such natural ways that the danger is our failure to recognize it as the work of God and to attribute then to natural causes and we don’t praise him for his goodness and to his wonderful works to the children of men.
Verse 9
For he satisfieth the longing would, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness (107:9).
These are the two things; the satisfying of our thirsty soul and the filling of our hungry soul with goodness. Oh that we would praise God for satisfying our thirsty souls and filling our lives with goodness.
Now he gives to us the first where those who were taken captive to Babylon wandering.
Verse 10
Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron; (107:10).
Bound in bars of iron, bound by affliction and people sitting in the shadow of death. Why?
Verse 11
Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High: (107:11).
Their problem is of their own doings. They are in this condition because they rebelled against God’s word. They contemned the counsel of God, they ignored it, and in fact they despised it. Contemned is actually despising God’s counsel. So because of that they are in trouble, they are sitting in darkness in the shadow of death; they’re bound in afflictions and irons.
It describes a lot of people today in a figurative sense. There are a lot of people today who have despised the counsel of God, they have disobeyed the commandments of God and as a result they find themselves in slavery to sin. They are in chains, so to speak, of darkness as the power of darkness holds them in its grasp. They are being destroyed by the things that they are doing that they can’t stop doing. There are several areas of illustration of people today being destroyed because of their disobedience to God. Marriage is being destroyed because of disobedience to God. They rebelled against the word of God and they despised his counsel.
Verse 12
Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down and there was none to help (107:12).
Their fault totally. Despising God’s counsel, despising the commandment of the Lord.
Verse 13
Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses (107:13).
His mercy endureth forever. Oh that men would give thanks to the Lord for his goodness and that his mercy endures forever. So here they are in trouble by their own doings and yet when they cried to the Lord out of their distress ready to die in prison, in bondage, God hears and God saves them from their distresses.
Verse 14
He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder (107:14).
Oh how glorious is God’s work of delivering those who are captive to sin, breaking the chains that bind you and the powers of darkness that hold you. How glorious it is that God can take a man that the world has written off, the world has said he is hopeless and nothing can be done because his brain is scrambled and there is nothing; he’s so bound by the alcohol or so bound by the drugs or so bound by these habits that you know the glorious power of Jesus Christ can set a person free in just a moments time. They cried to the Lord in their distress and God brought them out of darkness, out of the shadow of death and broke the bonds asunder.
Verses 15–16
Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder (107:15-16).
Brass is always a symbol of judgement. The things that you did was wrong and they were against the law of God, against the counsel of God that you contemned and yet though the judgement of God was upon your life, when you cried unto the Lord there was forgiveness an deliverance. He broke the bonds, the chains, and the bars of iron.
The next group that we come across are fools.
Verse 17
Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted (107:17).
When you transgress the law of God, when you give yourself over to living a sinful riotous life, it has its natural consequences upon you. They were afflicted; it was their fault. This affliction is a physical affliction.
Verse 18
Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; (107:18).
They just don’t want to eat. They are so sick that the thought of food is loathsome to them. So their soul abhors food.
and they draw near unto the gates of death (107:18).
They are dying. Their sickness is a result of their own iniquity. Maybe a sexually transmitted disease, they were engaged in promiscuous sexual activities, they picked up a venereal disease which is killing them and they are just about ready to die. Now it’s their fault, you can’t really blame God for the condition; it’s because of their transgressions.
Verse 19
Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses (107:19).
In this state they cry unto the Lord in their trouble and he saves them out of their distresses. Again, here they are ready to die at their own fault but the mercy of God endures forever. Another demonstration of God’s mercy though it is your fault and you are to blame yet when you call unto the Lord because his mercy endures forever God will be merciful unto you, God will forgive you, God will deliver you and God will heal you. Oh how good is God.
Verse 20
He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions (107:20).
Glorious. Even those who are there, no one to blame but themselves and their own rebellion against God and yet God is so merciful that when you call upon him he’ll heal. “He sent his word and healed them” (107:20). You know, how many times has God brought healing to my life through the word? As I prayed there would be just a scripture that would come, that would minister to my heart, a promise and I would just lay claim to that promise. God would send his word and I would lay claim to that word and I would find healing.
Verses 21–22
Ho that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! And let them sacrifice [offer] the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing (107:21-22).
In Hebrews we are told to “offer to him the sacrifice of praise even the fruit of our lips”. I think that that’s what the psalmist is saying, offer to him the sacrifices of thanksgiving. That is the giving of our thanks, let that be a pleasing and acceptable offering unto God.
Now he’s talking about sailors.
Verse 23
They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; (107:23).
They that do their business by crossing the great waters of the Mediterranean.
Verses 24–25
These [people] see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep. For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof (107:24-25).
I’ve seen that Mediterranean really churn in the storms.
Verse 26
They mount up to the heaven, (107:26).
That is on the top of the wave. It’s a little ship that is carried up on the top of the wave and it looks like they are going right up to heaven. They go into the trough between the waves. Looking at them from the beach you would see them way up on a wave and then you can’t see them because they are lost in the trough between the waves.
Verses 26–27
they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit’s end (107:26-27).
We read how that when Paul was in the ship there in the Mediterranean when the storm came up how they did everything they knew to ride out the storm. They threw out all the cargo, they then threw out all the tackling, they got the ship as light as possible so it would ride high on the water and they were doing their best to ride out the storm. Finally they were at their wit’s end, they finally despaired and said “We’ve had it, this is it”.
For fourteen days they were being tossed there in the Mediterranean and on that evening the Lord stood by Paul and said “Paul you’re going to make it. Tomorrow the ship is going to be wrecked but there will be no loss of life because you’ve got to get to Rome. I want you to witness to Nero”. So in the morning here they are all been spared of life, it’s all over and they are lying around sick and gloomy. Paul says, “Cheer up fellows we are going to make it. The Lord stood by me last night, the one that I serve, and he assured me that we are going to make it. There won’t be a loss of life, we’ll lose our ship but there won’t be a loss of life”.
Shortly after that they thought they heard the waves crashing on a beach and they sounded and found that the water was getting shallower and there were some sailors who decided to get into a little boat, one of the life boats, and make it to shore. Paul said to the Centurion “If those guys leave, we won’t make it” so the Centurion ordered them to cut the ropes to the little ship and let it go in the sea. The ship ran aground, the waves began to break it up but every guy grabbed onto a plank and floated into shore and not a loss of life though the ship was wrecked there on the island of Malta.
Verse 28
Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble (107:28).
Why is it that we wait until we get to our wit’s end, no place else to turn no one else to go to, it’s hopeless that we try God? It’s amazing how we’ll try everything. We try stuff that we don’t have much confidence in but we tried it all so we might as well try that.
Verses 28–31
Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven. Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! (107:28-31).
I sometimes wonder if God doesn’t let us just expend ourselves and get to our wit’s end just so we’ll call on him. Some of us just never call upon the Lord unless we are in trouble. The Lord says, “Well I haven’t heard from them for a while, let them alone, let them go to their own devices for a bit”. Man, things begin to fall apart and disasters then we cry “Lord, Lord”. He says, “Oh hi, I haven’t seen you for a while. It’s nice to hear from you. Sit down. Let’s talk.” “Oh what needless pain we bare all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer”.
Verse 32
Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders (107:32).
So the congregation of the people, when we gather together our purpose is to exalt the Lord, our purpose is to praise him in the assembly.
The rest of the chapter is devoted to just the works of God, his marvelous works and his powerful works.
Verse 33
He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground; (107:33).
There are areas of the earth that were once very lush beautiful areas that are now wilderness. The area of Sodom and Gomorrah was glorious, beautiful and lush and yet because of the sin God turned it into a wilderness. He dried up the rivers and the springs and the place became a barren wilderness.
Verse 34
A fruitful land into barrenness, for [because] the wickedness of them that dwell therein (107:34).
Surely Sodom and Gomorrah is a classic example of this.
Verse 35
He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings (107:35).
God can work one way or the other. He can take a wilderness and turn it into a lake and dry ground into watersprings.
Verses 36–37
And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation: And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, (107:36-37).
They always felt that the two essentials for life were bread and wine. The vineyards were for the wine, the sowing of the fields were for the wheat for the bread.
Verses 37–38
which may yield fruits of increase. He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease (107:37-38).
God’s watchful hand over his children.
Verses 39–42
Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow. He poureth contempt upon the princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way. Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock. The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth (107:39-42).
Verse 43
The psalmist now closes by saying,
Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, (107:43).
How that God is in control. How he can bring down the wicked and sustain the righteous. Whoever is wise will observe these things.
even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD (107:43).