Psalm
107 is one among the fifty psalms that were written anonymously. It starts out
like Psalms 105 and 106 calling the people to give thanks to the Lord for His
everlasting mercy. The people of the Lord is referred to as the redeemed of the
Lord. They will be a people redeemed from all worldly powers to be God’s own
people. This is not necessarily a reference to the Babylonian exile.
In this
Psalm the Lord is seen to come to the rescue of His people in various
situations. There are four descriptions of the different circumstances where
the Lord had delivered them. Each of the description would be punctuated by a
call to give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness. The first of the circumstances
can be seen in verses 4-9 where the Lord provided for the people in their wilderness
wandering. In the desert where food and water were lacking, He provided amply. He
satisfied their hunger and thirst whenever they called for help. Truly,
thanksgiving is due Him so verse 8 writes, “Let them give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness, and
for His wonders to the sons of men!” In verses 10-16, the Psalmist
describes how the Lord delivered them from their prison. What led them into the
prison and oppression was their own making. They rebelled and had chosen to
disobey the counsel of God and ended in that plight. But when they called to
Him for help, He again delivered them. Here again the Psalmist paused to call
for thanksgiving in verse 15.
The third
situation described in verses 17-22 show the Lord delivering them from their
anguish soul. Their rebelliousness and disobedience led to that affliction.
Again in their distress they cried for help. So verse 20 said, “He sent
His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction.” Again,
following this description, the writer called for thanksgiving and praise to be
offered to the Lord. In addition, the redeemed was urged to joyfully proclaim
His goodness. Finally in verses 23-32, the redeemed were delivered from the
threats of the sea, the waves and the storms. They travelled in ship to do
business. When the seas became stormy, they were left turning, struggling and
tossing in the rough waves. They cried to the Lord and were delivered. The Psalmist
again called for praise and thanksgiving to be offered to God. The four calls
to praise and give thanks to God indicate the only right and appropriate
response to such a wonderful God.
In
verses 33-41, we see an allusion to what God did for them to bring them out of
Egypt and through the wilderness into the Promised Land. We see how wonderfully
the people were treated at the expense of the enemy. The people of God enjoyed unfertile
land converted to rich resources for their survival. Whereas the enemy faced
the opposite. Their rich resources were made impoverished in order to become
provision for the redeemed. The Psalmist traced the desolation of the Egyptians
at the Red Sea, the miraculous providence for His people in the wilderness, the
conquest and possession of Canaan, and His providence while they were in the
Promised Land.
Doubtlessly,
the call to praise and thank God is also made to us today too. We may not
experience what the redeemed of God in the past went through, but we each also
have our tough circumstances. In the midst of those tiresome situations we should
learn to raise a praise to God and to thank Him. Like the people this Psalm had
described, we must also learn to call upon the Lord for deliverance. His rescue
will be a great motivation to rejoice in Him. This Psalm also warns us against
the consequence of disobedience. However, it reveals that there will be reward
for those who obey God’s counsel and walk in His will. In ending this Psalm, verse
43 gives us a clue to wise living. To live wisely we must consider what God had
done for His people in the past, and learn from them to respond wisely to Him.
Meanwhile, we must keep on giving thanks to Him because of His steadfast mercy,
and lovingkindness that never fail!
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