Have you ever been lost and
wandered aimlessly with no idea which way to go? Have you ever been locked up
in a cell? Maybe it was a sickness that left you on your potential deathbed. Or
maybe you took your boat out to go fishing and got caught in terrible storm in
the middle of a lake. These four situations have one thing in common and that
is that they can bring a terrible feeling of being alone as well as feelings of
hopelessness. Psalm 107 is the story of Israel and of how God delivered them
from a long captivity. Its truth is applicable to us today as we struggle in
our own exile from God. While certainly this is a truth the lost of the world
need, we Christians often find ourselves in the same place. There are times in
our lives when we feel alone and without hope. Our answer lies within this
psalm.
Psalm 107:1-3
Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.
Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.
Just as God delivered Israel from the Babylonian captivity,
through Jesus and the cross we have been delivered from the captivity of our
sin.
Psalm 107:2-3
Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.
Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.
Psalm 107:4-5
Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in; hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them.
Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in; hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them.
Before we were saved we wandered this life looking for
something to satisfy us. Even as Christians at times we can find ourselves
hungry and thirsty because we have strayed off the path of Christ.
Psalm 107:6-7
Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He led them by a straight way till they reached a city to dwell in.
Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He led them by a straight way till they reached a city to dwell in.
Jesus doesn’t show you the way; He is the way. If you are
wandering today, cry out to Him.
Psalm 107:8-9
Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of men! For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.
Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of men! For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.
The love of God is steadfast and Jesus provides what we
crave.
Psalm 107:10-11
Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and in irons, for they had rebelled against the words of God, and spurned the counsel of the Most High.
Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and in irons, for they had rebelled against the words of God, and spurned the counsel of the Most High.
Sometimes our sin will lead us to legal trouble and we may
end up behind bars. But you don’t have to be arrested to be imprisoned. Our sin
will keep us in chains. Addictions to drugs, alcohol, and pornography are
examples of how sin will keep you a prisoner in affliction.
Psalm 107:12-16
So he bowed their hearts down with hard labor; they fell down, with none to help. Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and burst their bonds apart. Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of men! For he shatters the doors of bronze and cuts in two the bars of iron.
So he bowed their hearts down with hard labor; they fell down, with none to help. Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and burst their bonds apart. Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of men! For he shatters the doors of bronze and cuts in two the bars of iron.
God will allow us to stay imprisoned for a season but
eventually the labor of sin will catch up. Romans 6:23 reminds us that the
wages of sin is death. If we cry out to God in our bondage He will shatter the
prison doors and cut in two the bars of iron. Jesus will set us free.
Psalm 107:17-18
Some were fools through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities suffered affliction; they loathed any kind of food, and they drew near to the gates of death.
Some were fools through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities suffered affliction; they loathed any kind of food, and they drew near to the gates of death.
Verses 17-18 remind me of the sickness of alcoholism or drug
abuse. Eventually those addictions will take us to a point where we no longer
care for proper nourishment. Alcoholics and addicts usually become thin and
drawn without any sign of vigor and life.
Psalm 107:19-20
Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction.
Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction.
Again the first step in healing is to cry out to the Lord.
But do not miss how God brings the healing. Verse 20 is the key. He sent out
his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction. It is the
Word of God which heals. Every time revival occurs in the Bible it is the
result of the reading of God’s Word. Personal revival must start there.
Psalm 107:23-27
Some went down to the sea in ships, doing business on the great waters; they saw the deeds of the LORD, his wondrous works in the deep. For he commanded and raised the stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea. They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths; their courage melted away in their evil plight; they reeled and staggered like drunken men and were at their wits' end.
Some went down to the sea in ships, doing business on the great waters; they saw the deeds of the LORD, his wondrous works in the deep. For he commanded and raised the stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea. They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths; their courage melted away in their evil plight; they reeled and staggered like drunken men and were at their wits' end.
It is in the storms of life that God makes us into who He
wants us to be.
Psalm 107:28-30
Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven.
Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven.
If you are in the storm right now, then cry out to Jesus. He
can still the storm. Matthew 8:24-27 reminds
us that even the winds and the sea obey Him.
“And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that
the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and
woke him, saying, "Save us, Lord; we are perishing." And he said to
them, "Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?" Then he rose and
rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men
marveled, saying, "What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey
him?"
The answer to our problems is Jesus.
Psalm 107:31-41
Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of men! Let them extol him in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders. He turns rivers into a desert, springs of water into thirsty ground, a fruitful land into a salty waste, because of the evil of its inhabitants. He turns a desert into pools of water, a parched land into springs of water. And there he lets the hungry dwell, and they establish a city to live in; they sow fields and plant vineyards and get a fruitful yield. By his blessing they multiply greatly, and he does not let their livestock diminish. When they are diminished and brought low through oppression, evil, and sorrow, he pours contempt on princes and makes them wander in trackless wastes; but he raises up the needy out of affliction and makes their families like flocks.
Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of men! Let them extol him in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders. He turns rivers into a desert, springs of water into thirsty ground, a fruitful land into a salty waste, because of the evil of its inhabitants. He turns a desert into pools of water, a parched land into springs of water. And there he lets the hungry dwell, and they establish a city to live in; they sow fields and plant vineyards and get a fruitful yield. By his blessing they multiply greatly, and he does not let their livestock diminish. When they are diminished and brought low through oppression, evil, and sorrow, he pours contempt on princes and makes them wander in trackless wastes; but he raises up the needy out of affliction and makes their families like flocks.
If we do not spend time with Jesus we will forget these
things and our faith will wither. We must cry out to Him in prayer and we must
open the Word of God. Romans 10:17 could
not be more clear. “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the
word of Christ.”
Psalm 107:42-43
The upright see it and are glad, and all wickedness shuts its mouth. Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the LORD.
The upright see it and are glad, and all wickedness shuts its mouth. Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the LORD.
The love of God is steadfast. It is not altered by our
circumstances even when it is our own sinfulness that has us where we are. Four
times Psalm 107 gives us the place to start. Then they cried to the LORD in
their trouble. This morning cry out to God and open His Word. Then praise Him
for His love is steadfast. It does not matter if you are lost, locked up in a
prison, lying on your deathbed, or you are in a terrible storm about to drown
you. His love is steadfast. He will save you if you cry out to him in your
trouble.
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