“O That Men Would Give Thanks to the Lord” Psalm 107 Studies in Psalms “O That Men Would Give Thanks to the Lord” Psalm 107

Give Thanks to the Lord (1-3) For He is good & merciful

Give Thanks to the Lord (1-3) Let the redeemed say so Redeemed – delivered or avenged! We are redeemed – Titus 2:13-14, 1 Peter 1:18 From every corner (3)

Wilderness wanderings (4-9) A desolate way, no city, hungry & thirsty, weak, etc. Probably not a reference to the 40 years, but symbolic of a destitute state. Their fate out of their control They cried to the Lord (6) Repentance

Wilderness wanderings (4-9) He delivered them, He led them to a city (6-7) “Oh that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men.” (8) He satisfies the longing soul and fills the hungry (9)

Wilderness wanderings (4-9) Our wilderness wanderings We are strangers and pilgrims (1 Pet. 2:11) Hungering and thirsting after righteousness (Matthew 5:6) God can bring us to safety

In prison (10-16) Sitting in darkness, bound in affliction and irons (10) Why? Because they rebelled against the words of God, and despised His counsel (11) Therefore their hearts brought down with labor (12) They cried out (13) Repentance

In prison (10-16) He saved them from distress. Brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death. He broke their chains (13-14) “Oh that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness,” (15) He breaks the gates down (freedom) (16) (cf. Isaiah 45:1-2)

In prison (10-16) Are we in prison? Bondage to sin (Heb. 2:15) As His children: fear, struggles, returning to the world (2 Cor. 11:20, Gal. 4:9, 2 Peter 2:19) God can free us! 1 Cor. 10:13, 1 John 4:4, cf. Matt. 16:18

In sickness (17-22) Because of their transgression and iniquity (17) Fools (17) Because of their transgression and iniquity (17) Afflicted, loss of appetite, near death (18) They cried out to the Lord (19) Repentance

In sickness (17-22) He saved them out of their distresses (19) He sent his word and healed them, delivered them (20) “Oh that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness,” (21) Let them sacrifice sacrifices of thanksgiving & declare His works (22)

In Sickness (17-22) Are we sick? Spiritual illness – weak, under-nourished, eye and ear problems, heart problems Turn to the Great Physician (Matthew 9:12) God can heal us - Rev. 3:18 When healed, will we praise Him? (cf. Luke 18:43, 17:15-16, Acts 3:8, etc)

In perils at sea (23-32) They do business on great waters (business as usual) (23) They see the works of the Lord in the sea (24) He commands and raises the storm, waves, high and low, tossed to and fro (25-27) They cry out to the Lord (28) Repentance

In perils at sea (23-32) He calms the storm, so that its waves are still (29) They rejoice in the quite and arrive safely at harbor (30) “Oh that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness,” (31) Let them exalt Him in the assembly and praise Him (32)

In perils at sea (23-32) Are we facing the storms of life? Tossed to and fro (Eph. 4:14-15) Facing troubles out of our control, adversity. Strong temptations (1 Cor. 10:13) He can calm the storm – Matt. 11:28, James 4:10 Will we then exalt Him in our assembly?

God is in control (33-43) He turns rivers to wilderness (33-34) He turns barren lands into pools of water (35-38) He punishes the punisher – princes, oppressors (39-40) He exalts the poor on high (41)

God is in control (33-43) The righteous see it and rejoice (42) 1 Corinthians 13:6 Whoever is wise will observe these things! (43) They will understand the loving-kindness of YHWH, Hosea 14:9, Ephesians 3:14-21

Will you observe His ways? Do you understand Him?