Thankfulness (Psalm 107:1-32)

Psalm 107 commences with a reminder about the need for us to give thanks to our God – because God is always good and his love is constantly with us. Sometimes the pressures and problems of life might silence us in terms of expressing thanks, but we should recall the times when we have been redeemed from our troubles – the greatest of our troubles being … a hopeless future! To be “redeemed” is to be brought back from that which previously enslaved us. This psalm possibly reflects on God bringing his people Israel back out of exile, being delivered from all the consequences of such an exile. But this psalm could equally reflect on very typical stress-filled predicaments faced again and again by Israel and all human communities i.e. homelessness, imprisonment, sickness and danger. Some of these states we bring upon ourselves through corrupt decision-making and behaviour, others just happen as part of life, and others might come to us as persecution because of our faith. In each case, God reaches out far and wide. And the people of God’s kingdom have been gathered from all directions – from all points of the compass, and thus should be joining in a chorus of praise. History shows that God has thus acted. Such a chorus of praise should also go back in each of these directions – east, west, north and south, thus gathering others around the name of Jesus.

Read Psalm 107:4-9

What do you make of this? There are those who have found themselves a long way from God and thus a long way from finding satisfaction (let alone reaching their potential in life). They have lost any sense of personhood, relationship and home. In the wide open spaces these ones have no place in which to feel safe. This is not necessarily because of anything negative (or sinful) they have done – it could have just been the circumstances that encompassed them. They could be just like modern-day refugees with nowhere to go and no one wanting them! Their experience of life is dry, uncomfortable and almost hope-less. This level of need entitles them to turn to a compassionate God for help. And, somehow someway, they have sensed that they can cry out to God and be heard. How did this happen? Well in Israelite culture, each person would be well aware of this opportunity; however we cannot say that in our particular time and place! Or, maybe, each person does have that intrinsic sense of the “divine”, that might become more apparent in times of despair.

However it happened, God “delivered” them. This would not necessarily mean that all their troubles disappeared, but rather they had new coping mechanisms and new perspective and new companionship. In finding their way through (refer verse 7), they were reconnected with community life (“an inhabited town”)! This is a place where the previously lost and homeless can settle. God is not a source of the convenient ‘quick-fix’ (putting ‘band aids’ on little sores), but rather is purposeful in bringing about whole new futures! All of this should lead to thanksgiving, although for some this may take some time. Jesus echoes of the words of the psalmist in verse 9 when he says, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they [these ones] will be filled” (Matthew 5:6). People remain unsatisfied and broken, not because God is absent, but rather because God is not known to them! The invitation of the Gospel needs to be heard by many in this community and world, so that they may also join in the thanksgiving.

Read Psalm 107:10-16

Those pictured in the next group of verses seem to have fallen to an even greater level of depression. The words and phrases used seem to suggest those who have been imprisoned, because they have done seriously wrong things and thus fallen fowl of the law. As opposed to being lost in wide open spaces (as above), these ones are caught and trapped within very confined spaces. As verse 11 suggests, they have, as evidenced by their behaviour, ignored God’s ways, and therefore probably have drastically hurt other people. From the lowest of the low, they too have found that they can cry out to God and be heard. This particular “crying” would certainly have to involve ‘repentance’ – a determination to change! What a marvellous God we have that can bring people out of darkness into the light, and out of bondage to all sorts of negative and addicted behaviour patterns into freedom. These are wonderful works indeed!

Have a look at the dramatic expression of a new experience of freedom in verse 16. That which holds someone tightly and completely captive is absolutely dispensed with. Whereas the physical imprisonment may continue (due to the seriousness of the crime committed), a person can be spiritually released (and subsequently transformed and rehabilitated)! Jesus is the one who provides the way forward for people in such deep trouble. Jesus speaks of his job description by quoting from Isaiah (in Luke 4:18-19), “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour”. We, as followers of Jesus, can (and should) have a similar ministry to others.

Read Psalm 107:17-22

We have to understand that in the time when this psalm was written, people thought that illness and calamity was caused by sin; the worst example of this was seen in the advice of Job’s friends. We know now that sickness is far more random and wide-reaching – touching people no matter how well or otherwise they live. Often we are simply genetically disposed to suffer certain illnesses. Having said this, there are certain behaviours, like drug-taking for instance, or poor dietary habits, that lead to disease, where we have to take seriously the human responsibility for this. In any case, we see in these verses, what the affliction of prolonged sickness can do to people. They can give up (refer to verse 18)! Again, though, a distress signal goes out to God, and healing comes. Destruction through despondency loomed, but God sent his “word” to them (refer verse 20). This must relate to the encouraging promises of ‘God’s Word’, especially in regards to God’s steadfast love, close proximity and healing touch. The ones who have found new hope and wholeness in God should spend quality time in worship and sings songs that testify to that new joy found in God.

Read Psalm 107:23-32

These verses address specific danger, like what sailors, traders and travellers of old faced aboard boats on the high seas. The waves that seem to come from the deepest of depths and rise to the highest of heights take away the courage of even the best seafarer. This reminds me that things can happen in life that can shake even the firmest and most active of faith. There is an element here that this is how it is meant to be – that the creation around us is supposed to be volatile, so that we can never really feel secure without truly knowing our Creator and Living God (refer verse 25)! There is also the element here, that often there are tests put before our faith – to see how we’ll go!! Sometimes because of the pressure upon us, we lack the ideas to take us forward … we are at our “wit’s end”. Yet when we cry out to the Lord, things can look a little brighter and clearer and quieter and better, and we can begin to be calmer, fear less, and regain our courage (refer verse 30). People need to know this God – so many people are suffering much more than they need to. Our thankfulness can be such that it leads to a greater acknowledgement of God’s availability to all people.