Psalms

Psalms 107: Consider the LORD who rescues

Begin in prayer

Before the redeemed tell their rescues, let us consider the trouble we have brought to the Lord and the help we have forgotten. Ask Him to lead us to Jesus and teach us to answer His kindness with public thanks.

Yahweh makes poor, and makes rich. He brings low, he also lifts up.

1 Samuel 2:7

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word, and help us to see Christ. Show us that the good Lord hears cries in distress and deserves the thanks of those He rescues. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

The redeemed are called to thank the good Lord who gathered them from many lands. Hungry wanderers cry to Him, and He leads them to a city and fills their longing souls with good. Prisoners humbled for rebellion cry out, and He brings them from darkness and breaks their chains. Fools suffering for their sins approach death, then receive His healing word and a call to offer thanksgiving with songs. Sailors overwhelmed by the storm He commands cry for help, and He stills the waves and guides them to their desired haven. He turns fruitful land into salt for wickedness and waters desert ground where the hungry settle, plant and increase. Oppression brings decline, yet He humbles princes and lifts needy families, making the upright rejoice and calling the wise to consider His loving kindness.

As you read Psalms 107, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The good LORD hears cries in distress, delivers the needy and calls the redeemed to consider His loving kindness.

The four accounts of rescue give the redeemed works to tell, each answering distress with a cry, deliverance and a summons to thanks. Wandering hunger ends in a city and satisfying food, showing kindness that gives both a way and a place to live. The prisoners' darkness follows rebellion against God's words, and their broken chains reveal the power of the counsel they had despised. The afflicted fools have brought ruin on themselves, yet His healing word reaches them as they draw near to death. Sacrifices of thanksgiving and songs turn their recovery toward public acknowledgment of the One who saved them. The sailors see His wonders when He raises the storm, then learn their dependence when their skill reaches its limit. His command stills the waves and leads them to their haven, giving the assembly and its elders reason to hear their praise. Fruitful land made salty for wickedness, desert made fruitful for the hungry and princes brought low display His rule over changing circumstances. The needy raised into growing families give the upright joy, while wisdom considers these loving kindnesses and wickedness has nothing left to say.

How does Psalm 107 show us that the good LORD hears cries in distress, delivers the needy and calls the redeemed to consider His loving kindness?

God's loving kindness guides the lost and releases those humbled by rebellion.

Hungry wanderers receive a straight way to a city and goodness for their longing souls. Rebellious prisoners fall without help until the Lord breaks their chains. Both rescues summon thanks for the mercy that reached their distress.

God's healing word rescues the afflicted and calls for thankful testimony.

The fools suffer for their own disobedience until they approach the gates of death. They cry to the Lord, and His word heals and delivers them. Sacrifices of thanksgiving and songs of His deeds give their rescued lives an answer to make.

God commands the storm, hears the sailors and leads them to safety.

The Lord raises the wind that brings skilled sailors to their wits' end. Their cry reaches the One who can make those waves still. Their arrival at the desired haven calls for praise before the people and their elders.

God rules changing lands and lives, giving the wise His kindnesses to consider.

Wickedness brings salt waste where fruit once grew, while His provision gives the hungry watered ground to cultivate. Prosperity and oppression both remain under His rule. He humbles princes and lifts the needy, leaving the upright glad and the wicked silent.

Memorise

Whoever is wise will pay attention to these things. They will consider the loving kindnesses of Yahweh.

Psalm 107:43

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what help from the Lord Jesus have I received without giving Him thanks?

The repeated appeal asks people to praise the Lord for His wonderful deeds. Hungry wanderers, bound rebels, dying fools and helpless sailors all have rescue to tell. Mark 4 verses 39 to 41 show Jesus stilling the sea and His disciples asking who He is.

Our sin has brought a deeper distress than we can escape through skill or strength. Jesus bore God's anger against His people's guilt and died to free them from condemnation. He rose from the grave. His finished sacrifice has settled their whole debt, providing forgiveness and life that human rescue could never secure.

Turn from your sin and cry to Jesus in faith. He receives and forgives everyone who comes to Him. Ask for help in your present trouble, and remember the mercy He has already shown. The Lord gives His redeemed people rescues to recount together and loving kindness to consider through every change of life.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the good Lord hears cries in distress and deserves the thanks of those He rescues. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for hearing cries in distress and ask for wisdom to consider and declare His loving kindness. Bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

But he said to them, “It is I. Don’t be afraid.” They were willing therefore to receive him into the boat. Immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.

John 6:20-21

Good Lord, please forgive our silent receiving of Your kindness and bring us to Jesus for mercy. Thank You for the complete rescue from guilt that His sacrifice provides for those who trust Him. Hear the hungry, captive, sick and endangered. Give us wisdom to consider Your works, compassion to help the needy and voices ready to tell Your deeds among Your people. Amen.