Psalm 107:1-3, 43 (NIV)
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the LORD tell their story—those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south. Let the one who is wise heed these things and ponder the loving deeds of the LORD.
Psalm 107 identifies four different types of situations from which the Lord delivered his redeemed—those He loves and has sovereignly chosen to deliver and save and bless. Throughout the psalm, and after describing the situations from which His redeemed were delivered, one command echoes: “Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love.” I wonder which scenario the Lord found you in when He brought you into his family of faith?
The Empty
“They wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle” (v. 4). Many people wander through life without meaning or purpose. They move from one scenario to the next trying to fill the hole in their heart, but alas, there is no lasting solution. A Newsweek article published in the early 2000’s featured the results of a massive nationwide survey which found that ten percent of respondents failed miserably, ten percent succeeded beyond their expectations, while the remaining eighty percent “simply endured.” Life wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t great. Fun could be had, but lasting joy never attained. There was no pot of gold at the end of any rainbow, be that sex, a career, a relationship, or an adventure.
The Afflicted
Some people sit in darkness until the LORD delivers them— “prisoners suffering in iron chains” (v. 10b). It could be the jail of a life wrecked by addiction, or abuse, or poverty, or abandonment. Most of us have heard testimonies of miraculous deliverance from remarkable darkness where God penetrated a seemingly hopeless situation with His lovingkindness and mercy. Sometimes it is the story of a childhood marked by abuse and abandonment, where the sins of many fall on the head of a helpless child. Still others tell the story of years or even decades lost to alcohol or drugs or sexual addiction while others describe a life of depression, anxiety, and even suicidal thoughts.
The Rebellious
“Some became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of their iniquities” (v. 17). For many of us, including myself, this is the story of a life lived on one’s own terms. We had a solid upbringing and plenty of opportunity, including lots of time on Sunday mornings in a church pew, but squandered our blessings on a life of low-grade rebellion. We never became an addict or ended up in jail, but we perfected worldly living and ended up paying the price, perhaps not physically, but certainly spiritually. The way seemed “right” to us, but its destination was death.
The Mighty
“Some went out on the sea in ships; they were merchants on the mighty waters” (v. 23). Did you grow up with a silver spoon in your mouth? Perhaps you have enjoyed a career that landed you in the upper echelon of income brackets and afforded you a lifestyle that most can only dream of. Then one day, it happens: “In their peril their courage melted away” (v. 26b). The business folded. The market crashed. A son or daughter dies tragically. A spouse walks away.
Whatever soil your faith sprang out of, God’s goodness and mercy towards you should be on your lips whenever possible. Let the redeemed of the LORD tell their story! Your kids need to hear it, as do your extended family members, neighbors, co-workers, and anyone else who would listen! Whatever pit the Lord rescued from has become your pulpit! Us it to give Him thanks! Take the time to ponder what He has done, and then offer up that same deliverance to the lost through faith in Jesus Christ! You have a story that a lost and dying world needs to hear. You have a story that someone who is in the same pit you used to occupy needs to hear! Will you share it with them?
