You Are Not the Only One

Context

Unless otherwise cited all text is from the King James Version of the Bible. Located at https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/King-James-Version-KJV-Bible/#copy

Psalm 107’s opening is similar to the opening of Psalm 106. Psalm 107 calls on God’s people to give him the thanks that are due to his name. After all, he rescued them from many types of suffering. This psalm’s main stanzas are identified in verses 4–9, 10–16, 17–22, 23–32. The psalms’ structure uses two refrains.

• The first refrain describes the people calling on God for help. That is followed by his response. See verses 6, 13, 19, 28.
• Then the second refrain urged the people to respond to him with thanks and praise. See verses. 8, 15, 21, 31. The final verse of Psalm 107 appeals to the wise among the people to “stand up and” pay attention. These strategies lead theologians to identify Psalm 107 as a wisdom piece of literature that follows the Old Testament wisdom literature tradition.

Let me tell you about redemption

1 O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. 2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy; 3 And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south. 

The psalmist calls on the people to praise God: however, this does NOT just apply to the people of Israel. It also applies to all of God’s people. All of the redeemed. This might appear to be a small thing for many people, but PRAISE is the only thing that the people of God can do when he moves mightily in their lives. The statement “his mercy endureth for ever” demonstrated for us that our God is a longsuffering of God. From Adam and Eve to this very day, his mercies continue to endure forever. 1 Peter 1:18-19 states, “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, [like] silver and gold, from your vain conversation [given to us] by tradition from your fathers;” “But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:”

Even in the wilderness/Babylon you heard them:

4 They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in. 5 Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. 6 Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses. 7 And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation. 8 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! 9 For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.

This reference to the wilderness appears to be speaking of their return from exile to Babylon, more so than the wandering in the desert after their redemption from Egyptian tyranny. See Isa. 40:1–5; Hos. 2:14–15. God satisfied their daily needs. When they were hungry or thirsty, he feeds them. Imagine leaving one place with shoes and clothing and wandering around in the desert for 40 years without ever wearing gout your shoes. When they were in trouble, he delivered them. For these reasons alone, the psalmist felt that the people should be thankful. I kind of agree with him. What about you?

It is no longer dark here

10 Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron; 11 Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High: 12 Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help. 13 Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses. 14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder. 15 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! 16 For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.

Now the psalmist reflects on Israel’s redemption from Babylonian captivity. They were not in captivity because their armies were too weak for their enemies. However, they were in captivity because they refuse to follow God and obey his laws. Even so, God delivered them, and they should be thankful for his provision, protection, and deliverance.

Maybe they became fools

17 Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted. 18 Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death. 19 Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses. 20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. 21 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! 22 And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing. 

This group of persons were  considered foold because of their behavior. Inspite of God's mercy, healing and deliverance they they continued to sin. They did reap the consequences of their sin. However, that did not appear to change how they communited with God or worshipped him. Veses 21-22 proclaims that they should worship him because he is so good to them. They should give thanks to him because He has declared his marveous works to them.

The storm waters are calmed

23 They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; 24 These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep. 25 For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. 26 They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble. 27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit's end. 28 Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. 29 He maketh the storm a calm so that the waves thereof are still. 30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven. 31 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! 32 Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.

This third group of individuals being addressed by the psalmists are not sinners persay. They do find themselves in life threatening sitautiaons while they are workins as possible merchant seamen. They appear to be reveling how he delivered them from boisterous storms. They cried out to him for deliverance and God did just that. Therefore they should  praise him.

They should worship and praise his holy name because he is their Yeshayah' = the God who delivers.  Christians today are told to praise him for deliverance. Hebrews 13:15 "By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of [our] lips giving thanks to his name." If you remember Jesus was on a boat with his disciples and they called out to him to deliver them from the raging sea. The sea is certainly an equalizer of all men.  When God calms the storms in your life - you should praise him. Praising him for who he is and what he has done is the best testimony that we can offer to a world that does NOT know God. People think that Christians will have NO worries at all. That is NOT the case. He does not promise us a rose garden. Even when we are doing HIS expressed will things can change. Trust me I have been there.

Where there were deserts now there are pools

33 He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the water-springs into dry ground;34 A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.35 He turneth the wilderness into standing water and dry ground into water springs.36 And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation; 37 And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase. 38 He blesseth them also so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease. 

Remember Noah and the flood? Read the entire story here: Read about Noah and God’s hand on his life here. Genesis 6:9–9:17 Commentators of the Old Testament believe that the people had never seen rain before. That may be why they assert that the people did not believe Noah would rain. See the commentary in Genesis 2:5-6 that supports this theory. Genesis 2 states that God placed a river in the Garden of Eden, and the river watered the garden. “And a river went out of Eden to water the garden, and from thence it was parted and became into four heads.” Deut. 27 – 28 describes what happens when God’s people do not follow his commandments. Also, in Genesis 18, Sodom and Gomorrah show us that the desert can become a parched land when people live contrary to God’s commands. Once again, we learn that there are consequences for blatantly living like unsaved people and living like the world OUTSIDE of God’s church.

Raised the needy

39 Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow. 40 He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way.41 Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock. 42 The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.

Verses 39-40 refer to the period of Isreal's history when they were in Babylonian Exile. Jeremiah 20–22; 24–29; 32; 34–45; 52; Lamentations  When Israel lived righteous lives and did not bow down and worship idols they prospered. They were the children of God. When they turned their backs on God and worshipped whatever, they suffered afflication of all sorts. They literally wondered in the wilderness for 40 years because they did not believe that he could deliver them from the giants. They experienced deep sorrow, and unbelieveable oppression throughoout their history as a nation simply because they thought that they knew better. But God is gracious; as soon as they repented and God blessed them. The same thing applies to his children today. Remember that the Pharisees thought that everything was and would be great? What did Jesus say to them? Matthew 3:9 "And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to [our] father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham." Just becaue you are a Jew today - that does not mean that you should ignore the calling of Jesus. He died for you too.  The judgments of God upon the wicked, and also upon antichristian people and nations  is coming. Yes, there will be a time of persecution for the church. But see Rev. 18:20. 

Wisdom

⁴³ Whoso is wise and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord.

If we know better, we should act, live, and do better. No amount of penance is going to deliver us for taking God’s sacrifice of his son in vain. When we call on him for help. HE delivers us, then we turn around and are live lives that violate everything that his holy word tells us we should do – we will reap what we have sown – just like Israel. We know better. We have the entire Bible that records what happens when his people do “their thing,” so to speak. We should cry out to God to give us the strength to listen and do. Follow his guidance and direction and not sin deliberately. We are weak because we are human. So when our human weakness prevails, we can call on God. Sin may lead us to feel as if we are in a spiritual firestorm. Even so, Mark 4:35–41 tells us that God can calm any storm on our behalf.

"35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. 36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. 37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? 39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" We just have to believe. Do you believe?