“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever!
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so…
Some wandered in desert wastes,
finding no way to a city to dwell in;
hungry and thirsty,
their soul fainted within them.
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
He led them by a straight way
till they reached a city to dwell in.
Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
For he satisfies the longing soul,
and the hungry soul he fills with good things.
Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death,
prisoners in affliction and in irons,
for they had rebelled against the words of God,
and spurned the counsel of the Most High.
So he bowed their hearts down with hard labor;
they fell down, with none to help.
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death,
and burst their bonds apart.
Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
For he shatters the doors of bronze
and cuts in two the bars of iron.
Some were fools through their sinful ways,
and because of their iniquities suffered affliction…
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
He sent out his word and healed them,
and delivered them from their destruction.
Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving,
and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!
Some went down to the sea in ships,
doing business on the great waters…
They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths;
their courage melted away… and they were at their wits’ end.
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
He made the storm be still,
and the waves of the sea were hushed…
and he brought them to their desired haven.
Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!” Psalm 107:1-2a,4-17,19-23,26-31
The psalmist composes this song with a repeated refrain of gladness. He pens melodious loops of the folly of the fallen, turning to the Lord, being raised to sing praise. The Lord’s steadfast love and wonderful works to His children are the faithful rhythmic theme of life. The wanderer, the hungry, the rebellious and captive, the laborer and the foolish, all find deliverance in the Lord. He leads in the straight way. He satisfies the longing soul. He cuts into bars of iron. He heals. He calms storms. This God resolves every stanza of trouble and turmoil and is worthy of ongoing song!
But oh, the reasons we nurse for pity! My inconveniences, my struggles, my pain, my problems! Woe is me! They’re unrelenting, undeserved, unnecessary! Often our distresses are the result of godless choices, and the Lord uses their anguish to turn us around.
Would we put God first in our longings and plans? Will we turn from spurning His counsel to seeking His word? When will we confess our stubbornness and sin to praise His merciful love?
Lord, attune my sights and heart to daily awaken the dawn and go to sleep with a song of praise. (Psalm 108:1-4)
As the rain and snow 