Psalm 107

In Psalm 107, I was struck with the template of thanksgiving in our individual situations. In this Psalm you will find a command to believers to give thanks to the Lord, followed by individual testimoninies in the same format. All of these situations have two common lines. After noticing their struggle, “they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.” Whatever situation you find yourself in this November or beyond (lost, imprisoned, foolish living, in the middle of a storm, or something else) cry out to God for deliverance and when you see Him work follow the template of the psalm, “Thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!”

Psalm 107:1–31

(I have added the top lines in each section and some formatting. Bold and underlined shows who God is and what He has done)

A Command Given:

1 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!

2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble

3 and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.

First Situation (lost and starving):

4 Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in;

5 hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them.

6 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.

7 He led them by a straight way till they reached a city to dwell in.

8 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!

Second Situation (imprisoned):

10 Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and in irons,

11 for they had rebelled against the words of God, and spurned the counsel of the Most High.

12 So he bowed their hearts down with hard labor; they fell down, with none to help.

13 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.

14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and burst their bonds apart.

15 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!

Third Situation (foolish/sinful living):

17 Some were fools through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities suffered affliction;

18 they loathed any kind of food, and they drew near to the gates of death.

19 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.

20 He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction.

21 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!  

Fourth Situation (caught in a storm):

23 Some went down to the sea in ships, doing business on the great waters;

25 [God] commanded and raised the stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea.

26 They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths; their courage melted away in their evil plight; 27 they reeled and staggered like drunken men and were at their wits’ end.

28 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.

29 He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.

30 Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven. 31 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!