As you will see from the above quotation (Psalm 107) is the first psalm from book 5. It is a spiritual song of immeasurable worth. It contains 4 examples of deliverance each of which is described in the following 4 stages:
The hopeless situation | |
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Verses 4-5: | They wandered in the wilderness, lost, hungry and thirsty. |
The cry for help | |
Verse: | 6: “Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out
of their distresses.” Note this important stage towards rescue. Believers must ‘cry’ to the LORD; they must pray for help; they must ‘ask’ for assistance, else they risk ‘not’ getting it. |
Yahweh’s response | |
Verses: | 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.” |
Time to thank the Most High | |
Verses: | 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.” |
The hopeless situation | |
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Verses: | 10: “Such as sit in darkness and the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron; 11: Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned (spurned) the council of the Most High. 12: Therefore He brought down their heart with labour; they fell down and there was none to help.” |
The cry for help | |
Verse: | 13: “Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble...” Note again this turning point was prayer. “Then they cried...” |
Yahweh’s response | |
Verses: | 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.” |
Time to thank the Most High | |
Verses | 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.” Note the psalmist's yearning that men may praise the LORD for His goodness. Oh! that men would praise the LORD” He says. |
The hopeless situation | |
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Verses: | 17: “Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted. 18: Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; (food) and they draw near unto the gates of death.” |
The cry for help | |
Verse | 19: “Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses.” |
Yahweh’s Response | |
Verses: | 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.” |
Time to thank the Most High | |
Verse: | 21: “Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” |
The hopeless situation | |
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Verses: | 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 wits’ end.” |
The cry for help | |
Verse: | 28: “Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble,...” |
Yahweh’s response | |
Verses: | 28: “...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.” |
Time to thank the Most High | |
Verses: | 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.” |
Yahweh can do anything:
Verse 33: | He can dry up flooded areas |
Verses 34-37: | Make barren wastes into fruitful, watered gardens |
verse 38: | Bless His people till they and their cattle multiply greatly |
verse 40: | He can humble the proudest unbeliever |
verse 41: | And raise up the poorest of individuals |
verse 42: | When He acts the righteous are overjoyed and sinners silenced |
verse 43: | Whoso is wise ( if there be any truly wise) will observe and heed these things; and they will diligently consider the mercy and loving kindness of the LORD. |
Like a spiritual First Aid kit the message of this psalm should be held in readiness throughout life by believer and unbeliever alike; for it covers every emergency the sons and daughters of men will ever be called upon to meet. “Whoso is wise, and will observe these things,...” In other words, the truly wise person will examine and recognize the unsearchable riches of this great psalm. We recommend it to you for study and application.