by Steven Chan
27 December 2009
In Psa 107:1-2, the Psalmist wrote thus: “Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so,…”
The writer then gave some reasons for giving thanks to God and exhorting the brethren to praise the Lord. He recalled the times when “they cried out to the LORD in their trouble and He delivered them out of their distresses.” (Ps 107:6). Have we ever cried unto the Lord in times of trouble and the Lord had delivered us? Or, have we forgotten the Lord’s deliverance – now that we no longer have those troubles? If we remember the Lord’s deliverance, then we should join with the redeemed as urge all to give thanks to the Lord for He is good!
In Psa 107:9, the Psalmist observed how the Lord “satisfies the longing soul and fills the hungry soul with goodness.” Have you ever experienced the loneliness of the soul and emptiness of purpose in your life especially when you are lost in the busyness of your life pursuing the temporal and fleeting promises of happiness and fulfilment offered by the world? In contrast with the temporal satisfaction, the Lord’s promises are indeed fully satisfying and “fill the hungry soul” which was why the Psalmist could say: “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want” (Psa. 23:1). So, he exhorts all to praise the Lord for his goodness towards us all.
For others who had been brought low by sin in their lives and who then cried out to Him, “He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death and broke their chains in pieces. Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness and for His wonderful works to the children of men!” (Psa 107:14-15) God does not forsake even those who are have forsaken Him when they will cry out to Him in their deep despair. So, let’s praise Him for His mercy.
There are those who acted foolishly: “Fools, because of their transgression and because of their iniquities, were afflicted” (Psa 107:17); yet when “they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, He saved them out of their distresses. He sent His word and healed them and delivered them from their destructions. Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness and for His wonderful works to the children of men! Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving and declare His works with rejoicing.” (Psa 107:19-22).
There are “those who go down to the sea in ships who do business on great waters; they see the works of the LORD… They go down again to the depths; their soul melts because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man and are at their wits’ end. Then they cry out to the LORD in their trouble and He brings them out of their distresses. He calms the storm,” (Psa 107:23-24, 26-29). Today, not many of us “do business on great waters” but the financial storm that swept the economies of the world in 2009 may have caused some to be at their wits’ end as they were quite helpless as to what they should do. If they had cried to the Lord in their trouble, He would have brought them out of their distresses as well. He can calm our storms as well. Oh praise the Lord indeed. “Let them exalt Him also in the assembly of the people and praise Him in the company of the elders.” (Psa 107:32).
The Lord is able to “turn a wilderness into pools of water and dry land into watersprings…that the hungry may sow fields and plant vineyards that they may yield a fruitful harvest.” (Psa 107:35-37). Indeed the Lord “is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,” (Eph 3:20)
“Whoever is wise will observe these things and they will understand the loving-kindness of the LORD.” (Psa107:43) As we come to the close of another year, may we reflect on the goodness of our Lord and may we truly praise Him for his loving-kindness and goodness. May we face the New Year with great confidence in our Lord that He will lead us safely through whatever challenges we may face in our lives – not just because He is the Lord and has the power to make it happen but because the Lord is good, kind and His mercy endures forever.
“Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!” The LORD is good to those who wait for Him; to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.” (Lam 3:22-26). May the Lord bless each one of you richly as you place your hope in Him!
