Psalm 107:1-15
Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north and from the south. 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 the 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!
In the first nine verses, we witness the return of Israel from exile in Egypt, how when they cried out to the Lord in need and distress, He shows his loving-kindness, and the covenant He made with Abraham and the promise He made with Moses. As we had read in both the book of Numbers and Deuteronomy the accounts of the people rejecting God’s direction, and when they repented God always showed redemption. It seems to me that the people following Moses out of Egypt are not much different than we are today. That like us, when adversity and danger came on them they cried out to the Lord. When we read verse eight, it reminds us that a follower of Christ should be a lighthouse to those who have not yet stepped out of darkness into the light, making clear to all that God has done beautiful works in our life.
Verses 10-15 reminds us of a time in each of our lives when we were also walking in darkness. Maybe it would be helpful to explain what we mean by “darkness.” Walking in darkness is anyone that tries to get their needs met outside of Christ. Why do so many find it so hard to accept God’s only Son, Jesus Christ? Because people think they have to do more than confess and repent of their sins, so they try good works, and that only brings about pride, they try religions, and that road always leads to how well you perform. My friend Bill Gillham always gave this as a concept – The Christian life is not difficult to live; it is impossible. Jesus Christ is the only one who has ever really lived the Christian life. He is the only one who can live it today, and that is exactly what He wants to do – through you (see John 15:5 and Galatians 2:20).
When Jesus was talking with Nicodemus, He told him how to have a personal relationship with Christ; you will find that in John 3:1, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Jesus was talking about faith, a rebirth of the Spirit of God, not a physical rebirth, and He explains that in John 3 verses 5-8. If you tried religion and the being good rout outside of the dying to what you can do and looking to Christ alone, today is a great day to bow your knee to Jesus Christ and ask Him to forgive you and come into your heart.
Like the people who came out of Egypt and rebelled against God’s leadership, when they confessed and sought the Lord, verse fourteen and fifteen give us the results. “Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He brought them out of the 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!”
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
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