God Delivers Us! (Psalm 105-107)

Psalms 107:23-32 (ESV)

Some went down to the sea in ships,

doing business on the great waters;

they saw the deeds of the LORD,

his wondrous works in the deep.

For he commanded and raised the stormy wind,

which lifted up the waves of the sea.

They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths;

their courage melted away in their evil plight;

they reeled and staggered like drunken men

and 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.

Then they were glad that the waters were quiet,

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!

Let them extol him in the congregation of the people,

and praise him in the assembly of the elders.

Psalm 107 is a song to praise God for how He rescues those in need.   He speaks of four different type of people in need:

1. Those who are lost and wandering. (107:4-9)

2. Those who rebelled against God are in the shadow of death and in prison. (107:10-16)

3. Those who, because of their foolish and sinful ways are in affliction. (107:17-22)

4. And, as above, those who are simply out in life, doing business, and get caught up in a storm. (107:23-32)

It is often our own situation and choices that put us in the place of pain and suffering.   That is the reason for #1, #2 and #3, above.   When we wander, rebel and make foolish choices we are left to the suffering that follows.  Yet, in each of those cases, we read this:

Psalms 107:6 (ESV)

Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,

and he delivered them from their distress.

That verse appears in all four examples.   God knows that we are but dust and that we will fail, fall and flounder in our humanity.   But God is there to rescues us and deliver us.   He hears our suffering and He delivers us from our distress.  Even if the distress is, as above, simply by going about and doing our business and a storm appears.   God can turn darkness into light no matter the reason the darkness comes.