God assures us that His mercy will remain with us unconditionally. This promise was conveyed to us through His Prophet Isaiah in the following verse:
Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you. – Isaiah 54:10 (NIV)
Yet often individuals do not place their trust in His mercy and instead yield to the deception of the devil, believing that, as sinners, God has withdrawn His mercy from them and is punishing them. With this misunderstanding, they become victims of the devil’s schemes and are afraid to return to God, their Redeemer. The introductory note of this Psalm addresses the dilemma faced by believers; unless one has experienced the love and mercy of God, it is challenging for them to heed the faithful and cultivate belief. When we follow Jesus, every interaction should be a personal experience with Him, rendering the interpretations of others as mere heresy.
This Psalm addresses the plight of the Redeemed, as well as those who endure the anguish of waiting for their redemption amidst suffering, denial, and illness.
Experience of the Redeemed People
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Let the redeemed of the LORD tell their story— those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,
those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south. – Psalm 107:1-3 (NIV)
The Psalmist encourages those who have experienced the saving grace of God to express gratitude to Him, for His enduring love has redeemed us from the consequences of sin. Jesus Himself affirmed that even after receiving salvation, should one fail to adhere to His commandments, He shall not judge them (John 12:47); rather, His mercy remains perpetually available to guide individuals until they are prepared to exchange forgiveness for eternal life. God continuously seeks opportunities to protect His redeemed people from falling away.
As individuals may not be experiencing the incredible love of God directly, but are only witnessing the manifestations of that love, they often struggle to comprehend the essence of agape love. Indeed, if one were to truly encounter His love, it is certain that they would choose nothing else in the pursuit of a meaningful life in accordance with God’s intention.
Only The Living Could Praise The Lord
Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for mankind,
for he breaks down gates of bronze
and cuts through bars of iron. -Psalm 107:15-16 (NIV)
After meticulously recounting the 430 years of slavery experienced by the people, the Psalmist suggested that they ought to express gratitude to God, if not during those times, then in the present. This is because, as God liberated His people to grant them the opportunity to worship Him freely, they rather chose to serve their oppressors due to the sustenance provided by them. Consequently, instead of acknowledging God for His love and mercy, they persistently sought opportunities to escape the sanctuary of God’s love, thereby falling into the traps set by their adversaries.
In the wilderness, many desired meat and subsequently perished, with numerous others also succumbing, leaving the cause of their demise unknown. In this context, the Psalmist underscores the notion that the deceased cannot offer praise to God, highlighting the importance of revering Him while we are still alive (Psalm 115:17-18). Furthermore, through the gift of eternal life, we are afforded the opportunity to praise Him for eternity.
The Healing
Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.
He sent out his word and healed them;
he rescued them from the grave. – Psalm 107:19-20 (NIV)
God revealed to Abraham the foretold slavery and subsequent redemption of His people (Genesis 15:13-14), while the Psalmist recounts how they cried out to God in their distress, and He delivered them. This underscores the reality that, although God has His plan for us, we often remain unaware of it and may struggle to articulate our needs. Consequently, God provides us with His Holy Spirit to guide us in making righteous petitions at the appropriate moments (Romans 8:26). It is not our prayers that compel God to act; rather, it is through God’s prompting that we pray in alignment with His unchanging will.
To fully grasp this concept, one must engage in a contemplation of the principle of redemption. We were oblivious to the implications of sin and lacked both the faith and understanding necessary to beseech God for our liberation from eternal death; thus, we were deprived of the promise of eternal life. Nevertheless, in accordance with His definitive plan, established even before the foundation of the world, everything was meticulously arranged for our salvation, enabling us to reside with Him for eternity. He sent His Word, identified as Jesus, who, as the Word of God, took on human form and dwelled among us (John 1:1,2,14) to mend our spiritual infirmities. After accomplishing His Father’s will by delivering the mankind from eternal death, Jesus, the Word, ascended back to His Father, as prophesied by the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 55:10-11). And John saw Him in His vision – He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. (Revelation 19:13).
God has offered His Son as an atonement for our sins and has provided healing for us from the consequences of sin. Therefore, we must recognize that God has indeed healed us, and it is essential to understand that He will not sacrifice His Son again if we fail to accept His healing, embrace the forgiveness of sins, and endeavor to abstain from sinful thought and behavior.
The Tempest
Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,
and he brought them out of their distress.
He stilled the storm to a whisper;
the waves of the sea were hushed.
They were glad when it grew calm,
and he guided them to their desired haven.
Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for mankind.
Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people
and praise him in the council of the elders. – Psalm 107:28-32 (NIV)
The Psalmist eloquently articulated the challenges faced by merchants who undertake sea voyages for trade. This passage reflects the struggles of individuals who work diligently to secure their livelihoods, yet find themselves besieged by calamities, governmental policies, and economic downturns. Historical records chronicle the decline of numerous nations attributable to economic crises, a fate that could befall anyone, regardless of their nation’s standing. As such challenges proliferate, akin to the tumultuous waves of the sea and the storms that obliterate all in their path, there exists a Higher Power capable of governing all circumstances.
When confronted with challenges, individuals often attempt to address them using their own knowledge and expertise, which may inadvertently exacerbate the difficulties rather than resolve them. Subsequently, many turn to God, yet a significant number overlook His grace and do not seek His guidance. Upon returning to Him, individuals often experience an unspeakable sense of calm, akin to having dreamt. The Psalmist encourages those who have experienced such grace of God to express their gratitude to God first, as offering thanks completes the cycle of faith, and thereafter to share their experiences within the council of elders.
Jesus instructs us to seek solace in Him during challenging times, exemplified by the experience of His disciples aboard a boat that was tossed by a tempest yet calmed by His intervention (Matthew 8:23-27).
Do This In Rememberance Of Me
The upright see and rejoice,
but all the wicked shut their mouths.
Let the one who is wise heed these things
and ponder the loving deeds of the LORD. – Psalm 107:42-43 (NIV)
The Psalmist elucidates the sovereign authority of God across various circumstances. In the presence of pride, He nullifies it by humbling individuals; conversely, when someone is oppressed, He elevates them, granting them a place among the princes (Psalm 113:7-8). Despite these noble deeds of God, the Psalmist notes that only the righteous perceive and rejoice in them. Are we truly delighted when we witness God elevating the downtrodden, or are we preoccupied with the prospect of sharing our privileges with them? Should anything impede our joy in God’s actions within our lives or those of others, it becomes apparent that we are not genuinely His children. Many harbor envy when the wicked prosper, revealing a deep-seated desire to emulate them. Psalm 31:1 reaffirms this reality while assuring us of the eventual downfall of the wicked. However, through His love manifested in the gift of Jesus (John 3:16), God provides assurance regarding the salvation of the wicked. Do we anticipate God to destroy them or redeem them?
Not solely during the act of breaking bread, but in every aspect of our lives, we ought to remember Him and attribute all things to Him, relinquishing any claim for ourselves. God has commanded His people to instruct their children regarding His wondrous deeds during various activities such as sitting, lying, and walking (Deuteronomy 6:7). To instill the love of God within the hearts of our children, it becomes essential for us to reflect upon His works while in moments of anticipation, whether we are seated, strolling, or driving. It is crucial to examine what predominates our thoughts during these circumstances. It is not merely the Psalmist who implores us, but God Himself who continually urges us to recall His benevolent actions and to dedicate ourselves to Him as living and holy sacrifices.
Father God, we cannot ignore the remarkable acts you have performed in our lives, particularly the forgiveness of our sins. Guard us against the temptation to neglect our gratitude and praise for you, and liberate us from our weaknesses and ignorance. Amen.
The Jordan Valley 
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