Read: Psalm 107
The writer of this psalm is indeed writing lyrics to a song. It’s a song of remembrance telling of the goodly provision wrought by the hand of a loving God. It tells a story that may have been set to music with the repeating verses as a chorus, which we could sing today in these times of trouble and uncertainty. “Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” (vs 8,15,21,31 KJV).
These choruses tell us to cry out to God in our troubles, and He will deliver us from our distresses. They also remind us to thank God for His lovingkindness and His wonderful works to His children. (Just for fun, here is a definition of lovingkindness. A tiny tot was asked the definition of lovingkindness. She replied, “If I ask my mom for a piece of bread with butter, and she gives it to me, that is kindness. But if she adds a spoonful of jam, that’s lovingkindness.”) This psalm recounts the story of God’s deliverance to those wandering and wondering, lost in the wilderness. It recites the story of God breaking the chains and setting the prisoners free from the shadows of death and darkness. It narrates the story of God calming the waves and bringing the storm-tossed ones to safe shores.
The song begins with an exhortation to give thanks to God for His mercy endures forever. This is spoken emphatically and powerfully! The next verse reads,”Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy.” We need more “say so” Christians! As we rehearse and tell our redemptive stories, we set the stage for God to do it again. And this time, maybe for the listener. The repeating verses, the chorus, remind us to use our voices out loud. We are to cry out and thank God. Let’s use our voices to tell our story to someone. Let’s rehearse our story as we fall asleep, and then the next day, tell it. Then tell another the next day…and the next.
“The most important part of our task will be to tell everyone who will listen that Jesus is the only answer to the problems that are disturbing the hearts of humans and nations. We shall have the right to speak because we can tell from our experience that His light is more powerful than the deepest darkness…. How wonderful that the reality of His presence is greater than the reality of the hell about us.” ~ Betsie ten Boom, to her sister, Corrie
~ Beth Bankert
