Give Thanks Unto The Lord, For He Is Good

Give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Psalm 107:1

Several Psalms use the words we just read in this first verse. The writer of Psalm 107 used them as an opening exaltation followed by an expression of God’s faithfulness.

The Psalmist continued by asking a question before getting into the Psalm’s purpose. His timeless inquiry seeks an answer from people of every generation, including us.

Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies. Psalm 107:2

So, has the Lord redeemed you? In other words, have you accepted the free gift of salvation offered by the death and resurrection of Jesus? The Psalmist encourages us to “speak out.”

In the Old Testament, God’s people faced many enemies. Our enemy, the devil, the author of sin, entices us with many sins. Jesus came to redeem us from every form of sin Satan throws our way.

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. 1 Peter 5:8-9

God, however, assures us the devil can’t overcome us unless we allow him to. The Psalmist has some encouraging words for those who have found themselves in a wayward state.

Those Walking Away from God

Some wandered in the wilderness, lost and homeless. Hungry and thirsty, they nearly died. Psalm 107:4-5

That often happens with Christians who get distracted and take their eyes off the Lord. They wander so far from God that they find it difficult to return to Him. The Psalmist said.

“Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he rescued them from their distress. He led them straight to safety, to a city where they could live. Psalm 107:6-7

God loves us so much he doesn’t want any of us lost. He doesn’t take the attitude of, “You got yourself into this mess, now get yourself out.” Jesus told a parable of when someone gets lost.

“If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders.” Luke 15:4-4

If you feel lost, cry out to the Lord. He wants you to return to Him. The Psalmist addressed those who not only went wayward but also changed their allegiance, ending in a trap.

Some sat in darkness and deepest gloom, imprisoned in iron chains of misery. They rebelled against the words of God scorning the counsel of the Most High. Psalm 107:10-11

The enemy of our soul cunningly deceives people by making sinful settings look very attractive. And before the person realizes it, they fall into his dark trap. The Psalmist said they cried out.

“Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He led them from the darkness and deepest gloom; he snapped their chains. Psalm 107:13-14

Watch Out for the Enemy

Nothing has changed with the way the enemy operates. He still tries to take God’s people out of His glorious light onto paths of darkness. We must understand that our war is spiritual.

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12

The Apostle Paul went on to describe the functionality of wearing the armor of God to overcome the enemy. The Psalmist next talked about those lost because of doing foolish things.

Some were fools; they rebelled and suffered for their sins. They couldn’t stand the thought of food, and they were knocking on death’s door. Psalm 107:17-18

I immediately thought of people involved in substance abuse. They start by experimenting, but it quickly becomes more important to them than food. They, too, cry out to the Lord for help.

Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them, snatching them from the door of death. Psalm 107:19-20

Doing things to harm our bodies can be viewed as an act of rebellion against God. We belong to Him, plus He created us in His image with the desire to live within us.

Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

You Can’t Run From God

The Psalmist also addressed another group of people. Those who think they can run from God. It has never worked. Ask Jonah. God directed a fish to deliver him to a shore close to Nineveh.

Some went off to sea in ships, plying the trade routes of the world. They, too, observed the Lord’s power in action, his impressive works on the deepest seas. Psalm 107:23-24

The Lord has given all of us a free will to go where we want to go. We can also choose what we want to do. But He wants us to stay with Him. If we don’t, He can make life rough for us.

He spoke, and the winds rose, stirring up the waves. Their ships were tossed to the heavens and plunged again to the depths; the sailors cringed in terror. They reeled and staggered like drunkards and were at their wits’ end. Psalm 107:25-27

Those running from God really have nowhere to go. The road they choose often becomes rough because God wants them to turn back to Him. Jesus prayed for us to stay on the right road.

I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world any more than I do. Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. John 17:15-17

Sacrifice of Thanksgiving Give thanks unto the Lord

Be Sure to Give Thanks unto the Lord

The Psalmist concluded each of these instances with praise as a way to give thanks unto the Lord. We should make this a part of our appreciation to the Lord.

Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them. Psalm 107:8,15,21,31

After he wrote this praise to the Lord, he offered reasons to exalt Him. He based them according to how each group wandered away from God.

To those who wandered in the wilderness, give thanks unto the Lord.

For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. Psalm 107:9

To those who sat in darkness and deepest gloom, give thanks unto the Lord.

For he broke down their prison gates of bronze; he cut apart their bars of iron. Psalm 107:16

To those who were fools and rebelled, give thanks unto the Lord.

Let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving and sing joyfully about his glorious acts. Psalm 107:22

To those who went off to sea in ships (ran away), give thanks unto the Lord.

Let them exalt him publicly before the congregation and before the leaders of the nation. Psalm 107:32

Because of the Love of the Lord, Give Thanks Unto Him

God loves you no matter what wayward path you may stumble on. give thanks unto the Lord because He will always offer you ways to turn back to Him.

Lord, we give thanks unto you for taking a personal interest in each of us. Thank you for being there to turn us around when we walk in a different direction.

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