“The Testimony of the Redeemed”
Psalm 107
There is nothing like the power of personal testimony.
It is one of the most convincing ways to witness for the Lord.
Here is a Psalm that pictures four general ways in which God redeems His people from the hand of the enemy. (v. 2) It is part of a trilogy of psalms (105-107) in which God’s people are exhorted to give thanks to the Lord. It has a primary application to the nation of
It
also has a secondary application to those whom among the “children of
men” have been rescued from their distresses and have come to join the
company of those who know the Lord personally.
1.
The Praise of the Redeemed (vv. 1-3)
Believers are exhorted to give thanks for two reasons: God is good and His mercy endures forever.
The redeemed are to say so.
If they don’t, who will?
Like
has always had enemies on every side – so did we before we knew the
Lord – completely surrounded by the enemy of our souls who took us
captive at his will. (2 Tim. 2:26).
This is an answer to the request in Psalm 106:47
2.
The pictures of Redemption (vv. 4-32)
Each picture has four components--a problem, prayer, provision, and praise
- The searching – vv. 4-9
Israel
wandered in the wilderness after they came out of Egypt. They found no
city and no satisfaction and their soul fainted in them. They cried
out to the Lord who delivered them out of their distresses and led them
on the right way. To those who are searching and find no satisfaction
in this world and its ways, if they cry out to the Lord will find out
like Zaccheus that He too will deliver them out of their soul distress
and lead them by the right way. They too will find a city, one which
has foundations whose builder and maker is God (Heb. 11:10) and will
come to see that He too satisfies the longing soul. (v. 9)
- To the stubborn (vv. 10-16)
This
redemption story pictures a person sitting in darkness bound in chains
because they rebelled against the Lord. Because they despised the
counsel of God they were brought down and no one was able to help. But
in their trouble they cried out to the Lord who broke their chains in
pieces. (v. 14) This captures the history of the nation of Israel
especially during the captivity years. It also pictures the plight of
the person who through their rebellion bring trouble upon themselves.
Whatever crisis they got into, there was none to help. Only the Lord
could rescue them and He did bringing them out of darkness into His
marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:10)
- To the sick (vv. 17-22)
The
next redemption picture is that of a person on their sickbed. This
person is called a “fool” because of their transgression – they have
lost appetite and draw near the gates of death. But as they do, they
cry out – their problem is met by God’s provision and they are led into
praise as He sends His word and heals them. They become clear
testimonies of the Lord’s goodness and mercy. (vv. 20-22)
- To the storm-tossed (vv. 23-32)
Those
described in these verses are not guilty of sin and folly as the
previous two pictures. Instead they are going about their regular
duties in life – in this case as mariners who acknowledge the works of
the Lord and His wonders in the deep (vv. 23-24) Yet in the midst of
legitimate work they experience destructive storms that threaten to
completely undo them. (vv. 25-27) They too cry out to the Lord who
delivers them and brings them to their desired haven resulting in their
sacrifice of praise. This storm pictures the storms of life that affect
the best of people many of whom are not doing anything wrong and yet
are delivered from the difficulties that this life poses.
3. The Power of the Redeemer (vv. 33-43)
The Power of God’s hand can be seen as He turns situations around in a moment of time
– from
good to bad and bad to good. He rewards the faithful and judges the
wicked in His time. The righteous see these things by faith and
rejoice in the wisdom and work of the Lord.
Questions – How loud and clear is our redemption story?