Psalm 107

1 O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endures forever.

2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy.

3 And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.

4 They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.

5 Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.

6 Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.

7 And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.

8 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

9 For he satisfies the longing soul and fills the hungry soul with goodness.

10 Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron.

11 Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:

12 Therefore he brought down their heart with labor; they fell down, and there was none to help.

13 Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses

14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death and brake their bands in sunder.

15 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

16 For he hath broken the gates of brass and cut the bars of iron in sunder.

17 Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.

18 Their soul abhors all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death.

19 Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saves them out of their distresses.

20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction.

21 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

22 And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving and declare his works with rejoicing.

23 They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters.

24 These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep.

25 For he commands, and raises the stormy wind, which lifts up the waves thereof.

26 They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.

27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit’s end.

28 Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he brings them out of their distresses.

29 He makes the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.

30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so, he bringeth them unto their desired haven.

31 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

32 Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people and praise him in the assembly of the elders.

33 He turns rivers into a wilderness, and the water springs into dry ground.

34 A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.

35 He turns the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into water springs.

36 And there he makes the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation.

37 And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase.

38 He blesses them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffers not their cattle to decrease.

39 Again, they are diminished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow.

40 He pours contempt upon princes, and causes them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way.

41 Yet sets he the poor on high from affliction and makes him families like a flock.

42 The righteous shall see it and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.

43 Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord. (KJV)

This Psalm reminds me of what Mart De Hann wrote in his book Been Thinking About “The Scriptures offer no hope to those who refuse to believe Christ suffered for them. The Bible offers a whole new life, however to those who believe that Christ lived and died as their substitute.” However, as I consider the words that he wrote I realized that his entire statement is based upon his belief that the Scriptures are the foundation of his philosophy system. This Psalm reflect the simple theme of man’s helplessness outside of God’s intervention. Life is good because of God’s unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men. However, just as the statement that Mart De Hann made was based upon the belief that the Scriptures are the foundation of his philosophy system so must we base the truth of this Psalm upon this same foundation. Are the scriptures the foundation of your philosophy system?

As one who has spent over fifty years studying the Bible I can see why this Book has survived the countless attempts to deny it as the Word of God.  The more I study and let the Holy Spirit reveals its truths the more I want to give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men.  The message of the world with it focus on the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is all around us twenty-four hours a day seven days a week.  The best way to combat the desires of our sinful nature to stay in the Word.  As Psalm one states the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.  So let us daily give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men.  

Verses eight, fifteen, twenty-one, and thirty-one repeat the same message: “Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!”  This verse gets us the reason for praising God.  The godly (those who believe in God) realized that he is our creator and has made this world a wonderful place for man to enjoy.  However, the ungodly (those who reject God and therefore live without a godly purpose) must create their own belief system of how this world came into existence.  To the ungodly our faith in God is foolishness; however, to the godly the belief system of the ungodly is a way to glorify the wisdom of man.  Paul’s answer to this argument is addressed in I Corinthians 1:18-31, which is the preaching of the cross.  Those who are saved by the preaching of the cross can sing this verse. “Oh, that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!”