A Psalm of Thanksgiving
The book of Psalms is remarkable in so many ways. Most of the Psalms come from a shepherd boy in Israel that give us insight into the very soul of a man after God’s own heart. Psalms 107 is unique because it contains a “thanksgiving” phrase that is repeated over and over. The psalmist says to give thanks to the Lord because of his unfailing love and goodness (Read all of Psalm 107 and focus on verses 1, 8, 15, 21, 31). In this psalm you will find several situations where thanksgiving is the order of the day.
Thanksgiving for Redemption: The psalmist describes the times when God brought Israel from adversity and returned them to the land promised to Abraham’s descendants. While it is true their sin was often the reason they were scattered, the psalm shows just how merciful God is toward them. Those who were redeemed from the nations could easily sing this psalm of thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving for Souls which have been Refreshed: The psalmist looks at the souls which were troubled by adversity. Their hearts were filled with darkness which was the result of them ignoring God. When they finally cried to the Lord in their troubles, he saved them from their distress.
Thanksgiving for Deliverance to those who were at the Gates of Death: They had become fools through their rebellious ways and suffered afflictions caused by their sin. They loathed all food and nearly died. Yet, when they cried to God, he saved them.
Thanksgiving for those who were Tossed by the Seas: The psalmist tells about those who sailed the seas and found themselves surrounded by terrible waves. It says the waves lifted them to the heavens and then dropped them in the depths, and hope was nearly lost. At their wit’s end, they cried out to God, and He heard them. He calmed the storms and brought them to safety.
Thanksgiving from our Hearts: The imagery in Psalm 107 may be different from what we experience today, but the lesson is entirely obvious. We sin, we fall short, troubles come, and God is always there to help us, redeem us, rescue us, lift us up if we call on Him. May we be thankful for all He does! It’s a heart thing. Let you heart be thankful! You can do it!