Sermon – Psalm 107 – God Is Good

Rev. Jeffrey T. Howard

Pitts Creek and Beaver Dam Churches

Sermon – Psalm 107 – God Is Good

August 4, 2013

Last month we started looking at what the Bible says to the nations on earth, their obligation to care for the weak. These obligations are based on the inalienable rights granted by God that the basic needs of people must be met. They must have adequate food, clothing, and shelter. This is not just the responsibility of governments on all levels, but it is also the responsibility of the church.

Today we will see what happens when these needs are met. We have an awareness that our God is good. And so we approach him with thanksgiving. We will get to this, but first let's pray.

“Grant unto us, O Lord, to be occupied in the mysteries of thy heavenly wisdom, with true progress in piety, to thy glory and our own edification. Amen.” (John Calvin)

Psalm 107:1-3 NIV Psalm 107:1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. 2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say this-- those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, 3 those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and the sea. (See The Four Coners of Psalm 107 by John Jarick for discussion of the textual issue of verse 3)

The psalmist calls us to thanksgiving because of God goodness and steadfast love. God has demonstrated these characteristics by redeeming his people from perils. The psalmist tells us that God rescues people from the east and the west and the north and the sea.

Let's start by looking to the east. Whenever the Israelites oriented themselves they started by facing the east. The east is where the sun rises each day. I lived in Southern California for almost six years. Los Angeles is in a desert. In August, when the sun rises, there are no clouds in the sky. By mid morning temperatures near ninety. By afternoon they top 100. Everything not watered turns brown and dies. So too with the area east of Jerusalem. Scorching temperatures and high winds make the land unsuitable for human life. But some shepherds try to live there by constantly searching for watering holes and food for their flocks. In a drought, the lives of both the shepherd and the sheep are threatened. But here is what God does.

Psalm 107:4-9 4 Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle. 5 They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away. 6 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. 7 He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle. 8 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men, 9 for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.

And so they turned to God in prayer. Trusted in His faithfulness. And thanked God for his goodness.

Now let's turn around and face west. West is where the sun sets each day. The west is therefore a land of darkness. And as we all know evil comes out at night. The west is a place of sin and the evil it produces. The murderers, the liars, the racketeers try to avoid the light of day and do their dastardly things at night. Night is where the devil encourages adulterers to ruin relationships. Nighttime is the symbol of our enslavement to sin. We are bound to sin with shackles forged in the fires of hell. And there is nothing we can do to get out. This is how the psalmist put it.

Psalm 107:10-16 10 Some sat in darkness and the deepest gloom, prisoners suffering in iron chains, 11 for they had rebelled against the words of God and despised the counsel of the Most High. 12 So he subjected them to bitter labor; they stumbled, and there was no one to help. 13 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. 14 He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom and broke away their chains. 15 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men, 16 for he breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron.

And so they turned to God in prayer. Trusted in His faithfulness. And thanked God for his goodness.

Let's look to the north. From Jerusalem looking north you see a land filled with dangers. North is where the invading armies come from. The Egyptians, the Assyrians, the Babylonians, the Greeks, the Romans, all attack Jerusalem from the north. And so the north is the symbol of disease and death. The north is where things grow on your colon. The north is where your circulation is so bad your leg has to come off. The north is where you are so weak you can't get out of bed. The north is where your heart only works at 60% efficiency. This is could go on and on and on. Listen to what the psalmist says about the north.

Psalm 107:17-22 17 Some became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of their iniquities. 18 They loathed all food and drew near the gates of death. 19 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. 20 He sent forth his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave. 21 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men. 22 Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy.

And so they turned to God in prayer. Trusted in His faithfulness. And thanked God for his goodness.

So far we have looked to the east and to the west and to the north. Now let's look to the sea. This might be surprising for those of you who grew up on islands and have boats, but for the ancient Israelites the sea was the last place they wanted to go. The sea was symbolic of the chaos before God created the land for us to live on. The sea's wind and waves can cause boats to overturn. And there are great ocean creatures that can swallow a man whole. No wonder that they were deathly afraid of the deep. Let's hear what the psalmist says about the sea.

Psalm 107:23-32 23 Others went out on the sea in ships; they were merchants on the mighty waters. 24 They saw the works of the LORD, his wonderful deeds in the deep. 25 For he spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves. 26 They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths; in their peril their courage melted away. 27 They reeled and staggered like drunken men; they were at their wits' end. 28 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. 29 He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. 30 They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven. 31 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men. 32 Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people and praise him in the council of the elders.

And so they turned to God in prayer. Trusted in His faithfulness. And thanked God for his goodness.

So what should we do if we find ourselves desperately in need? What should we do if we find ourselves chain to sin? What should we do if we find ourselves or loved one battling grave illnesses? What should we do if we find ourselves in danger? The psalmist says to turn to God is prayer, trust in his faithfulness, and thank God for his goodness.

These are the things that we do as we gather around this table today. We approach God in prayer. We trust in God's faithfulness through Jesus Christ. And we are filled with thanksgiving for what God has done for us.

Father in heaven, we pray to you this day for those who are in need. Give the people of this world their daily bread. Forgive their sin. Heal their diseases. And protect them from danger. We trust in your faithfulness because of your goodness. And we thank you for the blessings we have received through your son's name. Amen.