Psalm 107 -- What We Get Ourselves Into & How God Gets Us Out

I noticed in this psalm five illustrations of what we do and what God does as a result.  Rather than reading them literally, this morning God had me look at them figuratively and spiritually.

In the first, the people wandered away from God, into a spiritual desert.  They became spiritually hungry and thirsty as a result and became discouraged with life.  Finally in their misery, they cried out to God.  He saved them from their troubles, led them on a straight path, where they could live again.

In the second, the people mentioned had become imprisoned by their actions – chained down, possibly by addictions, into a dark and gloomy existence.  Life wasn’t sunny anymore.  The root cause was that they’d turned against the words of God and refused His advice.  They thought they knew better!  He first had to break their pride through hard work, helping them to understand that they weren’t too good to work, and also to see that work builds self-esteem.  Previously, they’d stumbled and no one helped them.  Now, they cried out to God from the middle of their misery, and , faithful as He is, He saved them from their struggles, bringing them out of the dark existence they’d brought upon themselves.  He broke the chains of addiction, even though they were as strong as bronze or iron!

In the third, people foolishly turned from God, thinking they knew better than He does.  They suffered for the evil they did.  As a result, they didn’t even care about their health.  Finally, in misery, they cried out to Him.  God gave the command and healed them.  It was that easy for Him!  They were saved from a life that was leading to their death.

In the fourth, the people did nothing wrong.  They were simply caught up in circumstances beyond their control, such as a financial storm.  Things got so bad that they lost their courage.  Not knowing what to do, in their misery they cried out to God.  He stilled the storm and calmed the waves and saved them.  He also guided them through the storm to the port they wanted.

In the fifth, because of the evil actions of the people, God altered their very existence.  What had been fruitful became barren.  Once He caught their attention through their spiritual thirst and hunger, He restored the fruitfulness of their existence and settled them into the place He wanted them to be.  The disastrous result of their rebellion was loss of their families and having to wander through an existence like a desert.  Finally hitting rock-bottom, they found that He lifted them out of their suffering.  He restored them to their families, and brought back their joy of living.

The psalmist concludes with this advice:  “Whoever is wise will remember these things.”

Father, I’ve seen these very things played out in my own family and in the lives of people I love.  I’ve seen them think that they knew better, that they were in control and immortal, and that they could handle it, only to find their lives radically changed for the worse.  Open their hearts and minds to Your wisdom and show them what You can do in Your love with even the mess they’ve made.  Remove the blinders Satan has placed over their hearts, so they can see the truth of their existence and understand what they have lost and what You have awaiting them if they will just cry out to you and accept Your help and Your forgiveness.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford