In The Word
Read: Psalm 107:1-32
107 Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good,
For His mercy is everlasting.
2 The redeemed of the Lord shall say so,
Those whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy
3 And gathered from the lands,
From the east and from the west,
From the north and from the south.
4 They wandered in the wilderness in a desert region;
They did not find a way to an inhabited city.
5 They were hungry and thirsty;
Their souls felt weak within them.
6 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble;
He saved them from their distresses.
7 He also had them walk on a straight way,
To go to an inhabited city.
8 They shall give thanks to the Lord for His mercy,
And for His wonders to the sons of mankind!
9 For He has satisfied the thirsty soul,
And He has filled the hungry soul with what is good.
10 There were those who lived in darkness and in the shadow of death,
Prisoners in misery and chains,
11 Because they had rebelled against the words of God
And rejected the plan of the Most High.
12 Therefore He humbled their heart with labor;
They stumbled and there was no one to help.
13 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble;
He saved them from their distresses.
14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death
And broke their bands apart.
15 They shall give thanks to the Lord for His mercy,
And for His wonders to the sons of mankind!
16 For He has shattered gates of bronze
And cut off bars of iron.
17 Fools, because of their rebellious way,
And because of their guilty deeds, were afflicted.
18 Their souls loathed all kinds of food,
And they came close to the gates of death.
19 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble;
He saved them from their distresses.
20 He sent His word and healed them,
And saved them from their destruction.
21 They shall give thanks to the Lord for His mercy,
And for His wonders to the sons of mankind!
22 They shall also offer sacrifices of thanksgiving,
And tell of His works with joyful singing.
23 Those who go down to the sea in ships,
Who do business on great waters;
24 They have seen the works of the Lord,
And His wonders in the deep.
25 For He spoke and raised a stormy wind,
Which lifted the waves of the sea.
26 They rose up to the heavens, they went down to the depths;
Their soul melted away in their misery.
27 They reeled and staggered like a drunken person,
And were at their wits’ end.
28 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
And He brought them out of their distresses.
29 He caused the storm to be still,
So that the waves of the sea were hushed.
30 Then they were glad because they were quiet,
So He guided them to their desired harbor.
31 They shall give thanks to the Lord for His mercy,
And for His wonders to the sons of mankind!
32 They shall also exalt Him in the congregation of the people,
And praise Him at the seat of the elders.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
If there is a word that describes God’s character towards us it is His loving-kindness. This one word tells of God’s kindness, mercy, goodness, faithfulness, and love. In verse 1, we find that this loving-kindness is everlasting, eternal. God wants us to know that we are forever in His care. Psalm 107 gives us examples of human struggles in which God shows up and delivers. God delivers you from your adversaries (Psalm 107:2), shows up when you are lost (Psalm 107:3), shows up when you are hungry and thirsty (Psalm 107:5), delivers when you are surrounded by darkness or death (Psalm 107:10), and delivers you from becoming a prisoner (Psalm 107:10). God’s true nature is to show loving-kindness in all these situations. Most of the time, we find ourselves in these predicaments of our own choosing. We choose to go our way instead of the way our Heavenly Father has chosen for us.
Stop and think of that for a moment, that the creator of all things, on earth and in the heavens, wants to show you His loving-kindness. He only wants the best for you and your family. Praise Him today; give Him praise and gratitude for this everlasting, eternal love He has for you. Start your day knowing that God is on your side and only wants the best for you. Verse 32 says to “extol” Him which means to acclaim, bless, applaud, boost, brag about, and celebrate! When was the last time you celebrated God’s eternal loving-kindness towards you? Let’s start today!