We have reached the last section of the Book of Psalms and as we have done with the other four we will  read the first Psalm in this section…107 which contains 43 verses. We are encouraged to consider The Steadfast Love of God. The New Interpreter’s Bible, breaks down these 43 verses into four sections. These sections are plainly seen if read in this manner. The first three verses calls us to congressional response. The other sections are as follows: vv. 4-9, 10-16, 17-22, and 23-32. I suggest you read this psalm in that way to better understand the message here. In vv. 33-42 we are reminded of the steadfast love of God. The psalm presents a picture of what God’s steadfast love is all about and a fairly complete theology of salvation. 

Open your bibles to Psalm 107 and let’s go beyond the word. We start with vv. 1-3. This psalm ties in with 106 but introduces us to a major theme…Steadfast Love. Right away in verse 2 we are introduced to a counter theme… Trouble. We encounter a new term “the redeemed” those gathered from exile. Post-exilic generations were known elsewhere as “The redeemed of The Lord. Moving on to vv. 4-9 the theme presented here is not one of experience had by any person or group, but when applied to those of Israel’s experience of the Exodus, wandering in the wilderness and return from exile their meaning is central to these verses. There are happenings that are experienced by the Jews such as hunger and thirst which are satisfied by God. We are shown here that they are taken care of by God’s leading the way, and they happen in a display of wonderful works. These verses  aways show the one factor, that of connectivity…the crying out of the people is always a part of the experience of salvation. Next we move to vv. 10-16. These verses could allude to anyone’s experience of oppression. We also see how some of the words here paint the picture the psalmist is putting forth. Darkness, shadow of death, gloom, prisoners, misery, affliction and distress. There is the connection with Psalm 106, it is in God’s character “to help those who have no one to help them.” Reinforcing the fact that God is steadfastly loving. There is one other thing to note in these verses…the people are delivered and are expected to publicly proclaim what God has done. In these next verses 17-22 we are told of an adventure at sea that exposes the weakness of men and shows God moving to comfort them. These men were at “their wits end”and in their wisdom cried out to God, they acknowledged their total dependence upon God and had faith in His steadfast love. We finish with vv.33-43. A few quick points to leave you with. The first psalm in Book IV defined wisdom as a humble, daily dependence on God. So the simple context to wrapping this up lies in some part to Plasm 107 v.43.

Those who listen will learn this lesson. It is best to renounce mortal wisdom, cry out to God and be the beneficiaries of God’s wonderful works. It could not be more appropriate a thought for these days and Israel’s plight this very day

God’s enduring steadfast love has always throughout history aided and endured exiles everywhere to have hope. It is Our hope as well.

Life is Good

jk