WEBVTT 00:00:04.330 --> 00:00:07.730 It's all right. Joe always says I'm the substitute 00:00:07.730 --> 00:00:14.609 teacher, so no one really cares. Listen, yeah, 00:00:14.970 --> 00:00:17.989 I heard an amen for that. I don't know. Hey, 00:00:18.070 --> 00:00:20.649 good morning to you. It's just good to see Greg 00:00:20.649 --> 00:00:23.750 Katz, Grandpa Greg back there. Let's go. I see 00:00:23.750 --> 00:00:25.050 you with that, baby. That's what I'm talking 00:00:25.050 --> 00:00:28.059 about. It's Thanksgiving already in here. This 00:00:28.059 --> 00:00:30.440 is awesome. Hey, well, good morning to you. If 00:00:30.440 --> 00:00:32.840 you don't know me, I'm Shay. I'm obviously one 00:00:32.840 --> 00:00:35.820 of the pastors here and so glad to be able to 00:00:35.820 --> 00:00:38.539 open the word this morning. Even as I say that, 00:00:38.560 --> 00:00:42.100 would you grab your Bibles and turn to Psalm 00:00:42.100 --> 00:00:47.259 107. Psalm 107 is our text this morning. Maybe 00:00:47.259 --> 00:00:53.020 as you turn, you can just think with me. I mean, 00:00:53.119 --> 00:00:56.640 I'm sure if... As a child you experienced this 00:00:56.640 --> 00:00:59.619 and maybe as a parent you experienced this I 00:00:59.619 --> 00:01:02.659 like most parents, you know with our kids We're 00:01:02.659 --> 00:01:05.659 we're trying to help them with just normal kindness 00:01:05.659 --> 00:01:08.299 normal manners, right? I'm sure your parents 00:01:08.299 --> 00:01:12.450 have done this with you I mean we dropped them 00:01:12.450 --> 00:01:14.769 off at school. We're hey, make sure you say good 00:01:14.769 --> 00:01:17.790 morning to adults speak to adults, right? We're 00:01:17.790 --> 00:01:20.709 you know, say hello to people look them in the 00:01:20.709 --> 00:01:23.010 eye We're doing this but you know the one that 00:01:23.010 --> 00:01:26.730 we I feel like we say a lot is did you say Thank 00:01:26.730 --> 00:01:30.430 you. Did you say thank you? Your youth leader 00:01:30.430 --> 00:01:33.349 picked you up took you out and dropped you off. 00:01:33.349 --> 00:01:36.189 Did you say thank you? Your teammate or your 00:01:36.189 --> 00:01:39.280 coach gave you a compliment Did you say thank 00:01:39.280 --> 00:01:41.819 you to them that person at Chick -fil -a held 00:01:41.819 --> 00:01:46.219 the door for you? Did you say thank you? I mean 00:01:46.219 --> 00:01:48.840 your mom made you dinner and she went back for 00:01:48.840 --> 00:01:51.079 the 15th time to the kitchen to get you something 00:01:51.079 --> 00:01:55.540 You know, did you say? Thank you. I mean it seems 00:01:55.540 --> 00:01:57.579 like it shouldn't be something that we have to 00:01:57.579 --> 00:02:01.180 remind Children about you know being being thankful 00:02:01.180 --> 00:02:04.819 for someone doing something for you Should be 00:02:04.819 --> 00:02:07.510 normal It should be regular and it should be 00:02:07.510 --> 00:02:10.909 common. And it would be obviously really easy 00:02:10.909 --> 00:02:12.870 for me to come down on my kids, right, and just 00:02:12.870 --> 00:02:15.490 say, man, why is it so hard for them to learn 00:02:15.490 --> 00:02:19.090 this lesson? But as I was reflecting on even 00:02:19.090 --> 00:02:23.469 this Psalm the past few weeks, I realized this 00:02:23.469 --> 00:02:27.389 isn't just a lesson for my children, is it? It's 00:02:27.389 --> 00:02:32.250 a lesson really for every child of God. To ask 00:02:32.250 --> 00:02:36.460 that question, did we say thank you? And we too 00:02:36.460 --> 00:02:41.020 need reminders. We need reminders to even build 00:02:41.020 --> 00:02:45.259 habits of thankfulness. Because I think if we're 00:02:45.259 --> 00:02:47.419 honest, right, I think you're probably like me, 00:02:47.560 --> 00:02:51.439 you know, we too struggle at times to say thank 00:02:51.439 --> 00:02:55.560 you for the incredible things that God has done 00:02:55.560 --> 00:02:58.479 in our lives and that he is doing. I mean, we 00:02:58.479 --> 00:03:00.500 often just struggle and need to be asked pointedly, 00:03:00.539 --> 00:03:03.900 hey, did you say thank you? So that's the title 00:03:04.270 --> 00:03:07.310 of my sermon to try to catch the flavor and theme 00:03:07.310 --> 00:03:09.729 this morning. And that's the question I'm really 00:03:09.729 --> 00:03:13.889 asking. I mean, have you spent time or will you 00:03:13.889 --> 00:03:16.969 spend time, maybe even this week, simply giving 00:03:16.969 --> 00:03:19.650 thanks to God? Is this the habit of your life 00:03:19.650 --> 00:03:23.150 that it's not just even one week, but it's normal, 00:03:23.270 --> 00:03:27.389 it's regular, it's common in response to God's 00:03:27.389 --> 00:03:29.930 sovereign care over you? I mean, that's really 00:03:29.930 --> 00:03:33.189 my desire to try to to see this. I have no doubt. 00:03:33.400 --> 00:03:36.180 that some of you are already doing this. You 00:03:36.180 --> 00:03:40.080 are full of gratitude. You have a thankful heart 00:03:40.080 --> 00:03:42.919 and spirit about you of the ongoing work of God. 00:03:42.939 --> 00:03:44.780 And I just wanna say, hey, praise the Lord, stay 00:03:44.780 --> 00:03:47.780 at it, stay at it. But I also know some of you 00:03:47.780 --> 00:03:50.719 are like me, right? At times and seasons we struggle. 00:03:50.840 --> 00:03:53.639 We often struggle with ingratitude, right? It 00:03:53.639 --> 00:03:57.300 just seems that it's more natural at times for 00:03:57.300 --> 00:04:01.629 our sinful hearts to just... Forget and to not 00:04:01.629 --> 00:04:04.789 say thanks to the Lord fact you don't have to 00:04:04.789 --> 00:04:06.610 turn there But I know this to be true because 00:04:06.610 --> 00:04:09.770 the scripture tells us as much in Romans 1 The 00:04:09.770 --> 00:04:12.650 text should come up on the screen the Apostle 00:04:12.650 --> 00:04:16.709 Paul speaks about this in in terms of of humanity 00:04:16.709 --> 00:04:19.870 of sinful humanity it says this for although 00:04:19.870 --> 00:04:23.329 they knew God Catch this they did not honor him 00:04:23.329 --> 00:04:26.949 as God or give thanks to him But they became 00:04:26.949 --> 00:04:28.810 futile in their thinking and their foolish hearts 00:04:28.810 --> 00:04:31.209 were darkened Claiming to be wise they became 00:04:31.209 --> 00:04:33.009 fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal 00:04:33.009 --> 00:04:35.709 God for images resembling mortal man and birds 00:04:35.709 --> 00:04:40.170 and animals and creeping things So if you struggle 00:04:40.170 --> 00:04:43.629 It's just part of what it means to be a sinful 00:04:43.629 --> 00:04:47.230 human even Paul here describing its They're not 00:04:47.230 --> 00:04:50.750 giving thanks to God. It tends to be our natural 00:04:50.750 --> 00:04:54.250 sinful state. And so, listen, I don't want to 00:04:54.250 --> 00:04:56.610 leave you on a negative note. There's hope for 00:04:56.610 --> 00:05:00.589 you this morning. There's hope even from the 00:05:00.589 --> 00:05:03.430 Word of God. And even when we come to Christ 00:05:03.430 --> 00:05:06.350 and we still battle the old flesh, listen, we 00:05:06.350 --> 00:05:09.920 can grow by the power of the Lord in His Spirit 00:05:09.920 --> 00:05:11.660 and through His Word. And I think, of course, 00:05:11.660 --> 00:05:13.399 it helps that every year we put on the calendar 00:05:13.399 --> 00:05:16.699 a season of Thanksgiving. Isn't that helpful? 00:05:17.220 --> 00:05:21.040 Wait, as you look down at Psalm 107, I had been 00:05:21.040 --> 00:05:22.839 reading this psalm just in my own Bible reading, 00:05:23.139 --> 00:05:25.720 and it just kind of just jumped out at me, and 00:05:25.720 --> 00:05:29.379 I began to underline a repeated phrase that we're 00:05:29.379 --> 00:05:32.040 going to look at throughout this psalm. And that 00:05:32.040 --> 00:05:35.740 repeated phrase is simply this, Oh, give thanks 00:05:35.740 --> 00:05:40.610 to the Lord. Oh, give thanks to the Lord. This 00:05:40.610 --> 00:05:42.709 is what the psalmist wants for the people of 00:05:42.709 --> 00:05:45.670 God to do. And of course, it's our desire to 00:05:45.670 --> 00:05:49.350 do that this morning. And while this is a longer 00:05:49.350 --> 00:05:51.050 psalm, in fact, someone this week even asked 00:05:51.050 --> 00:05:53.990 how's Shay gonna get through 43 verses, I don't 00:05:53.990 --> 00:05:56.480 know. We'll see how it goes this morning. But 00:05:56.480 --> 00:05:59.899 it's a relatively simple song. It's a call for 00:05:59.899 --> 00:06:03.420 the people of God whom he has rescued, whom he 00:06:03.420 --> 00:06:06.660 has delivered, whom he has redeemed to give thanks 00:06:06.660 --> 00:06:10.819 and praise to him. And what the psalmist does 00:06:10.819 --> 00:06:13.879 here is he gives us different insights, different 00:06:13.879 --> 00:06:16.699 pictures, really kind of different parables or 00:06:16.699 --> 00:06:19.939 examples of situations that he has taken the 00:06:19.939 --> 00:06:23.220 people of God through. And then the response. 00:06:23.650 --> 00:06:26.490 to that. And so these little stories throughout 00:06:26.490 --> 00:06:29.990 this psalm are going to guide us, but I do want 00:06:29.990 --> 00:06:31.870 to give you just a little bit of background to 00:06:31.870 --> 00:06:33.370 kind of catch you up so you know what's kind 00:06:33.370 --> 00:06:36.029 of going on. You notice at the top of the psalm 00:06:36.029 --> 00:06:37.730 that there's really no header. Your Bible may 00:06:37.730 --> 00:06:39.850 have supplied some kind of header, but you know 00:06:39.850 --> 00:06:42.730 sometimes the psalms will say a psalm or a song, 00:06:43.170 --> 00:06:46.649 a psalm of David. There's no header to this psalm 00:06:46.649 --> 00:06:49.310 and we don't exactly know who wrote it. It very 00:06:49.310 --> 00:06:52.660 well could be David himself, I mean, some of 00:06:52.660 --> 00:06:56.000 the language definitely fits him, but there's 00:06:56.000 --> 00:06:58.100 no specific author attributed. But you might 00:06:58.100 --> 00:07:02.399 also notice that right above the title of your 00:07:02.399 --> 00:07:06.079 psalm there, 107, it says Book 5. Book 5. This 00:07:06.079 --> 00:07:09.680 is really just calling out the last major division 00:07:09.680 --> 00:07:12.480 in the Psalms. There's five divisions in the 00:07:12.480 --> 00:07:14.699 Psalms. This, of course, will take us from 107 00:07:14.699 --> 00:07:19.560 all the way to the end in 150. And interestingly 00:07:19.560 --> 00:07:23.980 though, I think that that division is kind of 00:07:23.980 --> 00:07:27.100 funny because actually Psalm 107, many commentators 00:07:27.100 --> 00:07:29.579 point out, it's probably the last psalm in a 00:07:29.579 --> 00:07:32.660 four -part series. I'm sure many of you watch 00:07:32.660 --> 00:07:36.199 a four -part, a six -part series on television. 00:07:36.240 --> 00:07:40.300 This would be a fourth part of God's work in 00:07:40.300 --> 00:07:43.019 history up to this point. You don't have to look 00:07:43.019 --> 00:07:44.620 at them. I just want to give them to you. Psalm 00:07:44.620 --> 00:07:48.660 104 would really be the history of creation and 00:07:48.660 --> 00:07:52.250 the flood story. Psalm 105 is a history of the 00:07:52.250 --> 00:07:55.430 patriarchs and they're coming in to Cain in the 00:07:55.430 --> 00:07:58.350 promised land Psalm 106 the history of Israel 00:07:58.350 --> 00:08:01.370 in the in the in the land until the Babylonian 00:08:01.370 --> 00:08:04.089 captivity and really here this seems the background 00:08:04.089 --> 00:08:07.610 of Psalm 107 may be the history of the return 00:08:07.610 --> 00:08:12.129 to the land as the people are coming out of exile 00:08:12.129 --> 00:08:14.949 and So we have in this background people were 00:08:14.949 --> 00:08:19.240 turning from exile recalling remembering the 00:08:19.240 --> 00:08:22.360 Lord's work. In fact, I want you to see the connection 00:08:22.360 --> 00:08:25.279 in Psalm 106. You shouldn't have to turn. I have 00:08:25.279 --> 00:08:27.459 two columns in my Bible. It's on the same page. 00:08:27.759 --> 00:08:31.879 But look back at Psalm 106 verse 47. There's 00:08:31.879 --> 00:08:35.759 a prayer here. It says this, save us, O Lord 00:08:35.759 --> 00:08:39.700 our God. Gather us from among the nations that 00:08:39.700 --> 00:08:44.440 we may give thanks to your holy name and glory 00:08:44.440 --> 00:08:47.960 in your praise. The prayer is gather us. It's 00:08:47.960 --> 00:08:51.059 bring us back so we can give thanks to the God 00:08:51.059 --> 00:08:54.519 who brings us out of exile, who rescues us, who 00:08:54.519 --> 00:08:57.840 redeems us. And this, of course, brings us to 00:08:57.840 --> 00:09:00.059 Psalm 107. I want to look with you. I have a 00:09:00.059 --> 00:09:01.620 few different sections. I'll give them to you 00:09:01.620 --> 00:09:05.019 as we go. But the first here is simply the call 00:09:05.019 --> 00:09:08.559 to thank the Lord, the call to thank the Lord. 00:09:08.600 --> 00:09:11.840 Look down in your Bible. Oh, give thanks to the 00:09:11.840 --> 00:09:14.970 Lord, for he is good. For his steadfast love 00:09:14.970 --> 00:09:17.169 endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord 00:09:17.169 --> 00:09:21.190 say so Whom he has redeemed from trouble and 00:09:21.190 --> 00:09:23.110 gathered in from the lands from the east and 00:09:23.110 --> 00:09:26.190 from the west From the north and from the south. 00:09:26.210 --> 00:09:28.970 Let's stop there the psalm of course starts with 00:09:28.970 --> 00:09:33.629 this call give thanks to the Lord say thank you 00:09:33.629 --> 00:09:36.730 says the psalmist this is the repeated refrain 00:09:36.730 --> 00:09:39.769 throughout the psalm and Specifically, he says 00:09:39.769 --> 00:09:42.409 there say thank you or be thankful because of 00:09:42.409 --> 00:09:46.120 what? because of who the Lord is, because of 00:09:46.120 --> 00:09:49.840 who the Lord is. He is good. His steadfast love 00:09:49.840 --> 00:09:54.620 endures forever. I mean, the Lord's steadfast 00:09:54.620 --> 00:09:57.279 love is a common idea. You'll see that language 00:09:57.279 --> 00:09:59.419 throughout the Old Testament, especially in the 00:09:59.419 --> 00:10:02.320 Psalms. And in this psalm, it's repeated at least 00:10:02.320 --> 00:10:05.960 six times. It's it's one word steadfast love. 00:10:05.960 --> 00:10:08.000 It's two in English one in the original Hebrew 00:10:08.000 --> 00:10:11.159 It's a word you may may have heard before hesed 00:10:11.159 --> 00:10:15.580 hesed and it's a weighty word It's full of of 00:10:15.580 --> 00:10:18.440 just meaning it carries the idea of of God's 00:10:18.440 --> 00:10:23.039 goodness of his graciousness Or more specifically 00:10:23.039 --> 00:10:27.240 it speaks of God's God's loyal love The loyal 00:10:27.240 --> 00:10:29.679 love of God. It just means that God's love is 00:10:29.679 --> 00:10:33.210 unfailing. It means that he is Himself completely 00:10:33.210 --> 00:10:36.450 and utterly faithful in His love to His children. 00:10:37.289 --> 00:10:39.610 It even carries the idea that God is always faithful 00:10:39.610 --> 00:10:43.730 to His covenant with His people. So God is good. 00:10:43.750 --> 00:10:46.129 He is faithful in His love. He won't fail. He'll 00:10:46.129 --> 00:10:49.169 always be this way, loving, kind, and gracious. 00:10:49.230 --> 00:10:52.490 This is who He is. And of course, His steadfast 00:10:52.490 --> 00:10:56.669 love endures forever. This is a never -ending 00:10:56.669 --> 00:11:00.929 attribute of our never -ending God. And so the 00:11:00.929 --> 00:11:03.559 focus of the psalm and the call here in these 00:11:03.559 --> 00:11:06.860 first few verses is to praise the lord for who 00:11:06.860 --> 00:11:10.299 he is as loving and gracious and he always keeps 00:11:10.299 --> 00:11:15.059 his promises always keeps his word which apparently 00:11:15.059 --> 00:11:18.960 is an answer to the prayer that we just read 00:11:18.960 --> 00:11:24.789 back in psalm 106 Verse 47, to save us, to bring 00:11:24.789 --> 00:11:29.009 us out. He's answering this in Psalm 107. He's 00:11:29.009 --> 00:11:31.590 bringing them back from exile. And verse two 00:11:31.590 --> 00:11:33.950 adds that this should be on the people's lips. 00:11:34.470 --> 00:11:37.950 It says, I love this, let the redeem of the Lord 00:11:37.950 --> 00:11:41.570 say so. That is, those who've been rescued, they 00:11:41.570 --> 00:11:45.350 should praise Him openly. Let them speak of God's 00:11:45.350 --> 00:11:47.850 steadfast love and goodness, not to unlike what 00:11:47.850 --> 00:11:50.690 you just did a moment ago as you sang out. I 00:11:50.690 --> 00:11:52.929 sat up here and was just blessed to hear you 00:11:52.929 --> 00:11:58.490 sing out praise to God. So the question is for 00:11:58.490 --> 00:12:03.529 us, has God been good to you? Has He redeemed 00:12:03.529 --> 00:12:06.970 you from trouble? Has He done that? The call 00:12:06.970 --> 00:12:10.529 is of course to give thanks and we're gonna dive 00:12:10.529 --> 00:12:13.850 in now to some specific reasons. to give thanks 00:12:13.850 --> 00:12:16.409 the psalmist calls them out and and he really 00:12:16.409 --> 00:12:18.610 does this in these kind of four different pictures 00:12:18.610 --> 00:12:20.370 let's look at the first one i'll put it in a 00:12:20.370 --> 00:12:23.230 phrase for you it's just this thank the lord 00:12:23.230 --> 00:12:27.190 for reorienting the wanderers thank the lord 00:12:27.190 --> 00:12:29.509 for reorienting the wanderers look down in your 00:12:29.509 --> 00:12:32.629 bible at verse four it says this some wandered 00:12:32.629 --> 00:12:36.409 in desert wastes finding no way to a city to 00:12:36.409 --> 00:12:40.200 dwell in Hungry and thirsty, their souls fainted 00:12:40.200 --> 00:12:42.120 within them. Then they cried to the Lord in their 00:12:42.120 --> 00:12:44.299 trouble, and He delivered them from their distress. 00:12:44.519 --> 00:12:46.740 He led them by a straight way till they reached 00:12:46.740 --> 00:12:49.480 a city to dwell in. Let them thank the Lord for 00:12:49.480 --> 00:12:52.080 His steadfast love, for His wondrous works to 00:12:52.080 --> 00:12:54.620 the children of man, for He satisfies the longing 00:12:54.620 --> 00:12:58.759 soul and the hungry soul He fills with good things. 00:12:59.419 --> 00:13:01.500 You'll notice that the verse four begins with 00:13:01.500 --> 00:13:05.230 the word some. Some this is an indicator the 00:13:05.230 --> 00:13:07.309 psalmist uses throughout the psalm you'll see 00:13:07.309 --> 00:13:10.870 it down in verse 10 down in verse 17 and again 00:13:10.870 --> 00:13:13.490 down in verse 23 kind of marking out kind of 00:13:13.490 --> 00:13:17.370 these four different stories or parables or situations 00:13:17.370 --> 00:13:20.490 And these will guide us as we look and they're 00:13:20.490 --> 00:13:24.669 really not four different people so much as four 00:13:24.669 --> 00:13:28.299 different looks Maybe not the people of Israel, 00:13:28.600 --> 00:13:31.279 four different aspects. But the first picture 00:13:31.279 --> 00:13:34.000 here we're given is a picture of people wandering 00:13:34.000 --> 00:13:37.179 in the desert, apparently hungry and thirsty. 00:13:37.679 --> 00:13:41.279 The situation seems dire. Immediately of course 00:13:41.279 --> 00:13:45.700 we think of who? The people of Israel. Them wandering 00:13:45.700 --> 00:13:49.820 through the desert, 40 years. And while this 00:13:49.820 --> 00:13:52.580 could be specific to that, it also could be speaking 00:13:52.580 --> 00:13:55.799 of any kind of exile, like in Babylon, that God's 00:13:55.799 --> 00:13:58.100 people had experienced. I mean, you know it. 00:13:58.100 --> 00:14:00.759 It'll come up on screen in Hebrews 11. It says 00:14:00.759 --> 00:14:03.240 that specifically they were stoned, they were 00:14:03.240 --> 00:14:05.580 sawn in two, they were killed with the sword, 00:14:05.899 --> 00:14:07.860 they went about in skins of sheep and goats, 00:14:08.059 --> 00:14:09.940 destitute, afflicted, mistreated, of whom the 00:14:09.940 --> 00:14:13.539 world was not worthy. Says wandering about in 00:14:13.539 --> 00:14:17.820 deserts and mountains and in dens and caves of 00:14:17.820 --> 00:14:21.259 the earth So as the nation of Israel wandering 00:14:21.259 --> 00:14:24.879 around why did they wander? Why were they sent 00:14:24.879 --> 00:14:28.159 out this way? Well, of course it was tied to 00:14:28.159 --> 00:14:32.100 their their disobedience their unbelief They 00:14:32.100 --> 00:14:35.259 didn't trust in the promises of God that He had 00:14:35.259 --> 00:14:37.779 prepared a place for them, this place called 00:14:37.779 --> 00:14:40.200 the promised land. And so the psalmist says in 00:14:40.200 --> 00:14:43.159 verse four, they had no city. They had no place 00:14:43.159 --> 00:14:46.740 to call home. They had no place to rest and to 00:14:46.740 --> 00:14:49.820 be restored. They were wandering about homeless. 00:14:50.419 --> 00:14:54.240 I mean, I'm from the deserts of California, in 00:14:54.240 --> 00:14:56.500 Southern California. And I've wandered about 00:14:56.500 --> 00:14:59.940 in the desert. Never for days. As a child, only 00:14:59.940 --> 00:15:04.009 hours at times. But even then I always had my 00:15:04.009 --> 00:15:07.070 house in view I could always see where my my 00:15:07.070 --> 00:15:09.230 home was We had these we call them the holes 00:15:09.230 --> 00:15:10.870 me and my friends on my street these holes we 00:15:10.870 --> 00:15:12.769 take our bikes They're a big just giant holes 00:15:12.769 --> 00:15:14.889 know the desert we take our bikes and and ride 00:15:14.889 --> 00:15:17.090 through them But I could always see my house 00:15:17.090 --> 00:15:20.730 from where that was of course not these people 00:15:20.730 --> 00:15:25.730 They're gone off away from home wandering wandering 00:15:25.730 --> 00:15:29.480 about And because of this, the text says they're 00:15:29.480 --> 00:15:31.440 hungry and thirsty. Did you catch it in verse 00:15:31.440 --> 00:15:35.899 5? Their soul fainted within them. Of course, 00:15:35.899 --> 00:15:38.620 we are body and soul. That's part of this, but 00:15:38.620 --> 00:15:40.799 this isn't just a physical reality for Israel 00:15:40.799 --> 00:15:43.500 wandering in the desert. It is too about their 00:15:43.500 --> 00:15:46.679 souls. There is a spiritual dynamic. They are 00:15:46.679 --> 00:15:50.000 wandering souls, disoriented souls, looking to 00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:53.080 have their spiritual hunger and thirst quenched, 00:15:53.379 --> 00:15:55.519 but apparently looking in all the wrong places. 00:15:57.040 --> 00:15:59.740 Mean have you had any time this year where your 00:15:59.740 --> 00:16:03.980 soul has wandered about? just wandering off running 00:16:03.980 --> 00:16:07.720 after the wrong things going into the to the 00:16:07.720 --> 00:16:12.059 wrong places a friend of mine a former elder 00:16:12.059 --> 00:16:14.399 a church that I was a part of in Southern California 00:16:14.399 --> 00:16:18.059 just happens to be a a Hebrew scholar and He 00:16:18.059 --> 00:16:20.399 had some comments on this text specifically his 00:16:20.399 --> 00:16:22.960 name is Bill Barrick. He said this he said the 00:16:22.960 --> 00:16:27.039 people in Psalm 107 had hungered and thirsted 00:16:27.039 --> 00:16:31.179 for righteousness, but they had not come to the 00:16:31.179 --> 00:16:34.000 righteous one. They were still depending upon 00:16:34.000 --> 00:16:37.559 their own worthless righteousness." End quote. 00:16:38.500 --> 00:16:41.580 They're in trouble, aren't they? They're in trouble, 00:16:41.639 --> 00:16:43.559 or as one commentator put it, they're discouraged 00:16:43.559 --> 00:16:45.899 and unable to continue. It was as though their 00:16:45.899 --> 00:16:50.700 souls had collapsed. This is what happens to 00:16:50.700 --> 00:16:53.940 the wandering heart, the wandering soul. But 00:16:53.940 --> 00:16:59.139 it was at that low point The verse 6 says then 00:16:59.139 --> 00:17:02.899 they cried to the Lord in their trouble They 00:17:02.899 --> 00:17:05.640 cried to the Lord in their trouble good decision 00:17:06.319 --> 00:17:09.799 To cry out to the Lord in prayer the faithful 00:17:09.799 --> 00:17:13.400 one who is good and full of steadfast love And 00:17:13.400 --> 00:17:15.480 of course he answers their prayer in verse 6 00:17:15.480 --> 00:17:18.980 and it says and he delivered them from their 00:17:18.980 --> 00:17:22.180 distress Even though they had no city no home 00:17:22.180 --> 00:17:25.680 the Lord reorients is reorients them and reestablishes 00:17:25.680 --> 00:17:29.160 them in their wandering and Sends them straight 00:17:29.160 --> 00:17:33.380 in to a city to dwell He does this of course 00:17:33.380 --> 00:17:37.059 because of his steadfast love his loyal love 00:17:37.059 --> 00:17:39.920 that we looked at already in verse 1 See God's 00:17:39.920 --> 00:17:43.000 always faithful He's not gonna leave his people 00:17:43.000 --> 00:17:46.299 out wandering around hungry and thirsty. He satisfies 00:17:46.299 --> 00:17:51.059 them. He always leads them home And so of course 00:17:51.059 --> 00:17:54.819 the best response To that kind of deliverance 00:17:54.819 --> 00:17:57.859 to that kind of rescue to that kind of reorienting 00:17:57.859 --> 00:18:00.720 of the wandering soul is to thank The Lord verse 00:18:00.720 --> 00:18:04.220 8 let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love 00:18:04.220 --> 00:18:07.059 Thank God for his kindness. Thank him for his 00:18:07.059 --> 00:18:10.240 deliverance. I just want to ask us that question 00:18:10.240 --> 00:18:14.059 Have you done that? Has your heart been wandering 00:18:14.059 --> 00:18:16.859 this year and you've allowed it to go places 00:18:16.859 --> 00:18:20.400 and you've sought a righteousness That is only 00:18:20.400 --> 00:18:23.220 in yourself and not in the the righteous one 00:18:23.220 --> 00:18:25.920 What you really really want is the righteousness 00:18:25.920 --> 00:18:29.460 that only Christ can bring right? The righteousness 00:18:29.460 --> 00:18:32.099 that he accomplished on the cross the one that 00:18:32.099 --> 00:18:35.380 we just sang about that is at the heart of the 00:18:35.380 --> 00:18:38.519 gospel message We don't earn salvation in our 00:18:38.519 --> 00:18:41.910 own righteousness. It is gifted to us And so 00:18:41.910 --> 00:18:44.869 your wandering heart needs to be reoriented, 00:18:45.269 --> 00:18:47.049 and the Lord can do that. I'm just asking you 00:18:47.049 --> 00:18:49.450 that question. Have you cried out to Him? Have 00:18:49.450 --> 00:18:52.630 you cried out to Him? He is faithful. God steadfastly 00:18:52.630 --> 00:18:57.190 loves to reorient wandering hearts. And you say, 00:18:57.190 --> 00:18:59.910 Pastor, I have done that. I've done that this 00:18:59.910 --> 00:19:02.289 year, and I've actually done it multiple times. 00:19:02.690 --> 00:19:05.289 And you say, I'm back. And I say, praise God. 00:19:05.430 --> 00:19:07.190 Let me just ask you one more thing. Did you say 00:19:07.190 --> 00:19:12.029 thank you? Did you thank Him for For satisfying 00:19:12.029 --> 00:19:14.470 you look down at verse 9 for he satisfies the 00:19:14.470 --> 00:19:18.130 longing soul and the hungry soul he fills with 00:19:18.130 --> 00:19:21.789 good things Have you done that this year? Let 00:19:21.789 --> 00:19:23.250 me just give you another one. Let's look at the 00:19:23.250 --> 00:19:26.829 next one. So we thank the Lord for Reorienting 00:19:26.829 --> 00:19:28.230 wandering hearts, but how about this one? Thank 00:19:28.230 --> 00:19:30.670 the Lord for releasing the prisoners look down 00:19:30.670 --> 00:19:34.210 at verse 10 Some sat in darkness in the shadow 00:19:34.210 --> 00:19:36.670 of death prisoners in affliction and in irons 00:19:36.670 --> 00:19:38.750 For they had rebelled against the words of God 00:19:38.750 --> 00:19:41.769 and spurned the council of the most high So he 00:19:41.769 --> 00:19:44.130 bowed their hearts down with hard labor. They 00:19:44.130 --> 00:19:47.529 fell down with none to help Then they cried to 00:19:47.529 --> 00:19:49.589 the Lord in their trouble and he delivered them 00:19:49.589 --> 00:19:51.910 from their distress He brought them out of darkness 00:19:51.910 --> 00:19:54.369 and the shadow of death and burst their bonds 00:19:54.369 --> 00:19:57.130 apart Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast 00:19:57.130 --> 00:19:59.950 love for his wondrous works to the children of 00:19:59.950 --> 00:20:02.809 man for he shatters the doors of bronze and cuts 00:20:02.809 --> 00:20:06.930 into the bars of iron Again, you saw the word 00:20:06.930 --> 00:20:10.109 some there in verse 10, calling out another group, 00:20:10.269 --> 00:20:13.990 no longer wanderers, but now prisoners. These 00:20:13.990 --> 00:20:18.509 people, they're stuck in one place. It's a prison 00:20:18.509 --> 00:20:21.710 cell. And this prison apparently is full of darkness, 00:20:22.109 --> 00:20:26.230 full of affliction, and full of death. It's possible 00:20:26.230 --> 00:20:28.450 the psalmist is describing the nation of Israel, 00:20:29.069 --> 00:20:32.670 enslaved, captive, in Egypt. Especially, I think 00:20:32.670 --> 00:20:34.690 that might be true in verse 12, where they have 00:20:34.690 --> 00:20:37.910 hard labor as we read about in the scripture. 00:20:38.849 --> 00:20:42.150 But the biggest issue here, in this picture, 00:20:42.509 --> 00:20:46.289 That the reason that they're in prison is that 00:20:46.289 --> 00:20:49.789 they have rebelled against the words of God It 00:20:49.789 --> 00:20:54.369 says they have spurned his counsel I mean it 00:20:54.369 --> 00:20:58.190 says if they have turned their back on the law 00:20:58.190 --> 00:21:02.369 of God his word Literally this week. I told this 00:21:02.369 --> 00:21:04.710 to Joe and Jonah. I was in this section I was 00:21:04.710 --> 00:21:06.869 looking and studying this part. I turned around 00:21:06.869 --> 00:21:10.359 in my office and looked out my window There on 00:21:10.359 --> 00:21:12.599 the street was a guy being handcuffed just outside 00:21:12.599 --> 00:21:16.380 over here Four cop cars are here. He is being 00:21:16.380 --> 00:21:19.819 handcuffed. He's up against you know, the the 00:21:19.819 --> 00:21:21.900 cop car and then later I told the guys an unmarked 00:21:21.900 --> 00:21:23.839 van showed up they transferred him into that 00:21:23.839 --> 00:21:27.440 so I don't know what he did I did see the one 00:21:27.440 --> 00:21:29.039 of the ladies from the Lutheran Church walk over 00:21:29.039 --> 00:21:31.059 and check on the situation seemed like it was 00:21:31.059 --> 00:21:34.259 okay and He's I'm assuming at this moment behind 00:21:34.259 --> 00:21:38.750 bars No light not unlikely that he spurned the 00:21:38.750 --> 00:21:44.309 law of the land He ignored the law of our state 00:21:44.309 --> 00:21:49.869 and listen listen likely sitting now Behind bars 00:21:49.869 --> 00:21:54.170 at least I hope that's true But these prisoners 00:21:54.170 --> 00:21:58.470 these prisoners they're they're imprisoned because 00:21:58.470 --> 00:22:02.930 they spurned the counsel of God and because of 00:22:02.930 --> 00:22:06.220 the consequences of their own sin. They have 00:22:06.220 --> 00:22:09.359 apparently thought that their own counsel was 00:22:09.359 --> 00:22:12.019 better than God's. They're not like the wise 00:22:12.019 --> 00:22:15.680 men we read about in Psalm 1, who are meditating 00:22:15.680 --> 00:22:19.180 on the Word of God day and night. No, these people 00:22:19.180 --> 00:22:21.480 have trusted in their own Word. God's Word has 00:22:21.480 --> 00:22:24.000 not been a delight to them, and now they sit 00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:27.299 in darkness in the shadow of death, the text 00:22:27.299 --> 00:22:32.079 says. But thankfully, Just like the wandering 00:22:32.079 --> 00:22:35.099 souls we read about these prisoners cry out to 00:22:35.099 --> 00:22:38.500 the only one who can free them, right? They cry 00:22:38.500 --> 00:22:42.819 out to the Lord in verse 13 During their trouble 00:22:42.819 --> 00:22:45.660 and it says he delivers them even from the darkness 00:22:45.660 --> 00:22:48.700 and the shadow of Death doesn't Paul use that 00:22:48.700 --> 00:22:50.500 kind of language and he speaks of the New Testament 00:22:50.500 --> 00:22:53.119 believers there in Colossians Should come up 00:22:53.119 --> 00:22:56.500 here. He has delivered us from the domain of 00:22:56.500 --> 00:22:59.440 darkness. It says And He's transferred us to 00:22:59.440 --> 00:23:01.799 the kingdom of His beloved Son in whom we have 00:23:01.799 --> 00:23:06.400 redemption, the forgiveness of sins. This is 00:23:06.400 --> 00:23:09.119 the reality for all the children of God. Psalm 00:23:09.119 --> 00:23:14.740 107 -14, back in 107 -14. He burst their bonds 00:23:14.740 --> 00:23:18.819 apart, it says. I love that. Reminds me of an 00:23:18.819 --> 00:23:20.640 old radio show I used to listen to when I was 00:23:20.640 --> 00:23:23.740 a kid. Maybe some of you know this show I used 00:23:23.740 --> 00:23:25.279 to listen to it with my parents usually late 00:23:25.279 --> 00:23:28.700 late in the car. It was called unshackled Anybody 00:23:28.700 --> 00:23:31.200 know this old old it was an old evangelistic 00:23:31.200 --> 00:23:34.440 radio drama each episode was was riveting as 00:23:34.440 --> 00:23:36.920 a young kid They have sound effects and there'd 00:23:36.920 --> 00:23:40.319 always be a story of someone becoming unshackled 00:23:40.319 --> 00:23:45.339 from their sin They're broken free. I think that's 00:23:45.339 --> 00:23:47.420 what I'm seeing here in Psalm 107. These people 00:23:47.420 --> 00:23:50.240 are set free. They're unshackled. God's heard 00:23:50.240 --> 00:23:52.700 their cry. It's not their own strength that saved 00:23:52.700 --> 00:23:55.519 them, not their own power that has released them. 00:23:56.019 --> 00:24:01.400 It's God who breaks their bonds apart. Of course, 00:24:02.359 --> 00:24:07.539 this is a call to praise. A call to thank the 00:24:07.539 --> 00:24:11.140 Lord. Verse 15, let them thank the Lord for His 00:24:11.140 --> 00:24:14.920 steadfast love, for His wondrous works to the 00:24:14.920 --> 00:24:17.980 children of man. Thank Him for His loyal love, 00:24:18.420 --> 00:24:21.559 for His wondrous works. Listen, this could be 00:24:21.559 --> 00:24:25.500 about Israel. What about us? You're going to 00:24:25.500 --> 00:24:27.079 hear me keep coming back to that. What about 00:24:27.079 --> 00:24:30.039 us? Maybe you've rebelled against the Word of 00:24:30.039 --> 00:24:32.440 God this last year. Maybe you've done this last 00:24:32.440 --> 00:24:35.759 week in recent memory. Maybe you sought even 00:24:35.759 --> 00:24:38.480 your own counsel and not the Lord's even just 00:24:38.480 --> 00:24:42.539 for a Moment and you found yourself in this sense 00:24:42.539 --> 00:24:45.319 in this picture shackled by sin I would just 00:24:45.319 --> 00:24:48.700 remind you the hope of the gospel is yours The 00:24:48.700 --> 00:24:51.240 hope of the truth of Christ is yours. Remember 00:24:51.240 --> 00:24:54.859 what Jesus said and in Luke 4 Speaking about 00:24:54.859 --> 00:24:56.539 this very thing. It says the Spirit of Lord is 00:24:56.539 --> 00:25:00.720 upon me Because he has anointed me to proclaim 00:25:00.720 --> 00:25:04.539 good news to the poor He has sent me to proclaim 00:25:04.539 --> 00:25:07.000 liberty to the captives and recovering of sight 00:25:07.000 --> 00:25:10.880 to the blind to set at liberty those who are 00:25:10.880 --> 00:25:13.900 oppressed to proclaim the year of the Lord's 00:25:13.900 --> 00:25:16.619 favor Listen if you're in Christ this promise 00:25:16.619 --> 00:25:20.839 is yours today The bonds of sin have been broken 00:25:20.839 --> 00:25:23.940 Listen, have you thanked him? Have you said thank 00:25:23.940 --> 00:25:26.660 you to the Lord for setting you free for delivering 00:25:26.660 --> 00:25:28.460 you? Let's look at another reason to thank him 00:25:28.940 --> 00:25:31.339 There's another little story here. This one is 00:25:31.339 --> 00:25:34.940 thank the Lord for restoring the sufferers. Thank 00:25:34.940 --> 00:25:36.420 the Lord for restoring the sufferers. Look down 00:25:36.420 --> 00:25:38.539 at verse 17. We're just walking through this. 00:25:38.960 --> 00:25:42.940 Again that word some. Some were fools through 00:25:42.940 --> 00:25:45.759 their sinful ways and because of their iniquities 00:25:45.759 --> 00:25:49.150 suffered affliction. They loathe any kind of 00:25:49.150 --> 00:25:51.369 food, and they drew near to the gates of death. 00:25:51.589 --> 00:25:53.369 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, 00:25:53.470 --> 00:25:55.529 and He delivered them from their distress. He 00:25:55.529 --> 00:25:57.890 sent out His word and healed them and delivered 00:25:57.890 --> 00:26:00.509 them from their destruction. Let them thank the 00:26:00.509 --> 00:26:03.829 Lord, underline it, for His steadfast love, for 00:26:03.829 --> 00:26:06.710 His wondrous works to the children of man. And 00:26:06.710 --> 00:26:09.549 let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving and 00:26:09.549 --> 00:26:14.720 tell of His deeds and songs of joy. No longer 00:26:14.720 --> 00:26:16.799 prisoners here now. We have just simply what 00:26:16.799 --> 00:26:20.700 I'm calling a group of of sufferers they suffer 00:26:20.700 --> 00:26:26.319 simply because of their sin I Think we all know 00:26:26.319 --> 00:26:29.059 that there is some suffering that exists in this 00:26:29.059 --> 00:26:31.859 world simply because we live in a broken and 00:26:31.859 --> 00:26:35.400 sinful and fallen world But that's not the description 00:26:35.400 --> 00:26:38.069 here in this song These people aren't suffering 00:26:38.069 --> 00:26:41.990 just because of the plight of sinful humanity. 00:26:41.990 --> 00:26:45.910 They suffer because it's all self -inflicted. 00:26:46.470 --> 00:26:48.630 These people suffer because of their own sinful 00:26:48.630 --> 00:26:52.730 actions and their own sinful ways. In fact, it's 00:26:52.730 --> 00:26:55.809 so much so that in verse 18, it says they drew 00:26:55.809 --> 00:27:01.109 near to the gates of death, nearing death, loathing 00:27:01.109 --> 00:27:05.680 food itself because of their sin. That's why 00:27:05.680 --> 00:27:08.200 the best word is used in verse 17 to describe 00:27:08.200 --> 00:27:10.900 these people. What are they called? They're called 00:27:10.900 --> 00:27:15.660 fools. Fools. Those people that Proverbs spend 00:27:15.660 --> 00:27:19.079 so much time telling us not to be like, right? 00:27:19.119 --> 00:27:22.319 Not to be like the fool. The people who lack 00:27:22.319 --> 00:27:26.220 sound judgment. They run after evil things. They 00:27:26.220 --> 00:27:29.099 don't listen. Often the Proverbs even talk about 00:27:29.099 --> 00:27:34.049 the fact that they're lazy. I mean, they disregard 00:27:34.049 --> 00:27:37.210 the Word of God, yes, and then they seek to satisfy 00:27:37.210 --> 00:27:40.170 their hearts in wrong and evil things. They even, 00:27:40.309 --> 00:27:43.630 as Proverbs 1 says, they even get others to engage 00:27:43.630 --> 00:27:48.210 with them in their foolish ways. I mean, fools 00:27:48.210 --> 00:27:50.190 are often described just simply as being wicked. 00:27:51.130 --> 00:27:54.950 Or one banner phrase is they don't fear the Lord. 00:27:55.009 --> 00:27:58.970 So what is it that they do? They suffer. They 00:27:58.970 --> 00:28:02.589 may even suffer the natural consequences of their 00:28:02.589 --> 00:28:05.890 sin even in their their bodies Literally bringing 00:28:05.890 --> 00:28:09.730 them near to death. It's as if they're looking 00:28:09.730 --> 00:28:14.930 over the edge into their own Grave peering down 00:28:14.930 --> 00:28:17.589 six feet into the ground is the picture The psalmist 00:28:17.589 --> 00:28:19.789 is trying to get to give us and it's all because 00:28:19.789 --> 00:28:23.490 their sinful life has led them here You know, 00:28:23.490 --> 00:28:27.470 I can't help but think About the prodigal son 00:28:27.470 --> 00:28:32.730 when I think about this Remember he he runs away 00:28:32.730 --> 00:28:36.589 takes all of his money expends it in and a life 00:28:36.589 --> 00:28:40.710 of sinfulness and wickedness and Squanders everything 00:28:40.710 --> 00:28:44.569 and he sits there in a pig pen At one point even 00:28:44.569 --> 00:28:48.089 even longing to be fed with the food of the pigs 00:28:48.089 --> 00:28:52.319 were eating possibly starving at this point Mean 00:28:52.319 --> 00:28:53.859 it's interesting the prodigal son actually longs 00:28:53.859 --> 00:28:56.119 for food, but here in Psalm 107. They don't even 00:28:56.119 --> 00:28:59.799 want food They loathe it. That's how much they're 00:28:59.799 --> 00:29:04.619 suffering has come And of course, I don't know 00:29:04.619 --> 00:29:06.920 if you've been at a place like that physically 00:29:06.920 --> 00:29:13.940 I Mean you may have what about in your own soul 00:29:13.940 --> 00:29:18.390 a place where you found yourself suffering, the 00:29:18.390 --> 00:29:20.390 effects, the natural consequences of your sin, 00:29:21.069 --> 00:29:26.410 even feeling the intensity of death at some point. 00:29:26.950 --> 00:29:28.789 Dr. Barrack, the one I quoted earlier, he said 00:29:28.789 --> 00:29:31.069 this, not until some people come face to face 00:29:31.069 --> 00:29:34.309 with death do they realize, they finally realize, 00:29:34.369 --> 00:29:36.990 their terrible condition. He says there are many 00:29:36.990 --> 00:29:40.390 whom God has had to bring to the edge of their 00:29:40.390 --> 00:29:42.869 own grave before they had finally turned to Him 00:29:42.869 --> 00:29:46.470 for His help. Don't know that that's been you 00:29:46.470 --> 00:29:48.170 maybe you've been near someone that this has 00:29:48.170 --> 00:29:52.829 been true of But have You cried out to the Lord 00:29:52.829 --> 00:29:56.089 in that moment? That's the question. I keep coming 00:29:56.089 --> 00:29:57.730 back to the psalmist keeps coming back you have 00:29:57.730 --> 00:30:02.509 you turned to him? Have you run to him? He loves 00:30:02.509 --> 00:30:07.769 to deliver his people from trouble He loves to 00:30:07.769 --> 00:30:11.470 deliver them from these things I mean, this is 00:30:11.470 --> 00:30:13.670 what these sufferers do, and we would take note 00:30:13.670 --> 00:30:15.789 of how they did it. They cried out to the Lord 00:30:15.789 --> 00:30:19.609 in their trouble. They said, Lord, we need help. 00:30:20.450 --> 00:30:22.849 We're in a situation that we've brought upon 00:30:22.849 --> 00:30:27.069 ourselves, and now we need You to pull us out. 00:30:28.089 --> 00:30:31.269 And of course, the promise in 19, and He delivered 00:30:31.269 --> 00:30:36.440 them from their distress. He delivers them. Psalm 00:30:36.440 --> 00:30:52.380 116 has the exact same language. You'll see this 00:30:52.380 --> 00:30:56.720 throughout the Psalms. It's a call to run to 00:30:56.720 --> 00:30:58.839 the Lord. And I wanted you to check this out. 00:30:58.900 --> 00:31:01.819 Look down at verse 20. Did you catch this? Look 00:31:01.819 --> 00:31:06.579 at it says how he does this. It says of God he 00:31:06.579 --> 00:31:10.720 sent out his word and healed them and delivered 00:31:10.720 --> 00:31:15.299 them from their destruction It's specifically 00:31:15.299 --> 00:31:20.079 speaking here of God's word that does this kind 00:31:20.079 --> 00:31:24.299 of work And you say how does God's word do this? 00:31:24.599 --> 00:31:28.599 I'm thankful for the comments of Jim Hamilton 00:31:28.599 --> 00:31:30.359 in his commentary. I love this. Look at this 00:31:30.359 --> 00:31:32.819 with me He said the Bible produces wisdom and 00:31:32.819 --> 00:31:38.019 foolish people It reorients our perspective The 00:31:38.019 --> 00:31:40.660 Bible gives people a new way of life that does 00:31:40.660 --> 00:31:42.960 not lead through affliction to the gates of death 00:31:42.960 --> 00:31:47.180 But rather on a straight and narrow way to the 00:31:47.180 --> 00:31:51.559 presence of God where people prosper in all they 00:31:51.559 --> 00:31:55.670 do end quote I mean, the Word of God is incredibly 00:31:55.670 --> 00:32:00.710 powerful here. And God uses it to heal and restore 00:32:00.710 --> 00:32:04.430 the sick and the suffering here. I mean, you 00:32:04.430 --> 00:32:08.549 know, the longest Psalm, Psalm 119, it'll say 00:32:08.549 --> 00:32:11.670 it like this in verse 25, my soul clings to the 00:32:11.670 --> 00:32:15.809 dust. Give me life according to your word, it 00:32:15.809 --> 00:32:20.589 says. Or verse 28, my soul melts away for sorrow. 00:32:21.910 --> 00:32:24.450 strengthen me according to your word." You see 00:32:24.450 --> 00:32:27.549 how the psalmist calling out to the Lord that 00:32:27.549 --> 00:32:29.589 God's word would do this? Or verse 50 of Psalm 00:32:29.589 --> 00:32:33.410 119, this is my comfort in my affliction, that 00:32:33.410 --> 00:32:38.930 your promise gives me life. The Word of God bringing 00:32:38.930 --> 00:32:42.049 life, the Word of God healing the sick and suffering 00:32:42.049 --> 00:32:44.470 soul. Let me just ask you this question, do you 00:32:44.470 --> 00:32:46.829 run to it when you're in distress and when you're 00:32:46.829 --> 00:32:52.160 suffering? Mean sometimes I fear I think I might 00:32:52.160 --> 00:32:53.680 have said something similar to the ambassadors 00:32:53.680 --> 00:32:55.960 group a couple weeks ago Sometimes the Word of 00:32:55.960 --> 00:33:00.880 God's the last place we go. I Mean we're quick 00:33:00.880 --> 00:33:03.440 to turn on a podcast I need to you know listen 00:33:03.440 --> 00:33:05.720 to seven different voices for an hour and a half 00:33:05.720 --> 00:33:09.000 while I drive and Then talk about what it means 00:33:09.000 --> 00:33:12.519 to suffer You know, I mean we're quick to run 00:33:12.519 --> 00:33:17.160 to a friend Not always wrong, of course or run 00:33:17.160 --> 00:33:20.420 to a spouse or click on YouTube or even distract 00:33:20.420 --> 00:33:23.019 ourselves with social media or whatever it may 00:33:23.019 --> 00:33:25.500 be. I'll watch a seven second video on suffering. 00:33:25.539 --> 00:33:31.140 That'll be enough. I mean, so many voices, so 00:33:31.140 --> 00:33:34.420 many other words that we can listen to that don't 00:33:34.420 --> 00:33:37.180 have the promise and the power of the Word of 00:33:37.180 --> 00:33:44.920 God. You've got to run to God in His Word. And 00:33:44.920 --> 00:33:47.779 by the power of the Word, I can say this, it 00:33:47.779 --> 00:33:51.900 will heal. It will restore. It will bring you 00:33:51.900 --> 00:33:54.660 back in that sense to life. And when it does, 00:33:54.680 --> 00:33:57.599 listen, what's the call in verse 21? Let them 00:33:57.599 --> 00:34:03.299 thank the Lord. Let them offer sacrifices of 00:34:03.299 --> 00:34:07.599 thanksgiving. Let them tell of His deeds and 00:34:07.599 --> 00:34:10.500 songs of joy. I just have three S's. There's 00:34:10.500 --> 00:34:12.460 the saying of thanks, the sacrifice of thanks, 00:34:12.519 --> 00:34:15.320 and the singing of thanks. Just bring it all. 00:34:15.760 --> 00:34:17.739 So I asked you that question. Did you say thank 00:34:17.739 --> 00:34:20.559 you have you thanked the Lord? Well, there's 00:34:20.559 --> 00:34:23.719 a another kind of last little parable here in 00:34:23.719 --> 00:34:26.679 the text I want you to see It's another reason 00:34:26.679 --> 00:34:29.619 to thank the Lord. He reorients the wandering 00:34:29.619 --> 00:34:32.960 soul. He releases the The prisoner from captivity 00:34:32.960 --> 00:34:35.500 he he restores the suffering heart and here the 00:34:35.500 --> 00:34:38.400 last one we can thank the Lord for rescuing the 00:34:38.400 --> 00:34:40.920 troubled Rescuing the trouble look at it with 00:34:40.920 --> 00:34:46.309 me It says some Went down to the sea and ships, 00:34:46.789 --> 00:34:48.889 doing business on the great waters. They saw 00:34:48.889 --> 00:34:51.469 the deeds of the Lord, his wondrous works in 00:34:51.469 --> 00:34:54.289 the deep. For he commanded and raised the stormy 00:34:54.289 --> 00:34:57.429 wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea. They 00:34:57.429 --> 00:35:00.570 mounted up to heaven. They went down to the depths. 00:35:01.010 --> 00:35:04.690 Their courage melted away in their evil plight. 00:35:05.110 --> 00:35:08.349 They reeled and staggered like drunken men, and 00:35:08.349 --> 00:35:13.300 were at their wit's end. Then they cried to the 00:35:13.300 --> 00:35:15.360 Lord in their trouble and he delivered them from 00:35:15.360 --> 00:35:17.159 their distress He made the storm be still and 00:35:17.159 --> 00:35:19.360 the waves of the sea were hushed Then they were 00:35:19.360 --> 00:35:21.699 glad that the waters were quiet and he brought 00:35:21.699 --> 00:35:24.719 them to their desired Haven let them thank the 00:35:24.719 --> 00:35:26.719 Lord for his steadfast love for his wondrous 00:35:26.719 --> 00:35:29.139 works to the children of man Let they let them 00:35:29.139 --> 00:35:32.179 extol him in the congregation the people and 00:35:32.179 --> 00:35:36.920 praise him in the assembly of the elders You 00:35:36.920 --> 00:35:40.519 know, there's all this water And sailor language, 00:35:40.699 --> 00:35:42.760 I almost wanted to make the title of this section, 00:35:42.900 --> 00:35:50.099 thank the Lord for rescuing the mariners. I mean, 00:35:50.099 --> 00:35:55.219 he's powerful, but no, I'm just joking. But the 00:35:55.219 --> 00:36:00.239 picture we have is one of sailors. And there 00:36:00.239 --> 00:36:02.159 really isn't a ton to compare it to in the nation 00:36:02.159 --> 00:36:04.280 of Israel, which lends a lot of commentators, 00:36:04.280 --> 00:36:06.679 and I tend to agree that this isn't just about 00:36:06.679 --> 00:36:11.210 Israel. this is about individuals and Here we 00:36:11.210 --> 00:36:14.809 have people working at sea and God in his sovereignty. 00:36:14.809 --> 00:36:20.610 He brings a storm He and it pounds them and and 00:36:20.610 --> 00:36:23.949 they're in trouble. I Mean it says in verse 26 00:36:23.949 --> 00:36:26.840 that they lose all courage Mean these are people 00:36:26.840 --> 00:36:29.019 that do business out on the sea They're probably 00:36:29.019 --> 00:36:32.880 used to being out there and and and and they're 00:36:32.880 --> 00:36:35.739 experienced sailors, but now there's verse 27 00:36:35.739 --> 00:36:38.239 They're staggering around because their boat 00:36:38.239 --> 00:36:42.679 is just being pounded to the point That they're 00:36:42.679 --> 00:36:46.300 at their wits end. It says You know my Bible 00:36:46.300 --> 00:36:47.920 has a little note. It brings me down to the bottom 00:36:47.920 --> 00:36:53.320 of my page little footnote It says here, all 00:36:53.320 --> 00:36:57.800 their wisdom was swallowed up, it says. That's 00:36:57.800 --> 00:37:00.440 the idea there. They're at their wit's end. Their 00:37:00.440 --> 00:37:03.820 wisdom's gone. I mean, even the most experienced 00:37:03.820 --> 00:37:07.780 of fishermen are at the mercy of the sea, and 00:37:07.780 --> 00:37:11.699 they can lose all hope and all courage. I don't 00:37:11.699 --> 00:37:13.519 know if you've been in a situation like this. 00:37:13.880 --> 00:37:16.300 I mean, but it's amazing how small you can feel 00:37:16.300 --> 00:37:19.780 out on a boat. Even a big boat out on the ocean. 00:37:20.260 --> 00:37:22.980 I don't have a lot of personal experience of 00:37:22.980 --> 00:37:24.460 being caught in the storm the only experience 00:37:24.460 --> 00:37:27.800 I have of manning a ship was a small sailboat 00:37:27.800 --> 00:37:31.380 in Balboa Harbor in California that me and my 00:37:31.380 --> 00:37:35.199 friend Zach crashed into a parked boat and One 00:37:35.199 --> 00:37:37.300 of us had to jump out and physically move the 00:37:37.300 --> 00:37:38.699 boat ourselves with our feet because we just 00:37:38.699 --> 00:37:41.739 couldn't get control of this thing But but I 00:37:41.739 --> 00:37:44.840 called a couple in our church this week Called 00:37:44.840 --> 00:37:47.119 the first fisherman. I know Tim Schwitters. He's 00:37:47.119 --> 00:37:49.159 in our church. He said you need to call Josh 00:37:49.159 --> 00:37:52.659 and Eleanor Nelson Because they had an experience 00:37:52.659 --> 00:37:58.679 Like this just a year ago Caught in a storm up 00:37:58.679 --> 00:38:01.219 near the San Juan Islands coming down from Victoria 00:38:01.219 --> 00:38:03.639 to Seattle and I called them I said hey guys, 00:38:03.900 --> 00:38:05.699 I need an illustration for my sermon. No, I said 00:38:05.699 --> 00:38:10.699 I said I said I'm studying this text I Just heard 00:38:10.699 --> 00:38:12.219 that you guys were caught in a storm. Tell me 00:38:12.219 --> 00:38:14.889 about it Well, they started telling me it was 00:38:14.889 --> 00:38:19.090 Shay. It was it was unbelievable We were going 00:38:19.090 --> 00:38:22.070 down from Victoria just a year ago. We got caught 00:38:22.070 --> 00:38:24.170 in the storm They had some friends and some family 00:38:24.170 --> 00:38:27.989 on the boat and suddenly the sea turned on them 00:38:28.679 --> 00:38:32.139 They told me that it was an incredibly frightening 00:38:32.139 --> 00:38:35.679 experience. They were hitting what were 14 foot 00:38:35.679 --> 00:38:38.460 waves Some of which were just hammering their 00:38:38.460 --> 00:38:41.900 boats at high their boat at high speeds And they 00:38:41.900 --> 00:38:43.800 told me we literally thought we were going to 00:38:43.800 --> 00:38:47.139 die. I Mean Shay we we just they literally said 00:38:47.139 --> 00:38:50.039 it was a storm of biblical proportions. Those 00:38:50.039 --> 00:38:54.639 were their words and you can imagine What that's 00:38:54.639 --> 00:38:56.659 like feeling completely helpless, especially 00:38:56.659 --> 00:38:59.570 if you're the captain of the ship Seriously fearful 00:38:59.570 --> 00:39:01.869 of their lives. Some of you are like man. I'm 00:39:01.869 --> 00:39:03.210 never going on a boat again. I'm like, I know 00:39:03.210 --> 00:39:07.670 I'm with you You know, it's amazing I told him 00:39:07.670 --> 00:39:09.070 I said listen, it's so interesting because my 00:39:09.070 --> 00:39:11.250 text talks about this and they were telling me 00:39:11.250 --> 00:39:13.110 Yeah, every time we read anything about boats 00:39:13.110 --> 00:39:15.130 and sailing now. It's all we think about is this 00:39:15.130 --> 00:39:17.969 experience We had a year ago and I said man Well 00:39:17.969 --> 00:39:20.710 in the psalm it says it says that they they prayed 00:39:20.710 --> 00:39:22.690 to the Lord and they said oh Shay That's exactly 00:39:22.690 --> 00:39:27.090 what we did We we cried out to the Lord I said 00:39:27.090 --> 00:39:30.530 what happened They said, we're not kidding, Shay. 00:39:30.989 --> 00:39:33.070 And I don't know how much time it took. They 00:39:33.070 --> 00:39:36.869 said the storm calmed, and I'm quoting now, the 00:39:36.869 --> 00:39:43.309 waves went from 14 feet to two inches. And their 00:39:43.309 --> 00:39:45.230 boat had gotten in between two different islands, 00:39:45.449 --> 00:39:48.769 and suddenly things were calm. And the Lord had 00:39:48.769 --> 00:39:51.269 spared them and brought them safely to their 00:39:51.269 --> 00:39:55.239 destination. Or as the psalmist says in verse 00:39:55.239 --> 00:40:00.480 28, he made the storm be still and the waves 00:40:00.480 --> 00:40:02.900 were hushed. And of course, what in verse three, 00:40:02.920 --> 00:40:07.760 they were glad. Glad that the waves were quiet 00:40:07.760 --> 00:40:10.940 and bringing them to where they wanted to go. 00:40:11.039 --> 00:40:12.960 I told that couple and I say it to you, praise 00:40:12.960 --> 00:40:20.090 the Lord. In the midst of trouble, In the midst 00:40:20.090 --> 00:40:22.909 of even something that God may bring, a humbling 00:40:22.909 --> 00:40:26.510 experience for you. There's no indication that, 00:40:26.510 --> 00:40:29.090 I mean, the psalmist indicates that this was 00:40:29.090 --> 00:40:35.110 a storm that God brought. It just happened. God 00:40:35.110 --> 00:40:37.590 may do that to show you His power, His might, 00:40:37.750 --> 00:40:40.309 remind you how tiny that you really are. Even 00:40:40.309 --> 00:40:44.050 then we need to cry out to Him. Of course, it's 00:40:44.050 --> 00:40:47.469 not just being in trouble on the sea. This stands 00:40:47.469 --> 00:40:49.710 for anything that could humble us anything that 00:40:49.710 --> 00:40:52.489 causes us to fear to reel and lose our courage 00:40:52.489 --> 00:40:56.250 we to cry out to him Maybe you're in a situation 00:40:56.250 --> 00:40:59.150 like that right now. I Don't know what you brought 00:40:59.150 --> 00:41:02.909 in but you can call out to the steadfast God 00:41:02.909 --> 00:41:05.829 the God that's loving and gracious and kind and 00:41:05.829 --> 00:41:08.590 good And when you do he will rescue and then 00:41:08.590 --> 00:41:10.590 of course the response is just simply this let 00:41:10.590 --> 00:41:14.309 them thank the Lord for his steadfast love You 00:41:14.309 --> 00:41:16.369 notice in verse 32 he adds a few more things 00:41:16.369 --> 00:41:18.789 that says let them extol him in the congregation 00:41:18.789 --> 00:41:21.590 of the people and Praise him in the assembly. 00:41:21.969 --> 00:41:25.050 This isn't just a personal dynamic It's a corporate 00:41:25.050 --> 00:41:28.409 one if you experience God's love in this way 00:41:28.409 --> 00:41:30.409 when he's brought you back from your wandering 00:41:30.409 --> 00:41:33.170 brought you back from your imprisonment of your 00:41:33.170 --> 00:41:36.150 own sin and your suffering and in your trouble 00:41:36.110 --> 00:41:40.050 You need to tell people about it. Go and tell 00:41:40.050 --> 00:41:42.369 them. Tell the church. Tell the elders. Tell 00:41:42.369 --> 00:41:44.530 everyone what he has done. Maybe make it part 00:41:44.530 --> 00:41:47.670 of your Thanksgiving meal this week. Hey listen, 00:41:47.730 --> 00:41:51.230 I had this thing happen and God was so faithful. 00:41:52.789 --> 00:41:57.150 Thank the Lord. Thank the Lord. Well, my time 00:41:57.150 --> 00:42:00.389 is going quick. I'll give you my next point for 00:42:00.389 --> 00:42:01.869 those who get upset. They don't have all the 00:42:01.869 --> 00:42:06.300 points. It's in verses 33 to 42. It's thank the 00:42:06.300 --> 00:42:09.820 Lord for his reversals It's a very different 00:42:09.820 --> 00:42:13.039 section of the text. I can't make a lot of comments 00:42:13.039 --> 00:42:16.219 here, but it generally speaks about the sovereignty 00:42:16.219 --> 00:42:19.820 of God. He allows things to happen and He can 00:42:19.820 --> 00:42:22.639 reverse them. This is all part of His work and 00:42:22.639 --> 00:42:25.280 it's all part of why we need to thank Him. He 00:42:25.280 --> 00:42:28.260 can reverse the things that seem irreversible 00:42:28.260 --> 00:42:30.940 at times. Just look at verse 35. I'll make this 00:42:30.940 --> 00:42:33.840 comment here. He turns a desert into pools of 00:42:33.840 --> 00:42:36.940 water and a parched land into springs of water. 00:42:37.260 --> 00:42:40.559 This is the work that God can do and of course 00:42:40.559 --> 00:42:43.880 verse 41 reminds us that God is the one who helps 00:42:43.880 --> 00:42:47.340 in our Affliction because and because of that 00:42:47.340 --> 00:42:51.079 the people of God are called to rejoice and be 00:42:51.079 --> 00:42:53.860 glad Well, finally, let me just look at this 00:42:53.860 --> 00:42:57.139 last thing. I have to get to verse 43 with the 00:42:57.139 --> 00:42:59.119 time that we have left It's simply a call to 00:42:59.119 --> 00:43:02.260 reflect on the Lord's work a call to reflect 00:43:02.260 --> 00:43:04.900 on the Lord's work Look at verse 43 whoever is 00:43:04.900 --> 00:43:08.769 wise Let them attend to these things Let them 00:43:08.769 --> 00:43:12.969 consider the steadfast love of the Lord The call 00:43:12.969 --> 00:43:15.769 here is just simply to reflect deeply on all 00:43:15.769 --> 00:43:18.809 the Lord has done It's to give careful attention 00:43:18.809 --> 00:43:22.690 is the idea or careful consideration To the Lord 00:43:22.690 --> 00:43:25.590 steadfast loyal love. Maybe you need to do that 00:43:25.590 --> 00:43:29.630 this week Just give careful attention write down 00:43:29.630 --> 00:43:33.570 The ways in which you can be thankful to the 00:43:33.570 --> 00:43:36.820 Lord. I mean we saw those those pictures. This 00:43:36.820 --> 00:43:39.019 is also what the psalmist is talking about. Consider 00:43:39.019 --> 00:43:41.940 what he's just written. Look at Psalm 107. All 00:43:41.940 --> 00:43:44.440 those who are lost in trouble near death, consider 00:43:44.440 --> 00:43:47.059 these things in light of the love of God. That 00:43:47.059 --> 00:43:51.960 is what it means to be wise. I appreciate just 00:43:51.960 --> 00:43:55.780 a really small comment by Dane Ortland. He said 00:43:55.780 --> 00:43:59.820 this, a miserable Christian is a contradiction 00:43:59.820 --> 00:44:04.010 in terms. A miserable Christian is a contradiction 00:44:04.010 --> 00:44:05.929 in terms. I mean, how could a Christian be miserable? 00:44:07.530 --> 00:44:10.329 When the Lord has saved them and rescued them 00:44:10.329 --> 00:44:12.929 and delivered them. And Christians who are wise 00:44:12.929 --> 00:44:14.670 are going to be spending their time and their 00:44:14.670 --> 00:44:17.289 days considering these things. And of course, 00:44:17.349 --> 00:44:19.670 what that's going to do is make them more thankful. 00:44:20.309 --> 00:44:23.250 Make them more joyful, not miserable. I mean, 00:44:23.389 --> 00:44:25.289 we have so much to be thankful for, don't we? 00:44:26.400 --> 00:44:29.940 I mean, we need to ponder, reflect, meditate, 00:44:30.000 --> 00:44:31.219 and listen, I'll tell you this, here's what's 00:44:31.219 --> 00:44:33.320 cool. When we do that, our feet are going to 00:44:33.320 --> 00:44:37.739 follow. We're going to begin to do what God called 00:44:37.739 --> 00:44:39.679 us to do, just simply out of a thankful heart. 00:44:39.719 --> 00:44:41.460 That's why one unknown author said it this way, 00:44:41.480 --> 00:44:45.960 the art of thanksgiving is thanks living. Thanks 00:44:45.960 --> 00:44:48.420 living. Christians aren't miserable, they're 00:44:48.420 --> 00:44:52.059 thankfully living their lives that align with 00:44:52.059 --> 00:44:56.760 godliness. So much to be thankful for. Listen 00:44:56.760 --> 00:44:58.739 when you cry out to the Lord, he's always faithful. 00:44:59.199 --> 00:45:01.880 That's the cry even of of this psalm And so I 00:45:01.880 --> 00:45:03.760 asked you that question one more time. Did you 00:45:03.760 --> 00:45:08.039 say thank you? Maybe as way of application. I'm 00:45:08.039 --> 00:45:09.480 asked the band if they're in the room I'm gonna 00:45:09.480 --> 00:45:11.159 ask them to just start coming up and getting 00:45:11.159 --> 00:45:13.780 ready. I was thinking about this I was like I 00:45:13.780 --> 00:45:15.920 could probably share like a really sweet story 00:45:15.920 --> 00:45:18.699 of thanks Thanksgiving or I could read from George 00:45:18.699 --> 00:45:20.920 Washington's, you know original proclamation, 00:45:21.000 --> 00:45:24.550 which does I believe give glory to God But if 00:45:24.550 --> 00:45:30.010 you go back to verse 2, this could be our application. 00:45:31.769 --> 00:45:37.130 It says here, let the redeemed of the Lord say 00:45:37.130 --> 00:45:42.750 so. That is, let them say out loud their thanks. 00:45:44.039 --> 00:45:47.440 In verses 21 and 22, let them thank the Lord 00:45:47.440 --> 00:45:49.300 for his steadfast love for his wondrous works 00:45:49.300 --> 00:45:51.380 to the children of man. Here it is. Let them 00:45:51.380 --> 00:45:53.860 offer sacrifices of thanksgiving and tell of 00:45:53.860 --> 00:45:59.480 his deeds in songs of joy. And so even though 00:45:59.480 --> 00:46:01.719 last week we had the joy of singing this song, 00:46:01.880 --> 00:46:05.519 I asked Jonah if we could sing once again, we 00:46:05.519 --> 00:46:10.599 give thanks or Psalm 107. And as we do, let's 00:46:10.599 --> 00:46:13.949 sing it loud and proclaim to each other. to our 00:46:13.949 --> 00:46:17.510 God listen our gratitude for all he has done 00:46:17.510 --> 00:46:20.429 you should be thinking of things even right now 00:46:20.429 --> 00:46:22.730 yeah man I know this thing happened I could thank 00:46:22.730 --> 00:46:24.250 the Lord for that and you can begin to pray even 00:46:24.250 --> 00:46:26.429 in your own heart and thank the Lord would you 00:46:26.429 --> 00:46:28.809 stand would you stand and we're gonna sing this 00:46:28.809 --> 00:46:32.030 one together maybe just as our a prayer in song