HE RESCUED THOSE WHO CRIED OUT

Passage: Psalms 107:17-43

Key verse: 20

NIV

17 Some became fools(A) through their rebellious ways(B)
    and suffered affliction(C) because of their iniquities.
18 They loathed all food(D)
    and drew near the gates of death.(E)
19 Then they cried(F) to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he saved them(G) from their distress.
20 He sent out his word(H) and healed them;(I)
    he rescued(J) them from the grave.(K)
21 Let them give thanks(L) to the Lord for his unfailing love(M)
    and his wonderful deeds(N) for mankind.
22 Let them sacrifice thank offerings(O)
    and tell of his works(P) with songs of joy.(Q)

23 Some went out on the sea(R) in ships;(S)
    they were merchants on the mighty waters.
24 They saw the works of the Lord,(T)
    his wonderful deeds in the deep.
25 For he spoke(U) and stirred up a tempest(V)
    that lifted high the waves.(W)
26 They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths;
    in their peril(X) their courage melted(Y) away.
27 They reeled(Z) and staggered like drunkards;
    they were at their wits’ end.
28 Then they cried(AA) out to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he brought them out of their distress.(AB)
29 He stilled the storm(AC) to a whisper;
    the waves(AD) of the sea[a] were hushed.(AE)
30 They were glad when it grew calm,
    and he guided them(AF) to their desired haven.
31 Let them give thanks(AG) to the Lord for his unfailing love(AH)
    and his wonderful deeds(AI) for mankind.
32 Let them exalt(AJ) him in the assembly(AK) of the people
    and praise him in the council of the elders.

33 He turned rivers into a desert,(AL)
    flowing springs(AM) into thirsty ground,
34 and fruitful land into a salt waste,(AN)
    because of the wickedness of those who lived there.
35 He turned the desert into pools of water(AO)
    and the parched ground into flowing springs;(AP)
36 there he brought the hungry to live,
    and they founded a city where they could settle.
37 They sowed fields and planted vineyards(AQ)
    that yielded a fruitful harvest;
38 he blessed them, and their numbers greatly increased,(AR)
    and he did not let their herds diminish.(AS)

39 Then their numbers decreased,(AT) and they were humbled(AU)
    by oppression, calamity and sorrow;
40 he who pours contempt on nobles(AV)
    made them wander in a trackless waste.(AW)
41 But he lifted the needy(AX) out of their affliction
    and increased their families like flocks.(AY)
42 The upright see and rejoice,(AZ)
    but all the wicked shut their mouths.(BA)

43 Let the one who is wise(BB) heed these things
    and ponder the loving deeds(BC) of the Lord.

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Footnotes
  1. Psalm 107:29 Dead Sea Scrolls; Masoretic Text / their waves
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

17 Some were (A)fools through their sinful ways,
    and because of their iniquities suffered affliction;
18 (B)they loathed any kind of food,
    and they (C)drew near to (D)the gates of death.
19 (E)Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he delivered them from their distress.
20 He (F)sent out his word and (G)healed them,
    and (H)delivered them from their destruction.
21 (I)Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
    for his wondrous works to the children of man!
22 And let them (J)offer sacrifices of thanksgiving,
    and (K)tell of his deeds in (L)songs of joy!

23 Some (M)went down to the sea in ships,
    doing business on the great waters;
24 they saw the deeds of the Lord,
    his wondrous works in the deep.
25 For he (N)commanded and (O)raised the stormy wind,
    which lifted up the waves of the sea.
26 They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths;
    their courage (P)melted away in their evil plight;
27 they reeled and (Q)staggered like drunken men
    and (R)were at their wits' end.[a]
28 (S)Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he delivered them from their distress.
29 He (T)made the storm be still,
    and the waves of the sea were hushed.
30 Then they were glad that the waters[b] were quiet,
    and he brought them to their desired haven.
31 (U)Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
    for his wondrous works to the children of man!
32 Let them (V)extol him in (W)the congregation of the people,
    and praise him in the assembly of the elders.

33 He (X)turns rivers into a desert,
    springs of water into thirsty ground,
34 (Y)a fruitful land into a salty waste,
    because of the evil of its inhabitants.
35 He (Z)turns a desert into pools of water,
    (AA)a parched land into springs of water.
36 And there he lets the hungry dwell,
    and they establish (AB)a city to live in;
37 they sow fields and plant vineyards
    and get a fruitful yield.
38 (AC)By his blessing they multiply greatly,
    and he does not let their livestock diminish.

39 When they are diminished and brought low
    through oppression, evil, and sorrow,
40 (AD)he pours contempt on princes
    and (AE)makes them wander (AF)in trackless wastes;
41 but (AG)he raises up the needy out of affliction
    and (AH)makes their families like flocks.
42 (AI)The upright see it and are glad,
    and (AJ)all wickedness shuts its mouth.

43 (AK)Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things;
    let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord.

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Footnotes
  1. Psalm 107:27 Hebrew and all their wisdom was swallowed up
  2. Psalm 107:30 Hebrew they
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

The third group of people described by the Psalmist whom the LORD delivers is those who fall into trouble because of their own sins (17-18). We might say that such people deserve whatever they get. Yet, the LORD saves and delivers them anyway when they cry out to him (19-2

). In fact, we are all sinners and God’s salvation is something we did not deserve. Our hearts can overflow with gratitude because we were rescued from trouble and we did not get what our sins deserve (21-22).

The fourth group of people saved by the LORD is seafaring merchants who encountered a devastating storm at sea that made them feel utterly powerless and hopeless (23-27). Our life’s journey can be described as such a voyage, and the troubles in life are like storms that threaten to overwhelm us. But God can calm the storm when we cry out to him, and guide us safely to our destination—even the kingdom of heaven (28-3

). Finally, the psalmist describes how God transforms the environment to bless his people, especially the needy who where formerly oppressed. By pondering God’s mighty interventions, we can experience inner joy and rest in God’s goodness.

Prayer: Father, thank you for all the ways you have answered your people’s prayer and saved them. Help me not doubt your mighty power to change things.

One Word: God acts when we cry out for mercy.