Psalms for a Pandemic Summer 10 Psalm 107: Give Thanks

 

The summer of the pandemic is waning but the pandemic is still here!!  We are learning to live with it.  God’s wondrous world is not without it challenges but even in the midst of them we have much for which we can be thankful.  The human tribe has been through worse times, has learned some lessons, has endured and thrived.  Will we learn our lessons this time?  Will we not only survive but thrive having been shown our sins, repented of them, felt God’s gracious mercy and moved on in ways more loving, more just and more peaceful for all of God’s wondrous world.  Give thanks for God is good. 

 

Psalm 107 Thanksgiving for Deliverance from Many Troubles 1 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;     for his steadfast love endures forever. 2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,     those he redeemed from trouble 4 Some wandered in desert wastes,     finding no way to an inhabited town; 5 hungry and thirsty,     their soul fainted within them. 6 Then they cried to the Lord and he delivered them from their distress; 8 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for he satisfies the thirsty,     and the hungry he fills with good things. 10 Some sat in darkness and in gloom,     prisoners in misery and in irons, 11 for they had rebelled against God, 12 Their hearts were bowed down with hard labor;  they fell down, with no one to help. 13 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble; he brought them out of darkness and broke their bonds asunder. 15 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for he shatters the doors of bronze,     and cuts in two the bars of iron. 17 Some were sick and because of their iniquities endured affliction; 18 they loathed any kind of food, and they drew near to the gates of death. 19 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble; he sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from suffering. 21 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love and tell of his deeds with joyful songs. 23 Some went down to the sea in ships,     doing business on the mighty waters; 25 For he 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 melted away in their calamity; they reeled and staggered like drunkards, and were at their wits’ end. 28 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, 29 he made the storm be still, and he brought them to safe haven. 31 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, 32 Let them extol him in the congregation and praise him in the assembly of the elders. 33 He turns rivers into a desert, 34 a fruitful land into a salty waste,     because of the wickedness of its inhabitants. 35 He turns a desert into pools of water, 36 And there he lets the hungry live,     and they establish a town to live in; 37 they sow fields, and plant vineyards,     and get a fruitful yield. 39 When they are brought low through oppression, trouble, and sorrow, 40 he pours contempt on princes 41 but he raises up the needy out of distress, 42 The upright see it and are glad;     and all wickedness stops its mouth. 43 Let those who are wise give heed to these things,     and consider the steadfast love of the Lord.

O give thanks for the steadfast love of God endures forever.  Let all who love God, those whom God has saved, let them speak out.  Some wandered through life aimlessly, thirsty for meaning and purpose, finding no peace or contentment in life. They turned to God and were saved.  God showed them people who cared and people who needed their care. Let them give thanks for the steadfast love of God. Some sat in darkness and gloom, prisoners in the misery their life had become. Through circumstance and choice they had rebelled against God’s way.  They were bowed down, hard pressed and without help.  They turned to God and were saved.  God showed them a new pathway. Let them give thanks for the steadfast love of God. Some were sick of body and mind.  They were tired of living and wanted to die. They turned to God and were saved; some saved by death—some by another chance at life. Let them give thanks for the steadfast love of God. Some were swamped by businesses gone wrong.  One day they were flying high; the next they were sinking.  The debts mounted up and the revenues dried up;  so did their courage and creativity. They turned to God and were saved.   God calmed their fears, absolved their guilt, open up options and showed them possibilities. Let them give thanks for the steadfast love of God. God doesn’t save us from the consequences of our actions; rivers can become deserts and fruitful land a salty waste because of the choices we make. When we follow God’s way those deserts become pools of water;  cities places of peace and refuge;  the field and the vine produce bountifully. When trouble does come the faithful stay true to God’s way. They can endure oppression and rise up from distress.  They see the folly of the greedy and wicked and are glad to see them brought low.    Let those who are wise, give heed to these things and consider the steadfast love of God.