Summary
Psalm 107 begins with a call to thanksgiving. Before the psalm describes human distress, it announces the goodness and steadfast love of the LORD. The redeemed are those whom the LORD has rescued, and they are called not to remain silent but to speak of His mercy.
The rest of the psalm gives four rescue scenes and one wisdom reflection. In each rescue scene, the redeemed are brought to the end of themselves, cry out to the LORD, and experience His deliverance.
Sermon Outline
Give thanks because God leads the lost home
- Text
- Psalm 107:4–9
- Key Verse
- Psalm 107:9
- Key Idea
- God leads the lost home and satisfies the hungry soul.
The first rescue scene is one of lostness. The people wander in desert wastes with no city to dwell in, hungry and thirsty, with their soul fainting within them. The LORD’s deliverance fits their need exactly: He leads them by a straight way, brings them to a place to dwell, and satisfies the longing soul.
Give thanks because God breaks the chains of the bound
- Text
- Psalm 107:10–16
- Key Verse
- Psalm 107:16
- Key Idea
- God breaks the chains of those imprisoned by sin and brings them out of darkness.
The second rescue scene moves from wandering to bondage. These people sit in darkness and in the shadow of death because they rebelled against God’s word and spurned His counsel. The LORD’s deliverance fits their need exactly: He brings them out of darkness and the shadow of death, bursts their bonds apart, shatters the doors of bronze, and cuts the bars of iron.
Give thanks because God heals the foolish and sin-sick
- Text
- Psalm 107:17–22
- Key Verse
- Psalm 107:20
- Key Idea
- God heals the sin-sick by His word and delivers them from destruction.
The third rescue scene moves from bondage to sickness. The people are called fools because their suffering is connected to their sinful ways. Their condition is so severe that they loathe food and draw near to the gates of death. The LORD’s deliverance again fits the need exactly: He sends His word, heals them, and delivers them from destruction.
Give thanks because God calms the overwhelmed
- Text
- Psalm 107:23–32
- Key Verse
- Psalm 107:29
- Key Idea
- God calms the overwhelmed and brings His people safely home.
The fourth rescue scene shows people overwhelmed by forces beyond their control. The sailors are brought to the end of their own strength and wisdom. The storm is not outside the LORD’s control: He commands the stormy wind, and He also makes the storm be still. His deliverance fits their need exactly: He calms the sea, hushes the waves, and brings them to their desired haven.
Walk wisely by remembering the steadfast love of the LORD
- Text
- Psalm 107:33–43
- Key Verse
- Psalm 107:43
- Key Idea
- The wise consider the LORD’s sovereign reversals and remember His steadfast love.
Psalm 107:33–43 shifts from the repeated rescue pattern to a broader wisdom reflection. The LORD can turn abundance into wilderness in judgment, and He can turn wilderness into abundance in mercy. He brings the powerful low, raises the needy from affliction, causes the upright to rejoice, and silences the wicked. Verse 43 gives the final response: wisdom means attending to these things and considering the steadfast love of the LORD.
Christ Connection
The steadfast love of the LORD is ultimately revealed in Jesus Christ, who seeks the lost, frees those enslaved to sin, heals the sin-sick, rules over the storm, and brings the redeemed safely home.
The greatest reversal is seen in Christ’s death and resurrection: what looked like defeat became victory. In Christ, God brings down the power of sin and death, lifts the humbled, redeems sinners, and displays His steadfast love most clearly.
Closing Exhortation
Are you lost? Wandering in a wilderness with no way home? I cannot save you. No one in this room can save you. But Christ can. Cry to the LORD.
Are you bound? Sitting in darkness, chained by sin, guilt, shame, or rebellion? I cannot break those chains. But Christ can. Cry to the LORD.
Are you sin-sick? Has sin left your soul weak, foolish, and near destruction? I cannot heal you. But Christ can. Cry to the LORD.
Are you overwhelmed? Are you at your wits’ end, tossed by a storm you cannot control? I cannot calm the storm. But Christ can. Cry to the LORD.
Have you been redeemed? Then do not stay silent. Give thanks, and let the redeemed of the LORD say so.
Glory to God, and let the redeemed say so.