Let the Redeemed of the Lord Say So

Psalm 107:1–9

Opening Prayer

Lord, as we open Your Word, open our hearts. As we hear Your truth, stir our gratitude. As we consider Your redemption, may our lips and lives declare Your praise. Speak, O Lord, for Your servants are listening. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Introduction:

“Gratitude Has a Voice”

Psalm 107 begins with a call that rings out like a trumpet blast: “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever!”

This psalm was written for a redeemed people returning from bondage — people who had wandered, suffered, rebelled, and yet were rescued by the mercy of God. And right there at the beginning, the psalmist says something we dare not miss:

“Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.”

Gratitude is not silent. Praise is not private. Thanksgiving is not passive.

If God has redeemed you, you ought to say so — with your voice, your life, your worship, and your witness.

In this sermon, we’re going to see that Psalm 107 is more than a call to thanksgiving — it is a celebration of the God who rescues the lost, restores the broken, and satisfies the thirsty soul.

Let’s walk through these first nine verses together.

Psalm 107:1–9 NKJV

1 Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. 2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy, 3 And gathered out of the lands, From the east and from the west, From the north and from the south. 4 They wandered in the wilderness in a desolate way; They found no city to dwell in. 5 Hungry and thirsty, Their soul fainted in them. 6 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, And He delivered them out of their distresses. 7 And He led them forth by the right way, That they might go to a city for a dwelling place. 8 Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! 9 For He satisfies the longing soul, And fills the hungry soul with goodness.

I. A Call to Thanksgiving (vv. 1–3)

A. The Psalm Begins Where Gratitude Begins — With God’s Character

Verse 1 gives us two reasons to give thanks:

“He is good.”

“His steadfast love endures forever.”

The Hebrew word for steadfast love is hesed — covenant love, loyal mercy, a love that refuses to let go. This is not sentimental emotion; this is committed, covenantal faithfulness.

This is why the redeemed must give thanks: Our thanksgiving is rooted in who God is, not in how we feel.

B. The Redeemed Are Called to Speak Up (v. 2)

“Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.” Redeemed means “purchased,” “rescued,” “bought back.”

In the Old Testament, redemption involved a price. In the New Testament, redemption involved the price — the blood of Jesus Christ (1 Pet. 1:18–19).

If He redeemed you, you are not your own — and you cannot keep quiet.

C. Gathered From Every Corner (v. 3)

The psalmist says God gathered His people from the east, west, north, and south. This reflects the return from exile, but it also points to a greater truth:

Christ is gathering a redeemed people from every nation, tribe, and tongue (Rev. 5:9).

Gratitude is the global language of the redeemed.

Imagine a courtroom where a man receives a full pardon. The judge signs the papers, the cell opens, and the prisoner walks free. Can you imagine him leaving the courthouse silently? No — he’s calling his family, embracing his friends, telling anyone who will listen that he’s been set free.

Church — redeemed people rejoice out loud.

II. A Cry for Deliverance (vv. 4–6)

Now the psalm shifts to a story — a testimony of wandering souls.

A. Wandering Without Direction (v. 4)

“They wandered in desert wastes…” This describes physical wandering, but it also paints a picture of spiritual wandering:

Lost people

Empty souls

Lives with no sense of direction

It is the story of humanity apart from God.

B. Weary Without Satisfaction (v. 5)

“Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them.” The deepest hunger of the human heart cannot be satisfied by:

Possessions

Pleasure

Position

People

Only God can fill the soul He created.

C. The Turning Point — A Cry to the Lord (v. 6)

“Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble…”

This is the hinge of the passage. Redemption begins when desperation meets God’s mercy.

And notice — He “delivered them from their distress.” Not because they earned it, but because He is rich in mercy (Eph. 2:4).

A man lost in the desert won’t debate which way the wind is blowing — he cries out for rescue. Likewise, a sinner who sees his condition doesn’t negotiate; he cries out, “Lord, save me!” And Jesus always hears the cry of a desperate heart.

III. A Celebration of God’s Deliverance (vv. 7–9)

A. God Leads the Lost (v. 7)

“He led them by a straight way…”

Only God can take a crooked life and make it straight (Prov. 3:5–6).

He doesn’t just rescue — He guides.

B. God Provides a Home (v. 7b)

“…till they reached a city to dwell in.” In Scripture, a city represents:

Stability

Security

Community

For believers today, this points to the fellowship of God’s people — the church — and ultimately to the heavenly city prepared for the redeemed (Heb. 11:10,16).

C. God Satisfies the Soul (vv. 8–9)

“For He satisfies the longing soul…”

This is the heart of the matter: Thanksgiving flows from satisfaction in God.

You don’t need more stuff to be thankful. You need more of God.

He:

Fills the hungry

Refreshes the weary

Revives the broken

Restores the lost

When Jesus saves a soul, He fills it.

A traveler drinks from a polluted well and is never satisfied. But when he reaches a clean spring, he can’t stop drinking. The world offers polluted wells, but Christ offers living water. And when you’ve tasted His goodness, you can’t help but “say so.”

Conclusion:

“The Redeemed Cannot Stay Silent”

Psalm 107 teaches us that thanksgiving is not optional — it is the unavoidable response of a redeemed heart.

If God saved you — say so. If God rescued you — say so. If God redeemed you — say so. If God satisfies your soul — say so.

Gratitude is the worship we bring back to the God who never stopped loving us.

Closing Prayer

Father, thank You for redeeming us, rescuing us, and restoring us. Give us boldness to “say so” with our worship, our witness, our testimony, and our lives. Teach us to live as grateful people who can’t help but praise You. In Jesus’ name, amen.