Grateful for Grace

Psalm 107 NIV

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story— those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south. Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle. They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness, prisoners suffering in iron chains, because they rebelled against God’s commands and despised the plans of the Most High. So he subjected them to bitter labor; they stumbled, and there was no one to help. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness, and broke away their chains. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron. Some became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of their iniquities. They loathed all food and drew near the gates of death. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind. Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy. Some went out on the sea in ships; they were merchants on the mighty waters. They saw the works of the Lord, his wonderful deeds in the deep. For he spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves. They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths; in their peril their courage melted away. They reeled and staggered like drunkards; they were at their wits’ end. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind. Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people and praise him in the council of the elders. He turned rivers into a desert, flowing springs into thirsty ground, and fruitful land into a salt waste, because of the wickedness of those who lived there. He turned the desert into pools of water and the parched ground into flowing springs; there he brought the hungry to live, and they founded a city where they could settle. They sowed fields and planted vineyards that yielded a fruitful harvest; he blessed them, and their numbers greatly increased, and he did not let their herds diminish. Then their numbers decreased, and they were humbled by oppression, calamity and sorrow; he who pours contempt on nobles made them wander in a trackless waste. But he lifted the needy out of their affliction and increased their families like flocks. The upright see and rejoice, but all the wicked shut their mouths. Let the one who is wise heed these things and ponder the loving deeds of the Lord.

Introduction: If you have a pulse, you have issues: Rob Link “Pulse.”

32 - We have struggles in life.

This Psalm introduces Book V - Book IV was all about how to live the Torah in Exile. Book V looks forward to when the Messiah comes - And so, it is the most hopeful.

We have struggles in life.

This Psalm reads as though the God has completed his restoration of all things.

33 - There is an amazing Structure. East - Desert, West - Dark places/prison, North - idolatry and invaders from the North, The Sea - Sailors

So it’s about people who struggle because of no fault of their own, life is just difficult to meet their every day needs.

It’s about people who rebelled against God, and their own sin imprisons them or they are actually in prison.

It’s about people who let idols run their life, and this turning away from God leads to destruction.

It’s about simply the riskiness of life - Deadliest Catch.

34-It is certainly about deliverance from all of these struggles, but ultimately it is about spiritual deliverance. = It’s about people from different geographies, In different life situations, in different spiritual states experiencing struggle in life.

What are the struggles you have faced or are facing in your life?

But there is another very distinct pattern here.

35-God delivers the humbled.

36-For each of the four locations the structure is the same.

State the struggle

Those who struggle humble themselves and realize they need God’s help.

God delivers them from that struggle

It seems like this Psalm is clear, that God will bring us out of all our distresses in life when we call out to him.

Short View = Yes God often delivers us in the short term, yet many have experienced that the deliverance they asked for did not come in this life time. “exile - took 70 years.”

Long View = This is a picture of the full deliverance when the Messiah comes - So ultimately deliverance will come of all distress will come. We get foretastes now, and fullness when Christ comes.

This Psalm covers the full story of our lives....

37-So we keep humbly praying in every distress, because that calling out is an acknowledgment of dependency on God.

If hunger brings us to our knees it is more useful to us than feasting; if thirst drives us to the fountain it is better than the deepest draughts of worldly joys; and if fainting leads to crying it is better than the strength of the mighty, and he delivered them out of their distresses … for the Lord was ready to save them. The Lord delights to come in when no one else can be of the slightest avail” (Charles H. Spurgeon, commentary, Treasury of David, Christianity.com, accessed February 24, 2018,

We still struggle to ask for help. - Alena Tugend, “Why is asking for Help so Difficult?” www.nytimes.com.

We believe asking for help means we are deficient. - Depending on means you are everything God created you to be, and he never intended you to be God.

If we let our guard down we will be hurt. - God is a good father

Or the information that we are in need will be used against us. - God’s Grace is unconditional.

Asking for help is a surrendering of control. - We are in most control over our life when we know when to take control, and when to give it up.

We think the other party will expect something in return. - And we do this With God.

There is a natural response to Depending on God’s Deliverance...

38-We are Grateful for Deliverance.

39-This is part of the pattern for this Psalm - A life of Gratitude.

40-Being Thankful for what God has done. - Written in Past Tense.

Times in my life I can look back and see God’s deliverance when I cried out for help

Ben’s treatment and the help of people - food, cleaning our house, medical team.

Praying for a year for a ministry internship.

Forgiveness of sins

When we have struggles we can look back and say, if God did it before he can do it again.

Being Thankful for what God will do. We look to the future and when Christ will return and deliver us from all distresses.

Ultimately, giving thanks in all situations.

God says to give thanks in everything. That doesn’t mean you need to give thanks FOR everything. You don’t need to give thanks FOR that bad day. Or FOR that bad relationship. Or being passed over at work. Financial hardship. Whatever it is – you are not to give thanks FOR the difficulties, but rather IN the difficulties. That is a very important distinction, and one I think we often miss. Giving thanks IN everything shows a heart of faith that God is bigger than the difficulties and that He can use them, if you approach Him with the right heart and spirit, for your good and His glory. Tony Evans says, “Giving thanks IN, not FOR, is your secret to victory!” (Tony Evans, The Urban Alternative, http://tonyevans.org/tag/thankfulness/).

1. Tony Evans says, “Giving thanks IN, not FOR, is your secret to victory!” (Tony Evans, The Urban Alternative, http://tonyevans.org/tag/thankfulness/).

Conclusion: You have a pulse, that means you have issues, you have struggles in life. Being Grateful in those strugles, being grateful for past deliverance, and future deliverance will only open your eyes more to God’s goodness, and grace. This Psalm can be our model for that kind of prayer life. So, How are you praying to depend on God in your struggles? How are you giving thanks in those struggles?

Reference the Reformed Confessions: The Reformed Confessions are statements of faith written to clarify the Gospel at times when the Church was in crisis. Heidelberg Catechism: Q&A 116 - 129