Oh, That Men Would Give Thanks!

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy, And gathered out of the lands, From the east and from the west, From the north and from the south. They wandered in the wilderness in a desolate way; They found no city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty, Their soul fainted in them. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, And He delivered them out of their distresses. And He led them forth by the right way, That they might go to a city for a dwelling place. Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfies the longing soul, And fills the hungry soul with goodness. Those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, Bound in affliction and irons— Because they rebelled against the words of God, And despised the counsel of the Most High, Therefore He brought down their heart with labor; They fell down, and there was none to help. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, And He saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, And broke their chains in pieces. Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He has broken the gates of bronze, And cut the bars of iron in two. Fools, because of their transgression, And because of their iniquities, were afflicted. Their soul abhorred all manner of food, And they drew near to the gates of death. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, And He saved them out of their distresses. He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions. Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, And declare His works with rejoicing. Those who go down to the sea in ships, Who do business on great waters, They see the works of the Lord, And His wonders in the deep. For He commands and raises the stormy wind, Which lifts up the waves of the sea. They mount up to the heavens, They go down again to the depths; Their soul melts because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, And are at their wits’ end. Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble, And He brings them out of their distresses. He calms the storm, So that its waves are still. Then they are glad because they are quiet; So He guides them to their desired haven. Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! Let them exalt Him also in the assembly of the people, And praise Him in the company of the elders. He turns rivers into a wilderness, And the watersprings into dry ground; A fruitful land into barrenness, For the wickedness of those who dwell in it. He turns a wilderness into pools of water, And dry land into watersprings. There He makes the hungry dwell, That they may establish a city for a dwelling place, And sow fields and plant vineyards, That they may yield a fruitful harvest. He also blesses them, and they multiply greatly; And He does not let their cattle decrease. When they are diminished and brought low Through oppression, affliction and sorrow, He pours contempt on princes, And causes them to wander in the wilderness where there is no way; Yet He sets the poor on high, far from affliction, And makes their families like a flock. The righteous see it and rejoice, And all iniquity stops its mouth. Whoever is wise will observe these things, And they will understand the lovingkindness of the Lord.

Psalm 107: Background

This psalm has been called “The Old Testament Love Feast”

Theme: Thanksgiving and Reasons to Give Thanks to God

“Oh, that Men would give Thanks to the LORD”

This exhortation occurs four times in this psalm.

It is given as a heartfelt plea: “Let the redeemed of the LORD say so!”

Thanksgiving does not come naturally. Children must be trained to say, “Thank you!”

One of the greatest sins is that of ingratitude.

Ingratitude is rooted in a sense of entitlement, i.e., “I deserve better!” or “Its not fair!”

Ingratitude manifests itself in murmuring and complaining.

Trials and troubles come to us all. Deliverance from trouble is a manifestation of God’s goodness. Deliverance is not a guarantee but a gift. It is not a matter of merit but of mercy.

The human response that activated divine goodness: “Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses.” (Psalm 107:6, 13, 19, 28)

The Psalmist highlights six reasons to give thanks to the LORD.

He is good! His mercy endures forever! (v. 1)

This statement is found throughout Scripture. It likely originated from the LORD’s revelation of His glory in Exodus 34:6-7 in response to Moses’ request in Exodus 33:18-19.

God is GOOD by nature. Everything He does is good. The end of all He does is good.

God is MERCIFUL by nature. He has not rewarded us according to our sins. We deserve His judgment, but He has shown us undeserved mercy.

This statement is woven into the fabric of Israel’s prayers and worship experience.

Deliverance from our ENEMIES. (vs. 1-3)

Human beings are under sin’s dominance and Satan’s control.

God will deliver us if we cry out to Him for salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Deliverance from worldly AFFLICTIONS. (vs. 4-9)

We experience various afflictions throughout our pilgrimage in this life.

God will deliver us from our afflictions if we cry out to Him.

Deliverance from the bondage of DISOBEDIENCE. (vs. 10-16)

Disobedience brings us into the prison house of sin.

God will deliver us from our prison if we cry out to Him.

Deliverance from the consequences of FOOLISHNESS (vs. 17-22)

Unwise choices bring the same consequences meant for fools.

We are to be wise, but often we are not.

God will deliver us (help us to recover) from the consequences of our foolishness if we cry out to Him.

Deliverance from the deadly STORM (vs. 23-32)

The storms of life come to destroy us.

Storms seek to prevent us from reaching our divine destination.

Storms seek to deny us safe harbor.

God will deliver us either from the storm or through the storm if we cry out to Him.

The Wisdom of Giving Thanks

Psalm 107:33-42 highlights God’s judgment on the rebellious and His mercies toward His own people.

Psalm 107:43 NKJV

Whoever is wise will observe these things, And they will understand the lovingkindness of the Lord.

Response to the Word

God is good and His mercy endures forever!

If you need salvation and deliverance, cry out to God through His Son, Jesus Christ.

If God has delivered you in a time of trouble, then give thanks to Him.

“Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness!”

“Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.”