Praise God For His Goodness
Psalm 107
We have seen the need to praise God for His glory, for His forgiveness, and for His patience along with many other reasons but there could be none of these things without the goodness of our God!
Goodness can best be described as loving-kindness.
Loving-kindness is the English translation of the Hebrew word "chesed".
This Hebrew word appears 249 times in the King James Bible.
This word can best be described as the faithfulness of God, despite our unfaithfulness, and is part of God's character of "mercy"!
This is the love that God has for us and this love remains constant regardless of any circumstance we may be going through!
No matter how extreme things get in our lives, God is able to deliver us through those things.
We all know that old saying "That if God takes you to it, then God will take you through it".
The theme for this Psalm can be found in the very last verse.
Psa 107:43 Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.
Let's begin:
*****Psa 107:1 O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
One of the three things that we have that we can give to the Lord is our thanksgivings. This is the least of all things that we can give Him and it cost us nothing but the time to say thanks for what God has done in our lives.
We offer up our moans and groans to the Lord continually and He does not mind this, but to say thanks is to worship Him!
What is the greatest character of our God? The greatest character of our God is that He is good!
If our God was not good, He would not teach sinners the way to get close to Him.
Psa 25:8 Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.
God wants us to conform to His own image because we were created in the image of God.
God gave us our example of "goodness" when He gave us His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Just as our God is from everlasting to everlasting, so is God's mercy from everlasting to everlasting!
God will always be good!
It is on ly because God is "good" that we can be redeemed!
*****Psa 107:2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;
Psa 107:3 And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.
If God has redeemed you from the penalty of death, then you need no other reason to praise the Lord for His goodness.
We should say so in our prayers but this verse says we should declare God's goodness publicly.
In fact we should tell everyone we see just how good God has been!
Redeemed still means to be purchased!
The redeem are all those that have been purchased out of the marketplace of sin, the slave market of Satan!
There was only one payment that was suitable for this purchase.
1Pe 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
1Pe 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
If you have been redeemed, then you need to praise God for His goodness!
Salvation is not in a feeling, but if you feel you have been redeemed then you need to say so!
Who is our enemy?
1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
1Pe 5:9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
When we lose track of who our real enemy is, we will then become enemies ourselves to this world we live in.
We are not the enemy, we are the redeemed who are to tell the world just how good our Redeemer is!
Gathering will always follow redeeming.
No matter what divides us in this world, or what location we live on this earth, The Lord will gather us all into one "Body of Christ".
There is only One Lord, one faith, and one baptism by the Holy Spirit, and therefore only one "people" of God!
So as we gather in our local assemblies, let the redeemed of the Lord say so.
God has placed us in such varied locations, and from such varied backgrounds that there is always some lost soul that we can relate to.
1Co 6:11 "And such were some of you": but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
*****Psa 107:4 They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.
Psa 107:5 Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.
Psa 107:6 Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.
Psa 107:7 And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.
Lost, hungry, thirsty and exhausted can be used to describe all those lost in sin, we know that, because most all of us were once that same way.
Once we realized our own condition, we cried out to the Lord and to be redeemed is to be delivered.
Delivered means released from the bondage of Satan but it also means rescued and made free.
Delivered means we know we have no home in this place, our home is in Heaven and Jesus has gone there to prepare us a place. Our home is with our Lord!
What is the right way while we are still in this place?
There are many wrong ways but there is only one right way!
Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
1Pe 1:21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
The Lord will never lead us from one wilderness to another, He will only lead us to the city of God!
Psa 46:4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
Psa 46:5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.
How can we not praise God for His goodness?
*****Psa 107:8 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
Over and over again we are reminded that we need to praise God for His goodness because we have been redeemed.
We also need to praise God for His providence.
God created a perfect world.
Gen 1:31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
God made a way for salvation.
Psa 34:8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
God's plan of salvation will succeed.
Php 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
God has nothing but good things in His plan for us.
Gen 50:20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
And we have been redeemed so that we may also do good to the children of men!
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
It is the goodness of God that brings with it, our satisfaction.
*****Psa 107:9 For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.
There is deep satisfaction in having received the goodness of God.
A longing soul, is a searching soul.
I do not know about you but when I was lost I just could not be satisfied, I was craving something that I was not aware that I was missing.
I did not understand why, until I found the Lord Jesus Christ.
God did not just fill my soul with common things but He is continuing to fill my soul with His goodness.
Those who do not know Him or reject Him cannot know these things.
*****Psa 107:10 Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;
Psa 107:11 Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:
Psa 107:12 Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.
Most of us look upon those in prison as deserving the circumstances they have caused themselves to be in.
BUT, We have a Savior who loves us no matter how far we have fallen from His grace!
God wants to reach out to those in darkness.
God wants to reach out to those that sit in the shadow of death.
God wants to reach out to those that are bound in the afflictions of this world.
God wants to reach out to all those that are bound by the iron chains of Satan.
God even wants to reach out to all those that rebel against the Word of God and withstand the Holy Spirit.
God has given this job to us, we are to reach out to the lost!
Until someone reaches them with the Gospel, God will keep them busy.
God will humble them under His mighty hand.
God will crush their haughty spirit.
God will crush their pride.
God will bring them to the point of submission!
God will do all these things because of His love and because of His goodness because God wants them to cry out to Him for salvation.
God is always ready to save!
*****Psa 107:13 Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses. Psa 107:14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.
As long as the lost feel that the answers will come from this world they will not yield to the Holy Ghost. We that are saved know this very well.
It is so sad that God practically has to force a confession out of us!
Humans will simply wallow in misery for some reason but as soon as that point is reached and we cry out to the Lord, He will save us.
God will immediately send relief from our distresses.
God will never again allow us to be locked in Satan's prison.
Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
How can we not praise God for His goodness?
*****Psa 107:15 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
Psa 107:16 For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.
Once we understand the good-news of Jesus, that He died so that we can be redeemed, how can we not praise God of goodness?
How can we not brag on our God?
The Lord can break the strongest chains that kept us bound to Satan.
Jesus said:
Joh 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, "ye shall be free indeed".
Sin makes bondage.
Truth brings freedom.
Freedom comes by Jesus Christ!
Those that reject this truth are fools!
*****Psa 107:17 Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.
Psa 107:18 Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death.
Psa 107:19 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses.
Many of our sicknesses today are brought about by foolish acts. The disease of aids and other sexual transmitted diseases may top the list but we could also include drunkenness, smoking, gluttony, diabetes, and much of our heart problems just to name a few.
Many of our lusts and passions are our own downfall!
There are way to many of us who have caused ourselves these things and then foolishly continue doing the same old things.
Fools usually bring trouble upon themselves!
It is a fact that most people will lose their appetite when they are sick and many are so nauseous that they cannot even hold the food they try to eat.
Many of them die but many more of them come close to death before they cry out to the Lord.
Those that think that the Lord is not the Healer are also fools!
The Lord not only saves us out of our troubles, He can save us out of all distresses.
How does He do this?
Prayer is as important when we are sick as when we are healthy, God always has His ear turned toward His children.
*****Psa 107:20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
Psa 107:21 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
Psa 107:22 And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.
It is also a fact that only our Savior can also break addictions, erase bad memories, and restore broken relationships!
Medicine can be used in the healing process but man is not healed by medicine alone.
Just as God spoke our world into existence, when God speaks the Word, we can also be healed.
We have proof of this in the scriptures:
Mat 8:5 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,
Mat 8:6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.
Mat 8:7 And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.
Mat 8:8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.
Mat 8:9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
Mat 8:10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
Mat 8:11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 8:12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Mat 8:13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.
We are foolish to forget the power of the Word of God!
Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
We are foolish to forget the fulfillment of God's Word!
Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
God will do these things because of His goodness!
Many a person have prayed to be healed of God, making all sort of promises, and after that healing soon forget the promises they made.
It always seems that when ten are healed seldom will more than one return to praise the Lord.
Luk 17:12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:
Luk 17:13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.
Luk 17:14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.
Luk 17:15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,
Luk 17:16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
Luk 17:17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?
We are so foolish when we do not show our Great Physician the gratitude that He deserves.
The one thing we can surely offer is our thanks as He requires little else!
If we would do more, then we should tell all others just how good our Savior really is!
*****Psa 107:23 They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;
Psa 107:24 These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.
Psa 107:25 For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
Since the time of Adam's sin, mankind has had to work by the sweat of his brow to earn a living.
To be a mariner was a hazardous job because the sea held so many mysteries as it still does.
In that day, sailors were said to be "going down to the sea" but in our day sailors sa they "sailing the high seas". This is because of the difference in safety in our day.
We can be sure that if there had not been great profit for those that ventured out on the oceans there would have been no seagoing vessels in that day.
No where in the scriptures do we read of men taking great pleasure on the seas.
Mariners were admired in the days of the kings of Israel.
It was these mariners sailing the great oceans that could view vastness of God's creation.
In the middle of the open sea there are no distractions from the land. The skies could be observed in all their majesty.
The vastness of the oceans themselves were a wonder and we can just imagine the first sight of the great whales and the sea creatures.
There would be storms that would come up all of a sudden and then there would be great calms when not even a wisp of air stirred the sails.
And there would be the great waves.
*****Psa 107:26 They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
Psa 107:27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end.
Psa 107:28 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
At one moment the small ships of that day would be climbing a wave and see nothing but the open skies and the next moment traveling down a wave and appear to be sailing straight into the deep.
The sailor would be tossed to and fro and stagger like a drunk man.
To the first time sailor they would be at their wit's end, to the experienced sailor they knew there was no escape from the raging seas.
Many a sailor of that day knew they were at the mercy of the sea and did not possess the skills to overcome their peril.
They were all very glad to reach their destination.
But are we not all like a ship in the midst of the great waters of life?
Is not the weather fouler to some than others?
Is it not God who makes the arrangements for all human affairs?
Are not many souls shipwrecked everyday?
But there is an answer to these turmoils of life!
Heb 6:19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
Heb 6:20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
The mistake we make most of the time is that we wait until we reach our wit's end before we call upon the Lord.
Prayer is good when we are sick.
Prayer is good when we are bound by afflictions.
Prayer is good when we have gone against the Word of God.
Prayer is good when we are on the sea of affliction.
And God can even hear us in any storm!
Why do we not trust the goodness of God and just stay in constant contact with our Savior?
Oh, we are truly a foolish people.
*****Psa 107:29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
Psa 107:30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
When we are at our weakest is the exact same time that we can be at our strongest.
2Co 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2Co 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
There are the trials of life that we must endure but there is also the grace of God that will also endure and God's grace cannot ever fail.
God loves to come to our rescue!
When God sees our weakness He sees an opportunity to show us His goodness and His great power.
When we feel most secure, Satan sees an opportunity that we may trust in our own power.
God's way is not to remove our trials but to give His strength during that trial.
We have no testimony until we have been tested!
We can appreciate this verse if we have ever been through a trial in this life that has overwhelmed our ability to cope with it.
We can be glad when that storm in our life has passed on by.
We will one day reach our Heavenly haven and all our trials will all be over!
How can we not praise God for His goodness?
*****Psa 107:31 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
Psa 107:32 Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.
Praising the Lord cannot be just reserved for our private prayers, we must praise him for His goodness when we gather in worship of Him.
When we have found peace by the comforts of God then it is a great privilege to brag on our Lord for what He has done.
Psa 66:16 Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.
It is Jehovah God who is in control of this earth and all the things in all His creation.
*****Psa 107:33 He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground;
Psa 107:34 A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.
Psa 107:35 He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings.
Because of the providence of God there have been many a city that no longer exist or are ghost towns.
There are even nations that have ceased to exist.
There are more than 400 ghost towns in America alone.
There are ghost cities where the gold ran out, or the water ran out, or by landslides or earthquakes.
As God deals with rebellion, He will sometimes take away the things that bring the greatest assurance.
It is our God that controls the productiveness of this earth.
God will make fruitful places barren and make barren places fruitful.
When God judges, He will take away things that are important to us.
When God is merciful, He will make even the barren place to produce what is needed.
We need to look no further than Israel to see that a barren land has now blossomed like a rose.
*****Psa 107:36 And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation;
Psa 107:37 And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase.
We also know that America, was once a great waste land, and was established by people seeking to proclaim the Lord Jesus Christ and now those that are hungry and oppressed seek to make America their home.
God has a reason and a purpose behind everything that He does.
Act 17:26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
Act 17:27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
The main intent of the Lord is putting the right people, in the right place, that they will have the opportunity to seek Him and be saved!
This world we live in may have made great strides in education, and the arts and sciences, and even transportation but none of these things have changed the fact that there is still only One Savior and only One Redeemer.
Christianity since the time of Jesus Christ has only one purpose and only one message!
1Co 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
This the greatest blessing we can receive in our lifetime.
*****Psa 107:38 He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease.
It is only by God's blessings and God's goodness that mankind can be truly happy.
God told Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply and they did.
This command has not changed.
Those that believe this earth we live on cannot feed the people that God allows to be on it at any given age do not have enough faith to be saved.
When things get unbearable in one place God may be saying move on to a more suitable place.
*****Psa 107:39 Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow.
As we have seen, Israel's ups and downs were a direct consequence of her sin and repentance of that sin.
Why are we to think differently in our own lives and our own nations?
Those that seek the Lord are blessed.
Those that reject the Lord are eventually brought low!
As we see the number of Christians diminish in number we must know that we are in the latter days of the Church Age.
2Ti 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
If we open our eyes, we can see all these things but we can also see the goodness of the Lord with those same eyes.
*****Psa 107:40 He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way.
Psa 107:41 Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock.
In most all cases it is the rulers in place or the laws and regulations in place that causes the starvation of people.
It is our God that allows certain ones to be in power in the governments of this earth.
Rom 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
All those that would see their nation prosper would seek the hand of God!
All those that make themselves out to be something that they are not will be put down.
God has no respect for Kings and Rulers.
If they cause God's people to suffer they in turn will also suffer.
On the other hand all those that know they are spiritually poor will be raised unto comfort and happiness.
They will be added to the family of God!
No amount of suffering in this world can compare to the peace of knowing the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior!
*****Psa 107:42 The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.
If we would just allow the Word of God to rule in our lives we would see the hand of God in every action of this world.
God does not cause evil to happen, that's what Satan does, but Satan has been allowed to do his thing at least for the time being.
If we could see the evil that goes on around us, we would see a very frustrated Satan who has never been able to completely have his way and he never will.
Satan is as much a pawn in God's plan of salvation as are all of God's created beings.
God gives us choice!
The power of choosing is something we all have and when we choose righteousness we will stray from iniquity.
Choice is taking great care in what we select.
Choice is skill in selecting what is preferred.
Choice is preferring life over death.
Misery follows bad choices and iniquity, rejecting the Word of God will cause our downfall.
Those that are wise will see the hand of God in everything in this world and know Who to choose.
*****Psa 107:43 Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.
Being wise means, when we can see the hand of God working from the first day of creation and all the days of our lives.
What did Jesus say?
Mat 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
Mat 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
That rock is the Lord Jesus Christ!
If we cannot see goodness in everything that God does, then we need to take a hard look at our own lives because God does not do evil things.
Questions?
Let's Pray!
Psalm 107
We have seen the need to praise God for His glory, for His forgiveness, and for His patience along with many other reasons but there could be none of these things without the goodness of our God!
Goodness can best be described as loving-kindness.
Loving-kindness is the English translation of the Hebrew word "chesed".
This Hebrew word appears 249 times in the King James Bible.
This word can best be described as the faithfulness of God, despite our unfaithfulness, and is part of God's character of "mercy"!
This is the love that God has for us and this love remains constant regardless of any circumstance we may be going through!
No matter how extreme things get in our lives, God is able to deliver us through those things.
We all know that old saying "That if God takes you to it, then God will take you through it".
The theme for this Psalm can be found in the very last verse.
Psa 107:43 Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.
Let's begin:
*****Psa 107:1 O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
One of the three things that we have that we can give to the Lord is our thanksgivings. This is the least of all things that we can give Him and it cost us nothing but the time to say thanks for what God has done in our lives.
We offer up our moans and groans to the Lord continually and He does not mind this, but to say thanks is to worship Him!
What is the greatest character of our God? The greatest character of our God is that He is good!
If our God was not good, He would not teach sinners the way to get close to Him.
Psa 25:8 Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.
God wants us to conform to His own image because we were created in the image of God.
God gave us our example of "goodness" when He gave us His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Just as our God is from everlasting to everlasting, so is God's mercy from everlasting to everlasting!
God will always be good!
It is on ly because God is "good" that we can be redeemed!
*****Psa 107:2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;
Psa 107:3 And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.
If God has redeemed you from the penalty of death, then you need no other reason to praise the Lord for His goodness.
We should say so in our prayers but this verse says we should declare God's goodness publicly.
In fact we should tell everyone we see just how good God has been!
Redeemed still means to be purchased!
The redeem are all those that have been purchased out of the marketplace of sin, the slave market of Satan!
There was only one payment that was suitable for this purchase.
1Pe 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
1Pe 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
If you have been redeemed, then you need to praise God for His goodness!
Salvation is not in a feeling, but if you feel you have been redeemed then you need to say so!
Who is our enemy?
1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
1Pe 5:9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
When we lose track of who our real enemy is, we will then become enemies ourselves to this world we live in.
We are not the enemy, we are the redeemed who are to tell the world just how good our Redeemer is!
Gathering will always follow redeeming.
No matter what divides us in this world, or what location we live on this earth, The Lord will gather us all into one "Body of Christ".
There is only One Lord, one faith, and one baptism by the Holy Spirit, and therefore only one "people" of God!
So as we gather in our local assemblies, let the redeemed of the Lord say so.
God has placed us in such varied locations, and from such varied backgrounds that there is always some lost soul that we can relate to.
1Co 6:11 "And such were some of you": but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
*****Psa 107:4 They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.
Psa 107:5 Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.
Psa 107:6 Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.
Psa 107:7 And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.
Lost, hungry, thirsty and exhausted can be used to describe all those lost in sin, we know that, because most all of us were once that same way.
Once we realized our own condition, we cried out to the Lord and to be redeemed is to be delivered.
Delivered means released from the bondage of Satan but it also means rescued and made free.
Delivered means we know we have no home in this place, our home is in Heaven and Jesus has gone there to prepare us a place. Our home is with our Lord!
What is the right way while we are still in this place?
There are many wrong ways but there is only one right way!
Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
1Pe 1:21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
The Lord will never lead us from one wilderness to another, He will only lead us to the city of God!
Psa 46:4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
Psa 46:5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.
How can we not praise God for His goodness?
*****Psa 107:8 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
Over and over again we are reminded that we need to praise God for His goodness because we have been redeemed.
We also need to praise God for His providence.
God created a perfect world.
Gen 1:31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
God made a way for salvation.
Psa 34:8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
God's plan of salvation will succeed.
Php 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
God has nothing but good things in His plan for us.
Gen 50:20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
And we have been redeemed so that we may also do good to the children of men!
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
It is the goodness of God that brings with it, our satisfaction.
*****Psa 107:9 For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.
There is deep satisfaction in having received the goodness of God.
A longing soul, is a searching soul.
I do not know about you but when I was lost I just could not be satisfied, I was craving something that I was not aware that I was missing.
I did not understand why, until I found the Lord Jesus Christ.
God did not just fill my soul with common things but He is continuing to fill my soul with His goodness.
Those who do not know Him or reject Him cannot know these things.
*****Psa 107:10 Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;
Psa 107:11 Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:
Psa 107:12 Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.
Most of us look upon those in prison as deserving the circumstances they have caused themselves to be in.
BUT, We have a Savior who loves us no matter how far we have fallen from His grace!
God wants to reach out to those in darkness.
God wants to reach out to those that sit in the shadow of death.
God wants to reach out to those that are bound in the afflictions of this world.
God wants to reach out to all those that are bound by the iron chains of Satan.
God even wants to reach out to all those that rebel against the Word of God and withstand the Holy Spirit.
God has given this job to us, we are to reach out to the lost!
Until someone reaches them with the Gospel, God will keep them busy.
God will humble them under His mighty hand.
God will crush their haughty spirit.
God will crush their pride.
God will bring them to the point of submission!
God will do all these things because of His love and because of His goodness because God wants them to cry out to Him for salvation.
God is always ready to save!
*****Psa 107:13 Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses. Psa 107:14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.
As long as the lost feel that the answers will come from this world they will not yield to the Holy Ghost. We that are saved know this very well.
It is so sad that God practically has to force a confession out of us!
Humans will simply wallow in misery for some reason but as soon as that point is reached and we cry out to the Lord, He will save us.
God will immediately send relief from our distresses.
God will never again allow us to be locked in Satan's prison.
Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
How can we not praise God for His goodness?
*****Psa 107:15 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
Psa 107:16 For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.
Once we understand the good-news of Jesus, that He died so that we can be redeemed, how can we not praise God of goodness?
How can we not brag on our God?
The Lord can break the strongest chains that kept us bound to Satan.
Jesus said:
Joh 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, "ye shall be free indeed".
Sin makes bondage.
Truth brings freedom.
Freedom comes by Jesus Christ!
Those that reject this truth are fools!
*****Psa 107:17 Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.
Psa 107:18 Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death.
Psa 107:19 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses.
Many of our sicknesses today are brought about by foolish acts. The disease of aids and other sexual transmitted diseases may top the list but we could also include drunkenness, smoking, gluttony, diabetes, and much of our heart problems just to name a few.
Many of our lusts and passions are our own downfall!
There are way to many of us who have caused ourselves these things and then foolishly continue doing the same old things.
Fools usually bring trouble upon themselves!
It is a fact that most people will lose their appetite when they are sick and many are so nauseous that they cannot even hold the food they try to eat.
Many of them die but many more of them come close to death before they cry out to the Lord.
Those that think that the Lord is not the Healer are also fools!
The Lord not only saves us out of our troubles, He can save us out of all distresses.
How does He do this?
Prayer is as important when we are sick as when we are healthy, God always has His ear turned toward His children.
*****Psa 107:20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
Psa 107:21 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
Psa 107:22 And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.
It is also a fact that only our Savior can also break addictions, erase bad memories, and restore broken relationships!
Medicine can be used in the healing process but man is not healed by medicine alone.
Just as God spoke our world into existence, when God speaks the Word, we can also be healed.
We have proof of this in the scriptures:
Mat 8:5 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,
Mat 8:6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.
Mat 8:7 And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.
Mat 8:8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.
Mat 8:9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
Mat 8:10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
Mat 8:11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 8:12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Mat 8:13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.
We are foolish to forget the power of the Word of God!
Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
We are foolish to forget the fulfillment of God's Word!
Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
God will do these things because of His goodness!
Many a person have prayed to be healed of God, making all sort of promises, and after that healing soon forget the promises they made.
It always seems that when ten are healed seldom will more than one return to praise the Lord.
Luk 17:12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:
Luk 17:13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.
Luk 17:14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.
Luk 17:15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,
Luk 17:16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
Luk 17:17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?
We are so foolish when we do not show our Great Physician the gratitude that He deserves.
The one thing we can surely offer is our thanks as He requires little else!
If we would do more, then we should tell all others just how good our Savior really is!
*****Psa 107:23 They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;
Psa 107:24 These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.
Psa 107:25 For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
Since the time of Adam's sin, mankind has had to work by the sweat of his brow to earn a living.
To be a mariner was a hazardous job because the sea held so many mysteries as it still does.
In that day, sailors were said to be "going down to the sea" but in our day sailors sa they "sailing the high seas". This is because of the difference in safety in our day.
We can be sure that if there had not been great profit for those that ventured out on the oceans there would have been no seagoing vessels in that day.
No where in the scriptures do we read of men taking great pleasure on the seas.
Mariners were admired in the days of the kings of Israel.
It was these mariners sailing the great oceans that could view vastness of God's creation.
In the middle of the open sea there are no distractions from the land. The skies could be observed in all their majesty.
The vastness of the oceans themselves were a wonder and we can just imagine the first sight of the great whales and the sea creatures.
There would be storms that would come up all of a sudden and then there would be great calms when not even a wisp of air stirred the sails.
And there would be the great waves.
*****Psa 107:26 They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
Psa 107:27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end.
Psa 107:28 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
At one moment the small ships of that day would be climbing a wave and see nothing but the open skies and the next moment traveling down a wave and appear to be sailing straight into the deep.
The sailor would be tossed to and fro and stagger like a drunk man.
To the first time sailor they would be at their wit's end, to the experienced sailor they knew there was no escape from the raging seas.
Many a sailor of that day knew they were at the mercy of the sea and did not possess the skills to overcome their peril.
They were all very glad to reach their destination.
But are we not all like a ship in the midst of the great waters of life?
Is not the weather fouler to some than others?
Is it not God who makes the arrangements for all human affairs?
Are not many souls shipwrecked everyday?
But there is an answer to these turmoils of life!
Heb 6:19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
Heb 6:20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
The mistake we make most of the time is that we wait until we reach our wit's end before we call upon the Lord.
Prayer is good when we are sick.
Prayer is good when we are bound by afflictions.
Prayer is good when we have gone against the Word of God.
Prayer is good when we are on the sea of affliction.
And God can even hear us in any storm!
Why do we not trust the goodness of God and just stay in constant contact with our Savior?
Oh, we are truly a foolish people.
*****Psa 107:29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
Psa 107:30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
When we are at our weakest is the exact same time that we can be at our strongest.
2Co 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2Co 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
There are the trials of life that we must endure but there is also the grace of God that will also endure and God's grace cannot ever fail.
God loves to come to our rescue!
When God sees our weakness He sees an opportunity to show us His goodness and His great power.
When we feel most secure, Satan sees an opportunity that we may trust in our own power.
God's way is not to remove our trials but to give His strength during that trial.
We have no testimony until we have been tested!
We can appreciate this verse if we have ever been through a trial in this life that has overwhelmed our ability to cope with it.
We can be glad when that storm in our life has passed on by.
We will one day reach our Heavenly haven and all our trials will all be over!
How can we not praise God for His goodness?
*****Psa 107:31 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
Psa 107:32 Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.
Praising the Lord cannot be just reserved for our private prayers, we must praise him for His goodness when we gather in worship of Him.
When we have found peace by the comforts of God then it is a great privilege to brag on our Lord for what He has done.
Psa 66:16 Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.
It is Jehovah God who is in control of this earth and all the things in all His creation.
*****Psa 107:33 He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground;
Psa 107:34 A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.
Psa 107:35 He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings.
Because of the providence of God there have been many a city that no longer exist or are ghost towns.
There are even nations that have ceased to exist.
There are more than 400 ghost towns in America alone.
There are ghost cities where the gold ran out, or the water ran out, or by landslides or earthquakes.
As God deals with rebellion, He will sometimes take away the things that bring the greatest assurance.
It is our God that controls the productiveness of this earth.
God will make fruitful places barren and make barren places fruitful.
When God judges, He will take away things that are important to us.
When God is merciful, He will make even the barren place to produce what is needed.
We need to look no further than Israel to see that a barren land has now blossomed like a rose.
*****Psa 107:36 And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation;
Psa 107:37 And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase.
We also know that America, was once a great waste land, and was established by people seeking to proclaim the Lord Jesus Christ and now those that are hungry and oppressed seek to make America their home.
God has a reason and a purpose behind everything that He does.
Act 17:26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
Act 17:27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
The main intent of the Lord is putting the right people, in the right place, that they will have the opportunity to seek Him and be saved!
This world we live in may have made great strides in education, and the arts and sciences, and even transportation but none of these things have changed the fact that there is still only One Savior and only One Redeemer.
Christianity since the time of Jesus Christ has only one purpose and only one message!
1Co 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
This the greatest blessing we can receive in our lifetime.
*****Psa 107:38 He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease.
It is only by God's blessings and God's goodness that mankind can be truly happy.
God told Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply and they did.
This command has not changed.
Those that believe this earth we live on cannot feed the people that God allows to be on it at any given age do not have enough faith to be saved.
When things get unbearable in one place God may be saying move on to a more suitable place.
*****Psa 107:39 Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow.
As we have seen, Israel's ups and downs were a direct consequence of her sin and repentance of that sin.
Why are we to think differently in our own lives and our own nations?
Those that seek the Lord are blessed.
Those that reject the Lord are eventually brought low!
As we see the number of Christians diminish in number we must know that we are in the latter days of the Church Age.
2Ti 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
If we open our eyes, we can see all these things but we can also see the goodness of the Lord with those same eyes.
*****Psa 107:40 He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way.
Psa 107:41 Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock.
In most all cases it is the rulers in place or the laws and regulations in place that causes the starvation of people.
It is our God that allows certain ones to be in power in the governments of this earth.
Rom 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
All those that would see their nation prosper would seek the hand of God!
All those that make themselves out to be something that they are not will be put down.
God has no respect for Kings and Rulers.
If they cause God's people to suffer they in turn will also suffer.
On the other hand all those that know they are spiritually poor will be raised unto comfort and happiness.
They will be added to the family of God!
No amount of suffering in this world can compare to the peace of knowing the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior!
*****Psa 107:42 The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.
If we would just allow the Word of God to rule in our lives we would see the hand of God in every action of this world.
God does not cause evil to happen, that's what Satan does, but Satan has been allowed to do his thing at least for the time being.
If we could see the evil that goes on around us, we would see a very frustrated Satan who has never been able to completely have his way and he never will.
Satan is as much a pawn in God's plan of salvation as are all of God's created beings.
God gives us choice!
The power of choosing is something we all have and when we choose righteousness we will stray from iniquity.
Choice is taking great care in what we select.
Choice is skill in selecting what is preferred.
Choice is preferring life over death.
Misery follows bad choices and iniquity, rejecting the Word of God will cause our downfall.
Those that are wise will see the hand of God in everything in this world and know Who to choose.
*****Psa 107:43 Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.
Being wise means, when we can see the hand of God working from the first day of creation and all the days of our lives.
What did Jesus say?
Mat 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
Mat 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
That rock is the Lord Jesus Christ!
If we cannot see goodness in everything that God does, then we need to take a hard look at our own lives because God does not do evil things.
Questions?
Let's Pray!
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