June 9, 2017
HOPE AFTER THE SHIPWRECK
Psalm 107:1–22
David Thomas
Central Truth
Our sinful nature—that is, seeking our ways instead of God’s— causes troubles and leads toward death. Yet God deeply loves us and will deliver us from our greatest distress, sin, and separation from Him to set us on the path of life, which is knowing Him and His Son Jesus Christ.
Key Verse | Psalm 107:6, 13, 19
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
(Psalm 107:6, 13, 19)
Psalm 107:1–22
Book Five
Let the Redeemed of the LORD Say So
1
Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever!
2
Let the redeemed of the LORD say so,
whom he has redeemed from trouble
1
107:2
Or from the hand of the foe
3
and gathered in from the lands,
from the east and from the west,
from the north and from the south.
4
Some wandered in desert wastes,
finding no way to a city to dwell in;
5
hungry and thirsty,
their soul fainted within them.
6
Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
7
He led them by a straight way
till they reached a city to dwell in.
8
Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
9
For he satisfies the longing soul,
and the hungry soul he fills with good things.
10
Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death,
prisoners in affliction and in irons,
11
for they had rebelled against the words of God,
and spurned the counsel of the Most High.
12
So he bowed their hearts down with hard labor;
they fell down, with none to help.
13
Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
14
He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death,
and burst their bonds apart.
15
Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
16
For he shatters the doors of bronze
and cuts in two the bars of iron.
17
Some were fools through their sinful ways,
and because of their iniquities suffered affliction;
18
they loathed any kind of food,
and they drew near to the gates of death.
19
Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
20
He sent out his word and healed them,
and delivered them from their destruction.
21
Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
22
And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving,
and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!
Dive Deeper | Psalm 107:1–22
In Greek mythology, the Sirens were deadly creatures that would sing beautiful, overpowering songs to sailors as their ships passed, luring them to shipwreck on their island. Their songs were so enticing that any sailor who listened would be unable to resist pursuing them.
I was seduced by the Siren’s song to pursue achievements, success, and pleasure to be happy. I chased hard after these things, yet I was left "hungry and thirsty" (Psalm 107:5), a prisoner in affliction (verse 10) because of crippling addictions that led me to shipwreck and drew me "near to the gates of death" (verse 18).
Recently, I rediscovered an old laptop of mine and was taken back in time as I opened documents from my past. I stumbled upon one entitled "A Note to My Family" and curiously opened it. Dated September 28, 2007, it was a suicide note that I had written before trying to take my own life. This was the most distressing and painful moment of my life. Here are some words from that letter:
“Basically, despite my ‘paper’ success, my life is really not worth living . . . I’m just really tired . . . being the way I am, I doubt how He [God] could accept me for the things I’ve done and the lack of loyalty I’ve shown over the years . . . I am really sorry.”
"Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress." (Verses 6, 13, 19)
God spared my life and delivered me from immediate death to draw me and others to Himself. I began to pursue Jesus, and He lead me out of darkness and put me on the right path to know Him through learning His Word. With the help of Equipped Disciple, I finally understood how to have a relationship with God as He speaks to me through the Bible, and I respond to Him in prayer. This helped transform my life, satisfying my longing, hungry soul (verse 9). Now I seek to tell others about His goodness and the "wondrous works" (verses 8, 15, 21) He has done in my life so that they, too, may come to know Him!
Discussion Questions
1. Is your life in shipwreck status right now? How are you processing that with your community group? Have you considered a recovery ministry to address those hurts, habits, and hang-ups? For those in and around Dallas, Watermark has a great one in re:generation.
2. Jesus promises us that we will have trouble in this life (John 16:33). Some of those troubles are external to us, and some are internal (sin struggles). Who are you trusting to deliver you from these struggles? How do you know?
3. How are you doing at applying Psalm 107:2, "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble," and verses 8, 15, and 21, "Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man"?