Bible Study: Psalm 107:1–32
The Evidence of God’s Goodness and Mercy
Introduction: Background and Context
Psalm 107 serves as the opening of the Fifth Book of the Psalms. It is a congregational hymn of thanksgiving, likely composed after the Babylonian exile.
• Historical Context: It reflects the gratitude of the "redeemed" who were scattered across the known world and brought back to Jerusalem. It celebrates the restoration of Israel.
• Literary Structure: The Psalm is famous for its "four-fold" structure. Each section follows a specific pattern:
1. A Crisis: People find themselves in trouble.
2. A Cry: They pray to the Lord in their distress.
3. A Cure: God intervenes and delivers them.
4. A Chorus: A call to give thanks for His wonders.
• The Thesis: Verse 1 is the theological foundation: "Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His mercy endures forever." The rest of the chapter acts as legal evidence to prove this claim.
I. The Lost in the Desert (vv. 4–9)
The first group consists of those wandering in "desolate ways." Note that no specific sin is mentioned here; sometimes life simply leaves us "homeless" or "aimless."
• The Condition: They were hungry, thirsty, and fainting (v. 5). They lacked a "city to dwell in"—symbolizing a lack of stability and rest.
• The Solution: In their anguish, they cried out to the Lord.
• The Mercy: God didn't just give them a map; He guided them by a straight way to a place of habitation (v. 7).
• Application: God is the solution for the aimless. He satisfies the longing soul and fills the hungry with goodness (v. 9).
II. The Prisoners in Darkness (vv. 10–16)
Unlike the wanderers, this group is in trouble because of their own choices.
• The Cause: Rebellion against the words of God and despising the counsel of the Most High (v. 11).
• The Condition: They sat in darkness and the shadow of death, bound in affliction and irons. God "humbled" their hearts with labor so they would look up.
• The Deliverance: When they cried out, God didn't just unlock the door; He shattered the gates of bronze and cut the bars of iron (v. 16).
• Application: No chain is too strong for God's mercy. Like the Prodigal Son (Luke 15), when we "come to ourselves" and return to the Father, He breaks our spiritual bonds.
III. The Sick at the Gates of Death (vv. 17–22)
This section deals with "fools" who suffered because of their transgressions, leading to physical and spiritual wasting.
• The Condition: They loathed all food and drew near to the "gates of death" (v. 18). This represents the absolute limit of human strength.
• The Cure: "He sent His word and healed them" (v. 20). This is a powerful doctrinal point: God’s Word is a healing agent.
• The Response: They are told to offer "sacrifices of thanksgiving."
• Application: In our weakness and sickness, the Word of God (the Ultimate Word being Christ) is our medicine. As Jesus healed with a word (Matthew 8:16), God continues to rescue us from the pit.
IV. The Storm-Tossed at Sea (vv. 23–32)
This describes those "doing business on great waters." They represent those facing the "storms" of life that are beyond their control.
• The Crisis: God commands the wind, and the sea rises. The mariners "mount up to the heavens" and "go down again to the depths" (v. 26).
• The Human Limit: They "reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man." Their "wisdom is swallowed up" (v. 27). All their skill and science cannot save them.
• The Miracle: Jesus is the Lord of the Storm. He hushes the storm to a whisper and brings them to their "desired haven" (v. 30).
• Application: When our "expertise" fails us in the middle of a life-storm, God’s sovereignty is our anchor (Hebrews 6:19).
- Bible Study on Deity: Trinity
- Bible Study: Salvation – What Jesus Taught About It
- Bible Study: The Canaanites - Inhabitants of the Promised Land
Conclusion: The Summation of Mercy
The Psalmist concludes that God’s goodness is undeniable. Whether we are lost, imprisoned, sick, or drowning, the formula remains the same: Cry out to God and give Him thanks.
• God’s Heart: He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).
• Our Duty: We must not be "unthankful." We are called to exalt Him in the congregation and praise Him among the elders (v. 32).
