This was a savage land, a lonely land, yet here the foundations of our homes would be laid… We accepted the danger but took no unnecessary risk. It is a fool who invites trouble, a child who is reckless, for life holds risks enough without reaching out for more.”
–Louis L’Amour (Bendigo Shafter)
“And why should I live a life of such hourly danger? I assure you, by the certainty of Jesus Christ that we possess, that I face death every day of my life!”
–1 Corinthians 15:29-30 (Phillips)
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Welcome back to our study in the Psalms for the year 2024. This portion of Psalm 107 is a good way to start. Perhaps you had a rough year; a year of despair, depression, and gloom. That’s where we find ourselves at the beginning of this section. The people had sat in darkness; they were prisoners in a foreign land, held in bondage–the reason, they rebelled against the words of God.
10 — Those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, bound in affliction and irons–
11 — Because they rebelled against the words of God, and despised the counsel of the Most High,
12 — Therefore He brought down their heart with labor; they fell down, and there was none to help.
13 — Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses.
14 — He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and broke their chains in pieces.
15 — Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!
16 — For He has broken the gates of bronze, and cut the bars of iron in two.
17 — Fools, because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, were afflicted.
18 — Their soul abhorred all manner of food, and they drew near to the gates of death.
19 — Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses.
20 — He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
21 — Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!
22 — Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare His works with rejoicing. (NKJV)
When the people cried out to the Lord, He heard them and released them from their hard labor. They were encouraged to give thanks unto the Lord. Know that God delivers those who come to Him with a humble and repentant heart. Note, that He will always deliver, but then remember it may be instantaneous or it may be over a period of time. It may take time for us to have a renewing of our mind and not say words of repentance, but actually mean them from the heart.
Verses 15 and 21 tell us a couple of things. At first glance it seems that it is a plea by the psalmist. He is wanting them to give thanks for the Lord is good. He encourages them to remember where they were now compared to the depths of despair from which He brought them. “They grew near to the gates of death” is taken from the Hebrew word meaning “shachah” which means “to fall down in troubles, to sink down in despair, to bow down.” (Steven Lawson) When God lifted them up they should have hearts that overflow with thanksgiving. Their heart should flow with joy.
One more note, in verse 17 there is the word “fools.” “This word does not refer primarily to someone of low intelligence or someone who is ignorant, but rather it refers to someone who is willfully perverse, choosing to adopt destructive behaviors and lifestyles.” (William Peterson) Go to the book of Proverbs for a good study of what a fool is and does. Check back on the notes I wrote regarding “How to Live in a Pagan, Apostate, and Foolish World.” There are many actions of fools, but they all stem from choosing to disregard the Word of the Lord.
“Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray;
I woke–the dungeon flamed with light!
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.”
–Charles Wesley
———————————–
Welcome back to our study in the Psalms for the year 2024. This portion of Psalm 107 is a good way to start. Perhaps you had a rough year; a year of despair, depression, and gloom. That’s where we find ourselves at the beginning of this section. The people had sat in darkness; they were prisoners in a foreign land, held in bondage–the reason, they rebelled against the words of God.
10 — Those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, bound in affliction and irons–
11 — Because they rebelled against the words of God, and despised the counsel of the Most High,
12 — Therefore He brought down their heart with labor; they fell down, and there was none to help.
13 — Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses.
14 — He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and broke their chains in pieces.
15 — Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!
16 — For He has broken the gates of bronze, and cut the bars of iron in two.
17 — Fools, because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, were afflicted.
18 — Their soul abhorred all manner of food, and they drew near to the gates of death.
19 — Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses.
20 — He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
21 — Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!
22 — Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare His works with rejoicing. (NKJV)
When the people cried out to the Lord, He heard them and released them from their hard labor. They were encouraged to give thanks unto the Lord. Know that God delivers those who come to Him with a humble and repentant heart. Note, that He will always deliver, but then remember it may be instantaneous or it may be over a period of time. It may take time for us to have a renewing of our mind and not say words of repentance, but actually mean them from the heart.
Verses 15 and 21 tell us a couple of things. At first glance it seems that it is a plea by the psalmist. He is wanting them to give thanks for the Lord is good. He encourages them to remember where they were now compared to the depths of despair from which He brought them. “They grew near to the gates of death” is taken from the Hebrew word meaning “shachah” which means “to fall down in troubles, to sink down in despair, to bow down.” (Steven Lawson) When God lifted them up they should have hearts that overflow with thanksgiving. Their heart should flow with joy.
One more note, in verse 17 there is the word “fools.” “This word does not refer primarily to someone of low intelligence or someone who is ignorant, but rather it refers to someone who is willfully perverse, choosing to adopt destructive behaviors and lifestyles.” (William Peterson) Go to the book of Proverbs for a good study of what a fool is and does. Check back on the notes I wrote regarding “How to Live in a Pagan, Apostate, and Foolish World.” There are many actions of fools, but they all stem from choosing to disregard the Word of the Lord.
“Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray;
I woke–the dungeon flamed with light!
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.”
–Charles Wesley