Oh That Men Would Give Thanks to the Lord, Pt.2

Psalm 107:17-43

These are the last three examples Psalm 107 shows of physical or emotional distress/turmoil and God's wonderful ability to save us.

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. (Verses 17-22)

- God can use our rebellion against Him to draw us to Him through trials of all sorts: drugs, alcohol, food, destructive behavior

- He sent His word and healed him...He sent His Son Jesus to heal the brokenhearted

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. (Vs. 23-32)

- the storms of life can cause us to despair

- cry out to Jesus 

- He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. (‭Psalms‬ ‭23‬:‭2‬)

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. (Vs. 33-38)

- God can allow the distresses in our lives for the very point of turning our focus on Him

- He can turn the tables and bring refreshing upon those who hunger after Him

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. (Vs. 39-43)

In some of these instances we are shown God has a place of rest for us, our haven, a city for a dwelling place...heaven. His desire is that none should perish and all who receive Him have eternal life. He unburdens us in only a way He can by: taking us out of darkness and the shadow of spiritual death and giving us life by breaking the chains of sin that bind us, healing and delivering, guiding, taking what the enemy meant for evil in our lives and turning it into good...if we want to receive His
help.

This is His plan of salvation! Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! 

Romans 3:10 - As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one." 

Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God...

Romans 5:8 - But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 

Romans 6:23a - For the wages of sin is death...

Romans 6:23b - ...but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Romans 10:9-10,13 - [But] if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.