Give Thanks: Psalm 107 on God's Deliverance

Devotional

Day 1: Redeemed people cry out, receive deliverance, give thanks.

Psalm 107 presents a fourfold picture of human plight — wandering, imprisonment, sickness, and storm-tossed seas — and shows how those who cry out in their trouble are delivered by the Lord, gathered back from dispersion, led to safety, healed, and brought to a place of provision; the clear response for the redeemed is to proclaim Yahweh’s goodness and give thanks because his steadfast love endures forever. [35:12]

Psalm 107 (ESV)

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
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;
they were hungry and thirsty; their soul fainted within them.
5 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.
6 He led them by a straight way till they reached a city to dwell in.
7 Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!
8 For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.
9 Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and in irons,
10 for they had rebelled against the words of God and spurned the counsel of the Most High.
11 So he bowed their hearts down with hard labor; they fell down, with none to help.
12 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress.
13 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and burst their bonds apart.
14 Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!
15 For he shatters the doors of bronze and cuts in two the bars of iron.
16 Some were sick through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities endured affliction;
17 they loathed any kind of food, and they drew near to the gates of death.
18 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress.
19 He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction.
20 Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!
21 And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!
22 Some went down to the sea in ships, doing business on the mighty waters;
23 they saw the deeds of the LORD, his wondrous works in the deep.
24 For he commanded and raised the stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea.
25 They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths; their courage melted away in their evil plight;
26 they reeled and staggered like drunkards and were at their wits' end.
27 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.
28 He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.
29 Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven.
30 Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!
31 Let them extol him in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.
32 He turns rivers into a desert, springs of water into thirsty ground,
33 a fruitful land into a salt marsh, because of the evil of its inhabitants.
34 He turns a desert into pools of water, and a parched land into springs of water.
35 And there he lets the hungry dwell, and they establish a city to live in;
36 they sow fields, and plant vineyards, and get a fruitful yield.
37 By his blessing they multiply greatly, and he does not let their livestock diminish.
38 When they are diminished and brought low through oppression, through evil and sorrow,
39 he pours contempt on princes and makes them wander in trackless wastes.
40 But he lifts up the needy out of affliction and makes their families like flocks.
41 The upright see it and are glad, and all wickedness shuts its mouth.
42 Whoever is wise will ponder these things, and consider the steadfast love of the LORD.

Reflection: Which of the four scenes in Psalm 107 most closely reflects your current condition (wandering, imprisoned by sin or consequence, sick from foolish ways, or storm-tossed), and what is one concrete step you can take today to cry out to the Lord and seek the deliverance He offers (pray a specific prayer, call a trusted believer, or confess a particular sin)?

Day 2: Old Testament teaches and encourages present hope.

The Scriptures written in former days are intended for present instruction so that, by enduring and being encouraged through the stories and promises recorded, believers today may hold on to hope; meditating on Israel’s experiences of exile, discipline, and restoration strengthens faith and points forward to Christ’s greater salvation. [40:10]

Romans 15:4 (ESV)

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Reflection: Identify one Old Testament story or promise you can re-read this week; set aside 15 minutes to read it, note one encouragement it gives you for present trials, and write one sentence of how that encouragement will shape your hope this week.

Day 3: Call on the Lord for salvation today.

The simple, sovereign promise remains that everyone who sincerely calls on the name of the Lord will be saved, and that call — a repentant cry for mercy and trust in Christ — is the means by which wanderers are found, prisoners are set free, and sinners are gathered back to God. [52:12]

Romans 10:13 (ESV)

For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Reflection: If you have not called on the Lord in faith, take five minutes right now to pray, confessing your need and asking Jesus to save you; if you have already called on the Lord, identify one person you can invite this week to hear how Christ saved you and offer to pray with them about calling on the Lord.

Day 4: Abide in prayer, rejoicing, and continual thanksgiving.

Believers are repeatedly commanded to rejoice always, to pray without ceasing, and to give thanks in all circumstances because these practices cultivate dependence on God, shape a thankful heart that recognizes His goodness even amid discipline or trials, and keep the redeemed rooted in Christ. [44:41]

1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 (ESV)

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Reflection: Choose one of the three commands (rejoice, pray, give thanks) to intentionally practice today: set a timer for three specific moments to stop and thank God, schedule a 10-minute focused prayer time, or list three gospel reasons to rejoice and read them aloud before bed.

Day 5: Confess sin to receive God's forgiveness and cleansing.

When believers are wayward, discipline is from a loving Father whose aim is holiness; confessing sin to Him brings forgiveness and cleansing so that restoration follows — embrace confession promptly, repent, and receive God’s faithful restoration rather than waiting until consequences deepen. [01:14:49]

1 John 1:9 (ESV)

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Reflection: Is there a specific area where you have been wayward or withholding confession? Write the sin down, confess it aloud to God today, and identify one practical accountability step (who to tell or what habit to change) you will take this week to walk in restored holiness.

Sermon Summary

I walked us through Psalm 107 as a call to live awake to God’s steadfast love. The psalm opens by commanding thanks because the Lord is good and his hesed—his unwavering, covenant love—endures forever. That love is not sentimental; it is steady, loyal, and active. The psalm then paints four scenes that mirror the human condition: wanderers in a desert, prisoners in darkness, fools whose sin-sick souls waste away, and sailors overwhelmed by a storm. In each, a pattern appears—calamity, a cry, God’s intervention, and grateful praise. These are Israel’s stories, but they are also ours.

The wanderers show us how God brings the lost into a city—place, provision, and belonging—ultimately fulfilled in Christ who is the Way and our true home. The prisoners remind us that rebellion against God’s word truly binds us, yet when we cry out, God shatters bronze doors and cuts iron bars. The fools teach that spiritual folly has real consequences, and yet “He sent out his word and healed them.” The storm-tossed reveal how God meets us at the end of ourselves, hushes the waves, and brings us to a safe harbor. In all of this, thanksgiving is not decoration; it is the right response to deliverance.

The psalm then widens the lens: God overturns deserts and floods fields; he humbles oppressors and lifts the needy. History is not random—God is sovereign, and his reversals are both a warning and a comfort. For those who are straying, embrace his loving discipline that aims to share his holiness. For those still resisting the gospel, hear the mercy: everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. For those oppressed, take heart—God sees, judges rightly, and will act. The wise attend to these things and consider the steadfast love of the Lord.

So give thanks in every circumstance—not as denial, but as clear-eyed worship. God’s love outlasts deserts, prisons, foolishness, and storms. He made us, saved us, sustains us, and will bring us home.

Key Takeaways

1. Steadfast love that outlasts everything God’s hesed is not fragile affection but covenant loyalty that endures forever. Gratitude grows when we remember that our lives are held by a love that does not weaken with time or circumstance. Thanksgiving becomes the language of trust when we rehearse who God is, not just what we feel. [42:22]
2. Cry from the wilderness; He leads home Spiritual wandering feels like hunger, thirst, and exhaustion of soul. The turning point comes when we cry to the Lord—he leads by a straight way to a place of security and belonging. In Christ, the Way, we move from lostness to life with God and his people. [50:48]
3. Chains shatter when rebels repent Sin’s rebellion is not harmless; it imprisons the heart and darkens hope. Yet when we own our defiance and turn to God, he breaks iron bars and cancels the sentence. Freedom is not self-made; it is mercy received by those who finally stop resisting. [54:39]
4. His Word heals foolish wounds Folly isn’t lack of IQ; it’s living as if God’s wisdom is optional. Our choices can carve pain into body and soul, but God sends his Word to heal—exposing lies, reordering loves, and restoring desire for what is good. Healing begins where we submit to what God says. [58:59]
5. Storms become classrooms for trust God sometimes appoints winds and waves that exceed our seamanship, not to ruin us but to unmask our illusions of control. At our wit’s end, we discover the One who stills the sea and guides us to harbor. The calm matters, but the deeper gift is knowing the Captain. [63:40]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[27:41] - Guests, weather, and membership plan
[28:57] - Family dedications and adoption testimony
[31:21] - Midweek baptism before deployment
[32:09] - Thanksgiving reflections and seven reasons
[35:12] - Give Thanks to the Lord: Psalm 107
[40:43] - Reading Psalm 107:1-3 and prayer
[42:22] - Main theme: Steadfast love endures
[50:48] - Wanderers led to a city
[54:39] - Prisoners freed from darkness
[58:59] - Fools afflicted, healed by His word
[63:13] - Storm-tossed, brought to safe haven
[66:53] - God’s sovereign reversals and justice
[73:19] - Wise response and applications
[84:20] - New members welcomed and benediction

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Psalm 107 (ESV) — 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 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 places, finding no way to a city to dwell in. 5 They were 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 Therefore he humbled their hearts with hard labor; they fell down; there was none to help. 13 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved 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 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! 23 Some went down to the sea in ships, doing business on the great waters; 24 they saw the deeds of the LORD, his wonders in the deep. 25 For he commanded and raised the stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea. 26 They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths; their courage melted away in their calamity; 27 they reeled and staggered like drunkards and were at their wits' end. 28 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. 29 He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. 30 Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven. 31 Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! 32 Let them extol him in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders. 33 He turns rivers into a desert, and springs of water into thirsty ground, 34 a fruitful land into a salty waste, because of the evil of its inhabitants. 35 He turns a desert into pools of water, and a parched land into springs of water; 36 and there he lets the hungry dwell, and they establish a city to live in; 37 they sow fields and plant vineyards, and get a fruitful yield. 38 By his blessing they multiply greatly, and he does not let their cattle decrease. 39 When they are diminished and brought low through oppression, through misery and sorrow, 40 he pours contempt on princes and makes them wander in trackless wastes; 41 but he lifts up the needy out of affliction and makes their families like flocks. 42 The upright see it and are glad, and all wickedness shuts its mouth. 43 Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the LORD.

Observation Questions

Psalm 107 repeats a pattern in each scene: what four steps appear in the wanderer, prisoner, fool, and sailor accounts? (Hint: the pastor names the pattern explicitly.) [38:19]
Read Psalm 107:4–9. What concrete images describe the wanderers’ condition, and what does the psalm present as the result God provides (what does “a city to dwell in” mean in the sermon)? [50:48]
In Psalm 107:10–16, what language does the psalm use to describe the prisoners’ bondage and the means of their release? How does the sermon connect that language to rebellion and repentance? [54:39]
Examine Psalm 107:23–32. What words describe the sailors’ fear and deliverance, and how does the psalm link the storm to recognizing who God is? [01:03:40]

Interpretation Questions

The psalm’s refrain focuses on the LORD’s “steadfast love” (hesed). How should one understand “steadfast love” in light of the psalm’s repeated reversals—does it simply mean mercy, or something broader and covenantal? [42:22]
The psalm links rebellion against God’s word with being “in irons” (vv. 11–12). Is the psalm portraying divine discipline, natural consequence, or both? How did the preacher distinguish between God’s discipline and ordinary consequences? [01:00:10]
The wanderers “cried to the Lord” and God “led them by a straight way” (vv. 6–7). How does the sermon interpret that straight way in relation to Christ as “the Way,” and what does that mean for reading the Old Testament story as pointing to New Testament salvation? [53:27]
The storm passage shows God calming the sea and bringing sailors to a haven. In the sermon this is called a “classroom for trust.” How does the psalm’s language teach trust, and why might God allow storms rather than preventing them? [01:03:40]

Application Questions

In what season of “wandering” (spiritual hunger, thirst, or exhaustion) do you find yourself right now? Describe one specific, practical step you will take this week to cry out to the Lord (a time to pray, a verse to memorize, a person to call). [50:48]
If you recognize that God’s loving discipline (or the consequences of foolish choices) has been at work in your life, name one concrete confession and one immediate change you will make this week to turn back to God. (For example: stop a habit, meet with an accountability partner, or set up a counseling appointment.) [01:14:26]
Is there a “chain” in your life—an ongoing sin, addiction, or repeated pattern—that feels like iron bars? Identify that chain and a gospel-centered first step toward freedom you will take (for example: invite a friend to hold you accountable, talk with a pastor, join a recovery group). Commit to that step this week. [54:39]
Think of a situation where you’ve trusted your own skill or control instead of trusting God (work, parenting, finances, planning). What is one tangible act of dependence you can do in the next seven days to show trust (ask for prayer, postpone a decision, give a sacrificial gift, fast and pray)? [01:03:40]
The psalm ends by calling people to “consider the steadfast love of the LORD.” Make a short gratitude practice for this week: list three aspects of God’s steadfast love you will rehearse each morning, and decide when you will rehearse them (time/place). [42:22]
The sermon reminded us that “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Who is one person in your life you will intentionally invite into a spiritual conversation or to church in the next month? Name the person and one concrete step you will take this week to start (text, coffee, prayer). [01:16:00]

Sermon Clips

The redeemed rejoice with thankfulness. It's a strong call to thanksgiving to the Lord because of his goodness and his steadfast love. The call is worded a little differently throughout, but this is repeated at least four times in the psalm. In verses 8, 15, 21, and 31, it's all worded this way. Here it is on the screen. Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man. [00:42:34] (33 seconds) #WondrousWorksOfGod

His steadfast love is a pretty good, fair translation of the word. It's a love that you can count on. It is a love that's like the bedrock, that it is steady. And more than that, His steadfast love, it says, endures forever. That's why Ryan picked that song to begin with. Not many things endure forever, do they? As a matter of fact, I don't know that I can name many things besides the Lord, His word, the coming new heavens and new earth. [00:46:09] (30 seconds) #SteadfastLoveEndures

But that is the reason to give thanks to the Lord, to rejoice in Him, because why? His steadfast love endures forever. Who's thankful for that this morning? Amen. And so who is to give thanks to the Lord for His steadfast love, His goodness and steadfast love? The redeemed. It says, let the redeemed of the Lord say so. The word is an echo of the Old Testament custom which obliged the kinsmen to step in to rescue their close relative from debtor slavery. [00:47:33] (33 seconds) #RedeemedGiveThanks

For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. And there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. So when Jesus was beginning His ministry, He came to a synagogue in Nazareth on a Sabbath and He read from the Isaiah scroll how many other, among many other things, He was sent to proclaim liberty to the captives. And so, like the prisoners freed in this section, all freed by the Lord should give thanks. [00:57:24] (32 seconds) #CallOnHisName

The storms of life humble us, don't they? They bring us to the end of ourselves and they are often the means by which the Lord draws people to Himself both for salvation initially and for greater dependence upon Him for those who do know Him. And when we cry to Him as those referred to in the Psalm did, He is able to save. And so yet again, verse 31, this is another reason to thank the Lord for His steadfast love for His wondrous works to the children of man. [01:05:49] (33 seconds) #SavedInTheStorm

Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things. Let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord. That is the right response. It is the Lord that we are to recognize in this fourfold picture of plight and salvation. And it is the steadfastness of His love that those who meditate on the psalm are now called to praise with renewed insight. It comes full circle, right? The redeemed rejoice with thanksgiving for all that He has done. [01:13:15] (35 seconds) #MeditateOnHisLove

It's first, the Lord is good and His steadfast love endures forever. You can count on Him. Amen? And His love. He made you. He saved you. He provides for you. He is preparing a place for you and He will glorify you. Praise God. But also, something maybe we're not as quick to praise Him for is the Lord disciplines His people for their waywardness. That's a lot of the theme of this psalm. [01:13:57] (32 seconds) #GodIsGoodAlways

There's a purpose as it says in Hebrews. He disciplines those He loves that we might share in His holiness. His aim is for us to be more like Christ. And so, embrace the discipline and respond rightly to it. When you are wayward, confess and repent. What does it say in 1 John 1.9? He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and restore us. Amen? [01:14:30] (31 seconds) #ForgivenAndRestored

The Lord will judge the guilty. Those who remain in the rebellion to His Word, especially the gospel of Christ, as we just read from 2 Thessalonians, will be judged and sent to the ultimate trackless waste of hell. And so, for some, the most important application of this is to repent and cry out and believe in Christ. If you have not done so, I know most of you here, most of your testimonies, praise God, but I don't know all your hearts. [01:15:02] (30 seconds) #RepentAndBelieve

``The clearest takeaway of all from Psalm 107, applicable to all, is to give thanks to the Lord in all circumstances, as the Scripture says, in all things, for His discipline, for His salvation, for His provision for you, for He is good and His steadfast love endures forever. Amen? [01:16:31] (23 seconds) #ThanksInAllThings

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