For a few moments this evening we'll turn to look at Psalm 107.
We're going to be looking over really the whole of this psalm.
We can read at the beginning and at the very end of the psalm.
Verse 1 it says to us, O give thanks to the Lord,
for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.
And then the last verse, verse 43, it says,
Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things.
Let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord.
So the psalm begins and ends with that theme of the steadfast love of the Lord.
And in between we find a number of different circumstances that people find themselves in
in order to consider the steadfast love of God that doesn't change.
As time goes on, as the years go past and months and weeks,
one thing that becomes apparent more and more,
and we're reminded of more and more,
is the variety of people around us
and the variety of situations that people find themselves in.
In one moment, there's a people who are celebrating and rejoicing.
At this time of year, week by week pretty much,
you'll see around the town or in different parts of the country as well,
you'll see people getting married, special days, days of much joy and happiness,
and you see that taking place.
And yet on the other hand, you'll see people on the other end of the spectrum
who are going through such trials and difficulties,
many that are so difficult for us to even try and contemplate for ourselves sorrow and sadness
that seems to go beyond our imagination at times.
There's that variety of people and variety of situations that they find themselves in,
the highs and the lows, and life is full of that.
But one thing I'm sure maybe all of you or many of you at least experience in the midst of life
and all that comes our way,
in all the changes and all the variety that we see around us,
it's so good to know that there is something that doesn't change,
that there is something that is always constant
in the midst of everything that goes on,
in every change, in everything that comes our way,
that we can come to the Word of God
and see that what doesn't change is this steadfast love of God.
A love that doesn't change
because it is a love that's from the promise of God himself.
Promises that you see running throughout Scripture.
Promises that God gives from beginning to end.
Great and wonderful promises that we can claim and cling on to
in the midst of the highs and in the midst of the lows as well.
That God is a God for his people.
That he has made that covenant promise.
I will be your God and you will be my people.
And in that we find a God who,
these words especially,
the steadfast love of the Lord.
How precious these words are
and how important these words are for us,
especially as we come to put our trust fully in the Lord.
To put our trust in him who is able to save.
But in our experience in life,
the Lord will bring us through
maybe many different experiences, situations,
in order for us to cry out for that help.
And to cry out to the Lord in that sense of,
we need you.
We need you in this situation, Lord.
We can't do without you.
And then as we come through that situation,
as the psalm reminds us,
we are encouraged and challenged indeed
to remember the steadfast love of the Lord.
And so as we look at this psalm together this evening,
we see a variety of people
in a variety of different situations.
But they all have something in common.
You see the verses that are repeated
throughout this psalm.
We'll look at it as we're going through.
But you see that in each situation
that the people find themselves in,
that the same words are repeated
in every situation.
And the same constant in it all
as well as the steadfast love of God.
So there are both variables and constants
in this psalm.
And that's what we want to look at together
this evening.
But before you come into these situations,
the opening verses of this psalm
make it clear to us,
verse 1 to verse 3,
that this is indeed a psalm of thanksgiving,
a psalm of thanking God
in the midst of everything.
O give thanks to the Lord,
for He is good,
for His steadfast love endures always.
The foundation of our thanks
is that steadfast love of God that endures.
But there's that challenge to us straight away.
O give thanks to the Lord.
And it's the same challenge
that you find in each situation
that the people are in us
will see as well.
But look at the vastness
of God's work here.
Look at where this steadfast love is seen.
When you look at these opening three verses,
in verse 3,
gathered in from the lands,
from the east and from the west,
from the north and from the south.
God's saving work is so vast.
This steadfast love goes out
through all ends of the earth,
from north, south, east and west.
But you see also that God's work
is so necessary.
In verse 2, it says,
let the redeemed of the Lord say so,
whom He has redeemed from trouble.
The people of God are in trouble.
And we as a people,
we're always finding ourselves
in that troubled situation.
Different places we find ourselves in
where we know we need the Lord.
We need that Redeemer.
We need that saving work of God
in the midst of our lives.
So we see how God's work
is so necessary.
And we see there too,
as you go back to verse 1,
how God's work is so enduring.
It's a never-ending love
that He shows to His people.
The Lord, He is good,
for His steadfast love
endures forever.
It is an ongoing love,
steadfast love,
that is there for His people.
So the psalm is a psalm of thanksgiving
that is so broad and wide in its nature,
in its distance,
north, south, east, and west,
in redeeming from the troubles
of this world
and in showing how enduring this love is.
It's a never-ending love.
And after these first three verses,
then you go in to see
four different sections
where it speaks about people
finding themselves
in times of trouble.
And how in the midst of time of trouble,
they're still able
to thank the Lord
for His steadfast love.
There's a German pastor
in the 1600s
called Martin Rinkert.
And he lived and ministered
in a very difficult time
when there was war
and conflict going on.
And he was taking so many funerals
in his experience
that it was just never-ending.
He was burying thousands of people
within a year.
And yet in the midst of it all,
he was still able to thank the Lord.
And he wrote a hymn.
And the hymn's title was
Now Thank We All Our God.
And the first verse of it goes like this.
Now thank we all, our God,
with heart and hands and voices,
whose wondrous things,
who wondrous things has done,
in whom his world rejoices,
who from our mother's arms
has blessed us on our way
with countless gifts of love
and still is ours today.
How he was able to see
in the midst of everything
that was going on,
the wonder of God
and the steadfast love of God
that was the constant companion
throughout all his days,
even in the most difficult
of experiences.
And we maybe see that
in our own lives as well.
As we go through
so many different experiences
in life,
we have that assurance
as we trust in the Lord
of his steadfast love
that never changes.
So we're going to look at
the four different situations
that we see people in.
And what we find is
that they have a common thread
in each one.
You see in each one
there is the problem,
a different problem
in each part.
Then there is the prayer.
They cry to the Lord.
And then you see
that there is the provision
that the Lord makes.
And then finally you see
the praise
that they're encouraged to give.
And so the first thing you see
is the problem.
And you see this
in the different sections.
Verse 4 and 5,
you see the first one there.
Some wandered in desert wastes,
finding no way to a city
to dwell in.
Hungry and thirsty,
their soul fainted within them.
There were those
who have lost their way.
There are those
who have wandered
in desert wastes,
finding no way to a city.
They were lost
and they were in
a desperate condition.
And they were wondering
to themselves,
how are they going to survive?
How are they going
to get through this?
And the word they wandered,
the wanderers,
it means to stagger.
So it shows
there was this weakness.
They were alone,
they were weak,
they were nearly gone.
And so they are wandering,
lost in this world.
And it's a reminder
to ourselves
of how we so often
have found
or maybe are finding ourselves
in that situation as well.
We're living in a world
but we can feel lost in it
without direction,
without knowing
just where are we going
in our lives.
Many of us have either
been there
or maybe are even there
just now.
We're wondering just
what is life about?
We're not finding direction.
We're not finding
our way.
It reminds us of the story
of the prodigal son
in the New Testament
who had left
everything behind,
taken the money
from his father
and wanted to go
and live his own life.
And he thought
this is it,
my freedom.
And yet he finds himself
wandering around
in the waste,
eating the food
of pigs to survive
and wondering
how have I ended up here?
Is there no point
and direction
in my life?
And so there's
the wanderers here.
We find
the first problem,
the people
who are just lost
and without direction.
The second one
we see then
is in verse 10.
Another section
begins there.
Some sat in darkness
and in the shadow
of death,
prisoners in affliction
and in irons,
for they had rebelled
against the words
of God
and spurned
the counsel
of the Most High.
They're prisoners.
They're locked in.
And again,
you see just that darkness
that surrounds them here.
And what you find is
it's because of
what they've done themselves,
because of the way
that they have rebelled,
as verse 11 makes clear.
They rebelled against
the Word of God.
And again,
in our lives,
who of us
have rebelled
against the Word of God?
We've said,
no,
I will not listen
to what the Word of God is.
I don't need that Word.
It's not for me.
And we find ourselves
thinking we've got freedom,
but all it means
is that we're in prison,
that we're in darkness,
that we're lost.
And it's all
of our own doing.
We feel that
sense of being trapped.
And so many things
can make us prisoners
in that sense
in this life.
Jealousy
and anger
and maybe hurt
in the past
and unforgiving spirit,
hatred towards
either people,
even the church.
People turn against
the church.
They have their own ideas
and they spurn
the Word of God
and we'll be free
from that,
but you're never free.
We're still in darkness.
We're putting God away,
but we're only ending up
in darkness ourselves
more and more.
So we see there
another problem.
And you see the third one
in verse 17 and 18.
Again,
you see a new section there.
Some were fools
through their sinful ways
and because of their iniquities
suffered affliction.
They loathed any kind of food
and they grew near
to the gates of death.
Sin is at the heart of it all
and we're reminded of that
in this section.
Fools through their sinful ways.
The fool says in his heart
there is no God.
That's sin to say
there is no God.
And from there
just leads to this
downward spiral
and life
where sin just
takes over our life.
We think nothing of it.
Sin just becomes
a natural part
of how we live.
But yet we are fools
to go on living like that.
Fools through their sinful ways.
Then the fourth one you see,
then the fourth problem
is in verse 23 there.
Another section begins.
Some.
So it's always talking
about these some.
Different people
in different situations.
Some went down
to the sea and ships
doing business
on the great waters.
They saw the deeds
of the Lord
as wondrous works
in the deep.
And so it goes on.
And in this experience,
they end up reeling
and staggering
like drunken men
in this storm.
They're overwhelmed
by life,
tossed about.
And it's just the way
life can sometimes
leave us feeling like that.
Overwhelmed
in so many situations.
That it's just like
a storm
all around us
as we were thinking
about this morning.
Instead of having
that peace with God,
there's nothing
but trouble
coming our way.
And without the Lord
in our lives,
without Jesus
in our lives,
we're just floundering around.
We're being tossed around
by the sea.
And so we see
there's four different kinds
of people here.
Four different situations.
Four different situations
that we maybe have had
in our own lives
or have.
We're wanderers.
We're prisoners.
We're the sick in sin.
We're the overwhelmed
by the storms of life.
At the heart of them all
is the sin
of our hearts.
The sin in this world
that leads us
down these paths
away from God.
There is the problem
for us
and indeed
for the world.
But is there
an answer?
Well you see
in all of these situations
we find
the answer.
And the answer
is prayer.
For in every situation
you find here
the constant is
then they cried
to the Lord
in their trouble
and he delivered them
from their distress.
That verse
is repeated
in each of these sections.
It's there
in each one.
Then they cried
to the Lord
in their trouble
and he delivered them
from their distress.
What is able
to help
in our situation
today?
We can cry out
for help
to friends
to family
even to strangers
at times.
We can cry out
to the world
to help us
in all our different
situations
to give us the answers
to all our different needs
but there is only one
who can help.
And that answer
is given to us
in this psalm
in the midst
of the variety
of people
the variety
of different problems
there is only one
answer
and that is
to pray
to cry
out
to the Lord.
Now you notice
it doesn't give
the prayer
to cry.
All it says
is that they cried
to the Lord
in their trouble.
It may not be
a long
eloquent prayer
it may not have
much substance
it may even just be
a groan
but it's directed
towards the Lord
who is able
to help.
Prayer is that
opportunity
to speak
to God
who is able
to help.
And again
you have given
so many reminders
through scripture
of what crying out
to the Lord
means.
You have that
great account
in 1 Kings 18
when Elijah
is there with
Ahab
and his people
his prophets
Ahab's prophets
Elijah is just
one man
but he trusts
in God
and he puts
a challenge
before Ahab
and all his
prophets
and say
you cry
to your gods
and I'll cry
to my God
and see
who sends
down fire
who is able
to help
in that situation
and Elijah
as they're saying
to them
keep crying
maybe he's not
hearing you
maybe he's not
listening just now
but he will
eventually
and nothing
comes
because their
gods
are not able
to help
but Elijah's
God
our God
he sends
down fire
he hears
and he answers
and that is
the God
that we cry
out to today
for ourselves
or for others
the one
who is able
the same
as Paul
speaks about
in Romans
chapter 10
he reminds us
there that we
are to call
on the name
of the Lord
he says
because
if you confess
with your mouth
that Jesus
is Lord
and believe
in your heart
that God
raised him
from the dead
you will be
saved
why
because he
goes on
in verse 13
to say
for everyone
who calls
on the name
of the Lord
will be saved
if we are truly
calling out
to God
if we are calling
out in our
desperation
that cry of faith
they cried
to the Lord
in their trouble
and he relieved
them
from their distress
he is the one
who is able
to help
we don't always
see our need
at times
and there are
many people
living in this world
and they're lost
but they don't
know it
because they feel
that everything
is going fine
everything is fine
it'll be
okay at the end
you hear
so many funerals
now in the mainland
especially
where they play
songs
and Frank Sinatra
as I did it
my way
that's so common
now
but that is
the song
that they sang
I did it
my way
but it's not
the song
of salvation
as we were
thinking of
this morning
and it's not
the cry
that we see
we need
here
the cry
that we need
here
is to call
upon the name
of the Lord
not do it
our way
but to seek
to do it
his way
that he would
direct us
Thomas Aquinas
he once put it
like this
bestow upon me
oh Lord
my God
understanding
to know
the
diligence
to seek
the
wisdom
to find
the
and a
faithfulness
that may
finally
embrace
thee
it's all
about this
coming
to cry
to the
Lord
in our
trouble
so we
have
the problem
there are
four different
sets of
people and
situations
but the
prayer is
there for
us to see
that the
prayer
is the
same in
every
situation
and it's
the same
that's true
for us
today
we cry
to the
Lord
in our
trouble
we ask
him
to help
for he
is able
to relieve
us
in our
distress
to give
comfort
to give
hope
that's the
third thing
that we
see
but we
see as
they cry
to the
Lord
the Lord
makes
provision
for them
in each
situation
we see
that they
could not
help
themselves
they could
not
free
themselves
they
needed
a
redeemer
they
needed
someone
to save
them
as it
says in
verse 2
let the
redeemed
of the
Lord
say so
whom he
has
redeemed
from
trouble
he needs
to be
the one
who saves
we cannot
do it
ourselves
and this
is the
story of
scripture
from beginning
to end
that God
is a
redeeming
God
is a
saving
God
you see
it
when you
go back
to the
Old
Testament
how he
redeemed
his
people
from
slavery
in
Egypt
even as
we were
looking at
Isaiah
this morning
it was
the Lord
that redeemed
them
when they
were taken
into
captivity
you see
he does
it for
nations
of people
but you
also see
that he
does for
individuals
as well
you think
of the
beautiful
story
of Ruth
and how
she
found
a
kinsman
redeemer
when she
married
Boaz
a beautiful
story
but it's
all about
the wonder
of a
redeemer
a redeemer
for an
individual
as well
as a
wider
people
and that's
the wonder
of the
redeemer
that we
have in
Jesus
Christ
that he
is the
one who
is able
to save
us
in our
trouble
as you
see in
each
situation
here
the
redeemer
comes
to their
aid
and he
shows
his
steadfast
love
his
covenant
love
that
endures
always
you see
it in
verse 7
in that
first
situation
he led
them
he led
them by
a straight
way
till they
reached
a city
to dwell
in
he brought
them
to a
place
of
security
a place
of safety
after they
had cried
to the
Lord
you see
it in
verse 14
he brought
them out
of darkness
and the
shadow
of death
and burst
their bonds
apart
he freed
them
freed them
from the
prison
that they
were in
and he's
able to
do that
you see
it in
verse 20
he sent
out his
word
and healed
them
and delivered
them from
their destruction
they had
been fools
they had
been sick
in their
sin
but the
word of
God
healed
them
the
redeemer
can
heal
you see
it in
verse 29
again
he made
the storm
be still
and the
waves of
the sea
were hushed
in every
situation
you see
a different
kind of
peace
being brought
but it's
always
he has
made it
possible
he has
brought
he has
led them
he has
brought them
out
he has
sent out
his word
and healed
them
he has
made the
storm
to be
still
he is
the one
who is
able
he is
the one
who has
made
provision
for his
people
and again
that is
true for
us today
as we
cry out
to the
Lord
now
trouble
what
provision
has he
made
for us
for all
who are
lost in
this world
for all
who are
caught up
in the
sin
of this
world
and maybe
think
there is
no
freedom
for me
in the
midst
of my
sin
there is
no hope
for me
in the
midst
of my
sin
what has
he done
he has
provided
a redeemer
he has
provided a
redeemer
who is
his own
son
Jesus
Christ
there is
only
one
Christ
has
redeemed
his
people
he came
to save
his
people
from
their
sins
and that
is the
wonder
of the
steadfast
love
of God
that God
loved
his
people
so much
that he
gave
his
own
son
the
redeemer
has
come
as the
hymn writer
puts it
there is a
redeemer
Jesus
God's
own
son
precious
lamb
of God
Messiah
holy
one
there is
a
redeemer
and the
only
redeemer
of God's
elect
as the
shorter
catech
puts it
is the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
there is
our
provision
in the
midst of
all that
is wrong
in this
world
and all
the
problems
that we
have
and all
the cries
that we
offer out
the
pleas
the
prayer
for
help
there is
one
who
is able
to
help
one
who
is able
to
save
and that
is
Jesus
Christ
he is
able to
save
his people
from their
sins
and when we
know that
salvation
when we
know Jesus
Christ
as our
redeemer
where does
that lead
us to
well surely
it leads us
to our
final thing
that we
see here
it should
lead us
to
praise
in all
of these
situations
in all
the four
different
situations
again there
is a
constant
in each
situation
he says
let them
thank the
Lord for
his steadfast
love
for his
wondrous
works to
the children
of men
so that is
the conclusion
of each of
these four
sections
all these
different
people who
find themselves
in different
situations
he is able
to provide
a way out
he is able
to redeem
and then there
is this
call
let them
thank the
Lord
for his
steadfast
love
you know
so often
people
will say
well I'm
going to
call on
God for
help
as they
face up
to a
challenge
a difficult
situation
the Lord
provides
gives grace
he gives
help
and so many
people come
through and they
forget
what the
Lord has
helped
forget
what the
Lord has
done
it's like
the parable
of the
ten lepers
they were
all healed
but only one
came back
to thank
the Lord
and he said
where are
the others
well they'd
all gone
their own
way
that's what
this psalm
is reminding
us of as well
as we are
looking for
help in this
life as the
Lord provides
graciously help
to us
well we're
reminded let
us thank
the Lord
for his
steadfast love
for his
covenant love
his constant
love
let us not
forget what
the Lord has
done for
us
he has
rescued us
he has
saved us
through Jesus
Christ
is that not
worthy of
all our
praise
a call
to thanks
oh give
thanks to the
Lord for he
is good
his steadfast
love
endures
forever
that's the
cry at the
start
it's the
cry throughout
let them
give thanks
to the
Lord for
his steadfast
love
for his
wondrous
works to
the children
of men
it's the
psalm as the
hymn writer
sees another
hymn thank
you oh my
father for
giving us
your son
and sending
us your
spirit
till the
work on
earth
is done
thank you
oh my
father for
giving us
your son
that we
have a
redeemer
so the
call is
there to
thanksgiving
because his
steadfast love
endures
always
what is the
most important
verse in
this psalm
it's a
fairly long
psalm
and it
covers a
lot of
ground
but what
is the
most important
verse
is there
a most
important
verse
well somebody
said there
is
one writer
said the
last verse
is the
most
important
why
well look
at the
last verse
whoever
is wise
let him
attend
to these
things
let him
consider
the
steadfast
love
of the
lord
why
is that
so
important
well it
speaks to
us
about
wisdom
what is
it
to be
wise
the world
will tell
us so
many things
that are
wise
according
to them
but according
to the word
of god
wisdom's
beginning
is the
fear of
the lord
that doesn't
mean just
to run
away
scared
from the
lord
it
means
to
consider
the lord
to look
to the
lord
to be in
awe
of the
lord
it's the
one
who is
god
over all
and so
it says
here
whoever
is wise
let him
attend
to these
things
that these
are important
matters
these are
important
things
in our
own
experience
so that
whatever
situation
we find
ourselves
in
whether we
are the
wanderers
whether we
are the
prisoners
whether we
are those
who are
sick
in sin
whether we
are those
who are
being tossed
around in
the storms
of this
life
let us
consider
these
things
and let
us see
where our
help is
found
it is
found in
crying out
to the
lord
who is
able
to relieve
us
from our
troubles
to bring
us
out
so it
says
let them
attend
to these
things
but then
it concludes
let them
consider
the steadfast
love
of the
lord
look
on these
things
look
on the
lord
and his
steadfast
love
that is
unchanging
in all
our lives
he is
there
for his
people
he has
promised
that those
who cry
will be
saved
so we
can come
in confidence
whoever is
wise
let him
attend
to these
things
let him
consider
the
steadfast
love
of the
lord
let us
consider
the
steadfast
love
of the
lord
and see
if he
is not
worthy
of all
our
praise
let us
come
and give
thanks to
the lord
for he
is good
for his
steadfast
love
endures
forever
let us
pray
lord we do
thank you
for your
word and
for all the
truths that
we find
in them
the promises
that we see
before us
a new
day by
day that
you are
a good
god
who is
gracious
to his
people
that your
steadfast
love
endures
forever
we pray
to know
more
of that
enduring
love
that you
have
shown
so hear
our prayers
continue
with us
as we
ask all
in jesus
name
amen
well we
conclude by
singing
from this
psalm that
we've been
looking at
we sing the
last three
verses
in the
scottish
psalter
psalm 107
at verse
41
page 385
yet
setteth
he the
poor
on high
from all
his
miseries
and he
much like
unto a
flock
doth make
him
families
and at
the end
whoso is
wise
and will
these
things
observe
and then
record
even they
shall
understand
the love
and kindness
of the
lord
with these
last three
verses
the
tunas
montrose
we stand
to sing
up
Amen.
After the benediction, I'll go to the main door.
We'll close the benediction.
Now may grace, mercy and peace from God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit rest upon
and abide with you all now and forevermore.
Amen.