Psalm 107 is 43 verses long. In 7 of those verses, God's people 'cry out to the Lord in their trouble' (vs. 8, 13, 19 and 28). And each time they cry out, God saves them from their distress.
Were the Israelites slow learners? Certainly after the fourth or fifth time of being in trouble, they would figure out that there has got to be a better way.....ah, but all too often, we modern day Christians do just the same thing. We cry out to the Lord in our trouble, he rescues us, we dust ourselves off, get back up, and continue to run our own lives, forgetting to give God the glory.
- Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. (v. 1)
- Give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind (vs. 8, 16, 21, 31). Yes, four times. Give thanks to the Lord.
How do we give thanks? Through prayers, song, serving, confessing and asking for the strength to turn aside from sin and sorrow.
Have you ever tried this? Have you shared your thankful heart with a friend? With a coworker? With a loved one? Verse 2 says "let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story." We all have a story to tell, and when we have a bad experience, we are more likely to pass on our dissatisfaction. The way to stop that cycle is to Give Thanks in All Circumstances! (I Thessalonians 5:18).
Thanksgiving is around the corner. We are all getting ready to head to family or friends and enjoy the most caloric, tradition-laden meal of the year. Why not include a time of thanksgiving that focuses on all that God has done for us?
Here's a song to help you get started on giving thanks as you re-read Psalm 107. The psalm ends with this verse, and I would urge you to join the psalmist in pondering God's love:
Let the one who is wise heed these things and ponder the loving deeds of the Lord.
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