“O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His mercy endures forever. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy…” Psalm 107:1-2 (Read Psalm 107)
Life often feels like a series of unrelated struggles — wilderness wanderings, dark valleys, stormy seas, and dry deserts. Yet, Psalm 107 weaves these disparate experiences into a single tapestry of grace. It is a song for the weary traveler, but, more importantly, an instruction manual in gratitude for those who have been rescued.
The Psalmist begins with a fundamental declaration: God is good, and His mercy is not temporary. It endures forever. But this is not meant to be a silent theological observation. Verse 2 issues a command to those who have experienced this goodness: “Let the redeemed of the LORD say so.”
If God has walked you through a fire, your testimony is the water that refreshes a thirsty world. Silence is not an option for the redeemed.
The Refrain of Grace
Four times in this Psalm — in verses 8, 15, 21, and 31 — the writer pauses the narrative of trouble and deliverance to sing the same chorus: “Oh, that men would praise the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!”
This repetition is intentional. It serves as a holy interruption. Whether the people were lost in the desert, bound in darkness, sick because of their rebellion, or reeling in a storm at sea, the conclusion of their story was always the same: God intervened.
This refrain reminds us that our circumstances may change, but God’s character does not. In every season of crisis, He is the God who hears our cry. The repetition teaches us that we are prone to forget. We are quick to pray when the storm hits, but slow to praise when the sun comes out. The Psalmist nudges us, four times over, to remember the source of our rescue.
The Ultimate Rescue
While the Psalmist recounts deliverance from physical perils, these point us to a far greater, eternal rescue. We were not merely lost in a physical wilderness, but spiritual wanderers separated from God. We were bound by the chains of our own sinfulness, facing the just punishment for our rebellion.
Yet, God’s “wonderful works” culminated in the greatest act of mercy history has ever known. He did not leave us to the consequences of our sin. Instead, through the gift and sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ, God paid the ransom to redeem us. Jesus took the storm of judgment upon Himself so that we could be brought into the haven of peace. This is the deepest meaning of God’s enduring mercy — that while we were yet sinners, He rescued us.
The Wisdom of Observation
The Psalm concludes with a challenge in verse 43: “Who is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.”
True wisdom is not just intellectual knowledge; it is the ability to “observe these things.” It is the spiritual discipline of looking back over the landscape of your life — the storms, the chains, the deserts — and recognizing the hand of God in all of it.
When we stop to observe the patterns of God’s faithfulness, we begin to truly understand His lovingkindness. We realize that He wasn’t just present in the rescue; He was present in the refining.
Today, look back at your own journey. Identify the moments where you cried out and He answered. Do not let those moments pass in silence. Join the chorus of the redeemed and say so.
Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You today because You are good, and Your mercy toward me endures forever. I look back on my life, and I see the many times You have redeemed me from the hand of the enemy. You have led me through deserts and calmed the storms around me. Most of all, I thank You for the ultimate rescue found in Jesus Christ. Thank You for saving me from my sinfulness and the punishment I deserved. Thank You for the sacrifice of Your Son, who paid the price I could not pay to bring me home to You. Forgive me for the times I have been quick to ask for help but slow to offer praise. Today, I wish to be one who “says so.” I declare Your goodness over my life. I praise You for Your wonderful works. Grant me the wisdom to observe Your hand at work in every season. Open my eyes to understand the depth of Your lovingkindness, that I might live a life that constantly points back to Your grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from The Holy Bible, Modern English Version, Copyright © 2024, 2017, 2014 by United Bible Association, Published and distributed by Charisma House. All rights reserved.]