Formation’s Gratitude
I never want to be far from thankfulness. I first realized this when our children were pre-school age. Sue, my wife, would plan a family night where we ate candlelight dinner together. These dinners became dress-up occasions. Typically, at some point in the meal, our oldest, Lindsey, would want to give thanks to God again for the mashed potatoes and gravy, or the green bean casserole, or the chicken. Over and over she would say, “Thank you, Jesus.” That is the heart of Psalm 107. It is our prayer today.
BOOK FIVE
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;
5 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 So he bowed their hearts down with hard labor;
they fell down, with none to help.
13 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
and he delivered 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 they 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 wondrous works 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 evil plight;
27 they reeled and staggered like drunken men
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,
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,
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 livestock diminish.
39 When they are diminished and brought low
through oppression, evil, and sorrow,
40 he pours contempt on princes
and makes them wander in trackless wastes;
41 but he raises 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.
Psalm 107 reminds us that life is hard. Four real life experiences identified in this prayer tell us so. All four are introduced with the word “some.” First, some wandered…(107:4). Sometimes, like people who have strayed off course, we feel like pilgrims. Innocent in our pilgrimage, yet lost (107:4-9). Like the people described in this Psalm, we cry out: “Lead me” (107:6) and God delivers. What can we say except “thank-you” (107:8-9)?
Second, some sat in darkness…(107:10). Sometimes, like people who have intentionally veered off the right path, we find ourselves guilty of bad judgment. We feel like prisoners (107:10). Like Samson stuck in a cell, we wonder if we will ever escape. We cry out: “Free me” (107:13) and God opens the cell door and out we come (107:13-16). What can we say, except “thank you” (107:15)?
Third, some were fools…(107:17). Sometimes, like people who have been endowed with great blessing we squander what God has given us. We feel like prodigals (107:17-18). We are like Moses’ sister, Miriam, too big for our britches, arrogantly thinking we know best, only to discover that God has a different view (Numbers 12:10-15). Then we cry out: “Restore me” (107:19) and God delivers us from our distress and destruction (107:19-20). What can we say, except “thank you” (107:21-22)?
Fourth, some went down to the sea in ships…(107:23). Sometimes, like people who chase the unknown, we find ourselves innocently placed in a very frightening experience. We feel like pioneers on the sea. A hurricane has blown our way and we are in peril (107:23-27). Like Paul on his ocean journey to Rome, we are adrift and at our wits’ end (Acts 27:13-44). Our ship is torn apart. Then we cry out: “Calm me” (107:28) and God hushes the storm and we safely swim to shore (107:29-30). What can we say, except “thank you” (107:31)?
The rest of Psalm 107 is all about God’s sovereignty (107:33-42). God saves His people through great reversals time and time again. The biggest reversal, of course, is the cross of Jesus Christ. Notice with me how this prayer ends with a call to not forget all these experiences and the faithful presence of God (107:43). The Psalmist prays: “Whoever is wise, let him attend…” Attend means to watch, guard, and keep these experiences in our heart. He prays further: “Let them consider…” Consider means to discern and distinguish what happens in life. In other words, we are never to get too far from weighing the steadfast love of God. We are to remain grateful for food, clothes, shelter, friends, pain, storms, work, church, rescue and the Jesus-following life. At the heart of the Christ-following life is a thankful heart. Spiritual gymnasiums should be full of gratitude. Thank you, Jesus!