Yesterday, we learned from Psalm 106:1, that we can give thanks to the Lord because he’s good. Today, a look at Psalm 107 will remind us of some specific ways he’s been good to us.
All of us.
Psalm 107:19-22 says:
“Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind. Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy.”
He Hears Us
The first reason to give thanks to the Lord is that he hears us when we call. After all, “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13)
Stop and ponder that point for a moment. The God who created all things and who “sustains them by his powerful word” inclines his ear to you. (Hebrews 1:3)
When we call, he answers.
How could we not be thankful for that?
We don’t have to feel neglected or ignored. He hears our voices, each individual one. It’s a testament to how wonderful he is that in the midst of many, he sees us singly. We’re not a mass or a multitude. We have meaning.
He Helps Us
The thing is he doesn’t just hear us. He helps us.
I don’t know about you, but sometimes I need more than just a sympathetic listener. I appreciate a friend who’ll listen to my problems, but sometimes, I need their help to solve them.
Wednesday, Merchant Ship Ministries had a fall sale, and I had been unexpectedly out of town Monday and Tuesday. If it weren’t for the help of my friends, I can’t imagine how things would have gone.
One came and took my younger kids. For most of the day, y’all.
Another came toward the end of the sale so that I could go and get them back. And, she helped me clean up afterward.
Then, there’s the friend who hosted it at her home and made the whole thing possible in the first place.
They all knew the needs and actually stepped forward to meet them.
God does that, too.
After all, his Son knew our greatest need and stepped right out of heaven to meet it.
We have no greater reason for gratitude.
He Heals Us
Y’all, I know we all have hurts, but I want you to know that he heals them.
Our sins and those of others cut our hearts and lives like a shattered glass door cut my son’s arm a few months ago.
Just like that glass, they cut deep; and they’re dangerous.
In fact, they’re deadly.
That’s why the Psalmist said God rescues us from the grave.
He makes hearts sick with sin whole again.
He makes them new, doing more than simply stitching them up like the surgeon did my son’s arm.
He promises, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” (Ezekiel 36:26)
When he does that, we can be like David, who said:
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit with in me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your holy spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors your ways so that sinners will turn back to you.” (Psalm 51:10-13)
That’s the point, isn’t it? To thank the Lord for his wonderful works then actually tell others about them?