RESCUE-Psalm 107

Old Testament, Psalms, Sermons

Psalm 107-Rescue powerpoint. Psalm 107, 42% OFF | dev.rewasoft.net:2048“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love [ḥeseḏ] endures forever” (Ps 107:1; 106:1). “…they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.” “Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love [ḥeseḏ] and his wonderful deeds for mankind” (Ps 107:6, 8, 13, 15, 19, 21, 28, 31).

  1. A story of God’s love [ḥeseḏ] (Ps107:1-3).
  2. 4 stories of those redeemed by God’s love [ḥeseḏ]:
    1. Wanderers (4-9).
    2. Prisoners (10-16).
    3. The sick and dying  (17-22).
    4. The storm-tossed (23-32).
  3. Turning desert into pools (33-38).
  4. Lifting the needy (39-42).
  5. Be wise (Ps 107:43).

How Psalm 107 points to Christ:

  1. Jesus rescues the wonderers (Ps 107:4; Mt 11:28).
  2. Jesus sets the prisoner free (Ps 107:10, 16; Lk 4:18).
  3. Jesus heals the sick and delivers from death (Ps 107:20; Jn 11:25-26).
  4. Jesus calms life’s storms (Ps 107:29; Mk 4:39-41).

Psalm 105-107 [6th, 5th and 7th longest psalms] have been considered a trilogy. Psalm 105 shows God’s faithfulness to his COVENANT with Abraham. Psalm 106 shows the people’s FAILURE to be faithful to God. Psalm 107 [the beginning of Book V] opens similarly to Psalm 106 [the end of Book IV] (Ps 107:1; 106:1). But it is not a lament due to their unfaithfulness. Rather, Psalm 107 calls on God’s people to thank him for his rescue from various forms of suffering: 4 pictures/stories of human predicament followed by divine intervention. The 4 main stanzas all have a similar structure (4-9, 10-16, 17-22, 23-32). Each narrates:

  1. * a deadly threat, followed by
  2. * a cry for help (Ps 107:6, 13, 19, 28), and then comes
  3. * God’s deliverance, which illicits
  4. * a call to thank and praise God for his “unfailing love” [ḥeseḏ] (Ps 107:8, 15, 21, 31).

It utilizes 2 repeated refrains. After describing the deadly threat,

  1. the 1st refrain describes God’s people calling on him for help (Ps 107:6, 13, 19, 28).
  2. the 2nd refrain urges people to respond with thanks and praise for his “unfailing love“ [ḥeseḏ] (Ps 107:8, 15, 21, 31).

The final verse call on the wise to “heed these things and ponder the loving deeds [ḥeseḏ] of the Lord“ (Ps 107:43), thus connecting the psalm to the wisdom tradition of the O.T.

Questions:

  • How is the central theme of God’s faithful committed steadfast love [hesed] in Psalm 107 emphasized throughout the psalm from the repeated refrain/exhortation (Ps 107:1, 8, 15, 21, 31, 43; Lam 3:22-23; 1 Th 5:18; Phil 4:6)?
  1. What does the psalmist encourage the redeemed of the Lord to do (Ps 107:1-3)? Who are the “redeemed of the Lord” (Ps 107:2-3)? How does this relate to God’s deliverance?
  2. What the situation of those wandering in the desert (Ps 107:4-5; Exo 16:2-3, Num 20:2-5; Isa 35:6-7)? What difficulties did they face (Ps 107:5)? How God respond to their distress (Ps 107:7, 9)?
  3. Why were some prisoners suffering in darkness (Ps 107:10-12)? How did they and God respond (Ps 107:13-14, 16)?
  4. Why did some become fools (Ps 107:17)? With what result (Ps 107:18)? What did God do in response to their cry for help (Ps 107:19-20)?
  5. What is the situation of the sailors on stormy seas (Ps 107:23-27)? How did God calm the storm for those in distress (Ps 107:28-30; Mk 4:35-41)?
    1. In each of the 4 situations of distress above what are the people encouraged to do in response to God’s deliverance (Ps 107:8, 15, 21-22, 31-32)?
    2. Did it make a difference in God’s response whether or not their troubles were a result of their sin and rebellion (Ps 107:11, 17)?
  6. How is God’s power over nature and His ability to change circumstances described (Ps 107:33-38)?
  7. What contrasts are highlighted between the righteous / humble / needy and the wicked / proud / rich (Ps 107:39-42)? Why and how should you guard against pride and wealth (Jas 4:6; 1 Pet 5:5-6; Mt 23:12, Lk 14:11)?
  8. What does the final exhortation encourage the wise to do (Ps 107:43)?
  9. How does Psalm 107 points to Christ?
    1. The wonderers (Ps 107:4; Mt 11:28).
    2. The prisoners (Ps 107:10, 16; Lk 4:18).
    3. The sick and dying (Ps 107:20; Jn 11:25-26).
    4. Those caught in life’s storms (Ps 107:29; Mk 4:39-41).
  • What should we always do in response to God’s deliverance and why (Ps 107:8-9, 15-16, 21-22, 31-32)? Why is giving thanks to God so emphasized (Rom 1:21; 1 Th 5:18)?
  • Can you personally relate to any of the situations described in Psalm 107? What does it teach about calling out to God in times of trouble (Ps 107:6, 13, 19, 28)? How can you apply Psalm 107 in your daily life (Ps 107:1, 43)?
  • What specific actions can you take to remember and recount God’s faithfulness as described in Psalm 107 (Ps 107:2, 22, 32)?
  • Do you express gratitude for God’s deliverance in your own life (Ps 107:8, 15, 21, 31)?

 

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