stephen R Harrison

Has there been a point where you stopped and gave thanks to the Lord for His goodness and love? What has He delivered you from and restored you to? In the middle of our suffering, we can forget God is a restorer. During prosperous times, we can forget God is a comforter in adversity and sorrow. In Psalm 107, the psalmist gave thanks to the Lord for His goodness, love, and redemption from the Babylonian exile (v. 1). During their captivity, the Jews suffered many hardships. In fact, the psalmist alludes to the “hand of the foe” (v. 2), wandering in wastelands (v. 4), hunger and thirst (v. 5), distress (v. 6), imprisonment (v. 10), bitter labor (v. 12), and so much more. Psalm 107 begins the last of the five book divisions of the Psalms. In it, the psalmist “tells their story” (v. 2) and gave thanks for several ways the Lord delivered and restored the Jewish people.

The Jewish people were taken captive almost 900 miles from Judah to Babylon. After 70 years away, one may have forgotten the way home. They wandered in the desert and were hungry and thirsty (vv. 4-5), but the Lord “led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle” (v. 7). They cried out to Him and He guided and provided! When we lose our path forward and find ourselves wandering hungry and thirsty, the Lord nourishes us and makes a straight way (Isaiah 40:3) because He is the Way (John 14:6)! Thank God He makes a way when there is no way! The Jewish people were enslaved for 70 years in Babylon. They “sat in darkness as prisoners in iron chains” (v. 10). Notice it was because they rebelled against God and despised His Word (v. 11). They faced bitter labor and imprisonment. Again, they cried out to the Lord and He saved them (v. 13). He broke their chains (v. 14) and the prison bars that had them bound (v. 16). Thank God He restores our freedom!

Seventy years of imprisonment and hard labor can be destructive to one’s health. They “suffered affliction because of their iniquities“ (v. 17). They were so sick they hated food and were to the point of death (v. 18). Once again, they cried out to the Lord and He saved them (v. 19). He “sent His word and healed them and rescued them from the grave” (v. 20). Thank God He can restore our health! Some of the Jewish people became merchants at sea to provide for their families. This was most likely a new way of life for them as they did not handle the storms very well and lost their courage and hope (v. 26). They “reeled and staggered like drunkards and were at their wits end” (v. 27). So, again they cried out to the Lord and He calmed the storm and brough them to a safe haven (vv. 28-30). Thank God He still calms the storms and restores our hope!

God led them back to Judah, set them free, renewed their health, and reinstated their courage. This was more than enough cause for joy and thanksgiving, but God was not finished. He restored their home. While they lived in Babylon for 70 years, it was not home. The Babylonians had destroyed their homes and land, but God turned their barren wasteland into a fertile homeland once again. Because of their wickedness, God judged the land (vv. 33-35). He brought them back to this same place and restored “a city where they could settle” (v. 36). They planted and harvested (v. 37) and grew their families (v. 41). Thank God He still provides us a home and family, especially in the church today! We should see and rejoice the loving deeds of the Lord (vv. 42-43)!

Questions:

1. How has the Lord delivered you?
2. Has the Lord restored you?
3. Do you praise and give thanks for all He has done?

Prayer:
Lord, thank You for delivering and restoring my life. You delivered me from sin and restored me to Jesus! You have made my path straight, healed, freed, gave hope, and placed me into the family of God! I’m so thankful! You give me great joy and cause me to worship Your name! Praise the Lord! In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen!