In Today's Email:
Psalm 106 Notes
No author or superscription is given for this psalm. The first verse and last two verses, however, match a song by David in I Chronicles 16:34-36. Therefore, it is highly likely that this psalm is written by David as an expansion on those earlier verses. The psalm highlights God’s goodness to Israel despite their many failures in their history. This psalm concludes Book IV of the Psalms.
vs. 1-5 – A prayer for personal deliverance based on God’s past deliverance of Israel.
vs. 6-12 – The Red Sea crossing is remembered, not as a glorious victory but as God’s goodness towards an undeserving people. Israel had already forgotten God’s might displayed in the plagues and were ready to surrender themselves back to Egypt in Exodus 14:11-12.
vs. 13-18 – Israel and even forgot the Red Sea crossing and continued complaining to God. Historical incidents recalled here concern judgment against Korah’s rebellion in Numbers 16:29-35.
vs. 19-23 – The creation of the Golden calf is recalled from Exodus 32.
vs. 24-27 – The failure to take the Promised Land after the report of the 12 spies in Numbers 13-14 is recalled.
vs. 28-33 – Israel’s embracing of idolatry at Baalpeor in Numbers 25 and their murmuring at Meribah in Numbers 20 are recalled.
vs. 34-46 – The failure to drive the Canaanites out of the Promised Land and the effects of it are recalled. Israel continually turned from God and embraced the idolatry of these nations, forcing God to judge them in order to purge the wickedness from His people.
vs. 47-48 – A prayer for the merciful God – a God so merciful that He could forgive this litany of failures in Israel’s past – to deliver in the present. Praise is offered to God who is gracious, merciful, and longsuffering toward man.
Psalm 107 Notes
This psalm opens Book V of the Psalms. No author or superscription is provided for this psalm. There is some debate whether this was written by David or much later as the exiles returned from the Babylonian Captivity. It is a song of thanksgiving for deliverance.
vs. 1-3 – The redeemed, those who had been delivered by God, are called to praise the Lord.
vs. 4-9 – The first example of God’s deliverance is to those that wander the wilderness with no home. When they cry to the Lord, He provides them with home, safety, and provision.
vs. 10-16 – The second example of God’s deliverance is to those imprisoned. These are shown to be guilty, but when they repent God sets them free.
vs. 17-22 – The third example of God’s deliverance is to the sinner. These find salvation, satisfaction, and deliverance in the Lord when they repent.
vs. 23-32 – The fourth example of God’s deliverance is to the sailor. In ancient times this was especially perilous and is still quite risky today. I love the wonderful word pictures here of a ship riding the waves and of sailors staggering on an unsteady deck. These cry to the Lord and He delivers them.
vs. 33-38 – A fifth example of God’s deliverance is found here, thought is not as explicitly stated. Here we see God’s provision in blessing the lands, harvests, and livestock.
vs. 39-43 – The power of God that subverts human understanding is displayed. In delivering the righteous and humbling the wicked His might is shown to the world. This is one of the great practical pieces of evidence for God’s existence and power. The fact that Christianity has not been eradicated by the world proves the hand of God. The same can be said for the Jews. If they were not God’s chosen people, how could they have survived through the centuries and millennia maintaining their identity?
Closing Thoughts
There is a definite pattern in the many examples of God’s deliverance in Psalm 107: danger, repentance, prayer, then deliverance. When we find ourselves in trouble, mainly by our own doing, what is our first response? Sadly, it is often to blame God for allowing it or not delivering us. We miss those crucial steps in between danger and deliverance. We must first search ourselves for sin that needs to be repented of and do so. Then we need to actually ask God to intervene. Too often we just expect Him to, but God wants us to humbly come before Him and make our petitions known to Him. Once these are done, the mighty Hand of God is brought to action on our behalf.
Hymn for Today
Our hymn today is a personal favorite. “The Haven of Rest”, written in 1885 by H.L. Gilmour, parallels that picture of God delivering the sailor in 107:23-32, making it an allegory for salvation and our Savior’s loving care.
1 My soul in sad exile was out on life's sea,
So burdened with sin, and distressed,
Till I heard a sweet voice saying, "Make Me your choice,"
And I entered the haven of rest.
Refrain:
I've anchored my soul in the haven of rest,
I'll sail the wide seas no more;
The tempest may sweep o'er the wild stormy deep,
In Jesus I'm safe evermore.
2 I yielded myself to His tender embrace,
And faith taking hold of the word,
My fetters fell off, and I anchored my soul:
The haven of rest is my Lord. [Refrain]
3 The song of my soul, since the Lord made me whole,
Has been the old story so blessed,
Of Jesus who'll save whosoever will have
A home in the haven of rest. [Refrain]
4 How precious the thought that we all may recline,
Like John, the beloved and blessed,
On Jesus' strong arm, where no tempest can harm,
Secure in the haven of rest. [Refrain]
5 Oh, come to the Savior, He patiently waits
To save by His power divine;
Come, anchor your soul in the haven of rest,
And say, "My Beloved is mine." [Refrain]