four stories of grace

He turns a desert into pools of water,

a parched land into springs of water.

And there he lets the hungry dwell,

and they establish a city to live in;

Psalm 107:35-36

God brings refreshment, provision, and life to His people. This 107th psalm is all about celebrating the grace of God (steadfast love) that He faithfully brings to His people. They don’t deserve it, but God is gracious. The psalm is structured with an emphasis on God’s faithful, caring love. Here is an overview:

INTRO: Give thanks to God for His steadfast love! (Psalm 107:1-3) He has redeemed His people. There are 4 examples of how He did this.

I.  Desert Wanderers (Psalm 107:4-9)

• They are hungry & thirsty.
• They cried out.
• God led them out satisfying their longing and hunger.

II. Afflicted Prisoners (Psalm 107:10-16)

• They are afflicted rebels in irons. They are bound by their sinful choices. God has afflicted them.
• They repented and cried out.
• God burst their bonds & led them out of darkness.

III. Foolish Sinners (Psalm 107:17-22)

• They suffered in sin & drew near to death.
• They cried out.
• God sent His Word, healed, & delivered them.

IV. Adventurous Sailors (Psalm 107:23-32)

• They were entrepreneurial traders who foolishly risked too far.
• They cried out in the storm.
• God stilled the storm & led ships back to safe haven.

CONCLUSION: Reflection on the God Who does as He pleases (Psalm 107:33-43)

FINAL STATEMENT - The Psalm in a Sentence: Whoever is wise, attend to these stories & consider the grace of God.

My life, at various junctures, identifies with all four stories of grace in this psalm. And in it all, I must always be grateful in worship for the strong undercurrent of grace that gets me safely through!