O Give Thanks To The LORD, For He Is Good
Devotional
Companion to the Psalter
A Devotional Guide to the Psalms
Object:
O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Let the redeemed of the LORD say so,
those he redeemed from trouble ...
They cried to the LORD in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress ...
Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love,
for his wonderful works to humankind.
-- Psalm 107:1-2, 6, 8
Theme: God -- deliverer in danger and calamity
Outline
1-3 -- Having returned from exile, let us thank the Lord.
4-42 -- Six pictures of God's saving love:
4-9 -- travelers through the desert guided home,
10-16 -- prisoners in dark dungeons released,
17-22 -- sick (chastised for sin) made well,
23-32 -- sailors in storm brought to port,
33-38 -- a barren land is revived, and
39-42 -- the needy and oppressed are defended.
43 -- Ponder these examples of God's love!
Notes
• Thanksgiving
• Book Five begins here.
For Reflection
• What good can come out of being brought so low that your resources are gone? The psalmist and Saint Paul would say, "That's when God shows his power." (See 2 Corinthians 1:9.)
• Everyone has experienced narrow escapes. How shall we interpret them? The world says, "Lucky you!" or thinks of the horoscope.
• The inspired psalmist tells us to see the redeeming love of God exemplified in them. Every healing is God's pushing back the hand of death. Every rescue is God's providential care.
• The purpose? That we may live with him, under his grace and leading and plan.
• But what about all the tragedies that do happen? Can we do better than to honestly leave them without explanation -- and yet with faith?
Prayer
So bless us, O God, that when we are brought low, we may cherish your presence and know that you will show your loving care for us. No matter what happens, enable us to serve you at our station with growing faith, hope, and love through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Let the redeemed of the LORD say so,
those he redeemed from trouble ...
They cried to the LORD in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress ...
Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love,
for his wonderful works to humankind.
-- Psalm 107:1-2, 6, 8
Theme: God -- deliverer in danger and calamity
Outline
1-3 -- Having returned from exile, let us thank the Lord.
4-42 -- Six pictures of God's saving love:
4-9 -- travelers through the desert guided home,
10-16 -- prisoners in dark dungeons released,
17-22 -- sick (chastised for sin) made well,
23-32 -- sailors in storm brought to port,
33-38 -- a barren land is revived, and
39-42 -- the needy and oppressed are defended.
43 -- Ponder these examples of God's love!
Notes
• Thanksgiving
• Book Five begins here.
For Reflection
• What good can come out of being brought so low that your resources are gone? The psalmist and Saint Paul would say, "That's when God shows his power." (See 2 Corinthians 1:9.)
• Everyone has experienced narrow escapes. How shall we interpret them? The world says, "Lucky you!" or thinks of the horoscope.
• The inspired psalmist tells us to see the redeeming love of God exemplified in them. Every healing is God's pushing back the hand of death. Every rescue is God's providential care.
• The purpose? That we may live with him, under his grace and leading and plan.
• But what about all the tragedies that do happen? Can we do better than to honestly leave them without explanation -- and yet with faith?
Prayer
So bless us, O God, that when we are brought low, we may cherish your presence and know that you will show your loving care for us. No matter what happens, enable us to serve you at our station with growing faith, hope, and love through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
