Psalms 107: Let the Redeemed Say So
Opening Book V, four pictures of people in trouble who cried to the Lord and were delivered, each calling us to thank him for his steadfast love.
Psalms 107 (WEB)
1 Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.
2 Let the redeemed by Yahweh say so, whom he has redeemed from the hand of the adversary,
3 And gathered out of the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.
4 They wandered in the wilderness in a desert way. They found no city to live in.
5 Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.
6 Then they cried to Yahweh in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses,
7 he led them also by a straight way, that they might go to a city to live in.
8 Let them praise Yahweh for his loving kindness, for his wonderful works to the children of men!
9 For he satisfies the longing soul. He fills the hungry soul with good.
10 Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron,
11 because they rebelled against the words of God, and condemned the counsel of the Most High.
12 Therefore he brought down their heart with labor. They fell down, and there was no one to help.
13 Then they cried to Yahweh in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.
14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and broke away their chains.
15 Let them praise Yahweh for his loving kindness, for his wonderful works to the children of men!
16 For he has broken the gates of brass, and cut through bars of iron.
17 Fools are afflicted because of their disobedience, and because of their iniquities.
18 Their soul abhors all kinds of food. They draw near to the gates of death.
19 Then they cry to Yahweh in their trouble, he saves them out of their distresses.
20 He sends his word, and heals them, and delivers them from their graves.
21 Let them praise Yahweh for his loving kindness, for his wonderful works to the children of men!
22 Let them offer the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with singing.
23 Those who go down to the sea in ships, who do business in great waters;
24 These see Yahweh’s works, and his wonders in the deep.
25 For he commands, and raises the stormy wind, which lifts up its waves.
26 They mount up to the sky; they go down again to the depths. Their soul melts away because of trouble.
27 They reel back and forth, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.
28 Then they cry to Yahweh in their trouble, and he brings them out of their distress.
29 He makes the storm a calm, so that its waves are still.
30 Then they are glad because it is calm, so he brings them to their desired haven.
31 Let them praise Yahweh for his loving kindness, for his wonderful works for the children of men!
32 Let them exalt him also in the assembly of the people, and praise him in the seat of the elders.
33 He turns rivers into a desert, water springs into a thirsty ground,
34 and a fruitful land into a salt waste, for the wickedness of those who dwell in it.
35 He turns a desert into a pool of water, and a dry land into water springs.
36 There he makes the hungry live, that they may prepare a city to live in,
37 sow fields, plant vineyards, and reap the fruits of increase.
38 He blesses them also, so that they are multiplied greatly. He doesn’t allow their livestock to decrease.
39 Again, they are diminished and bowed down through oppression, trouble, and sorrow.
40 He pours contempt on princes, and causes them to wander in a trackless waste.
41 Yet he lifts the needy out of their affliction, and increases their families like a flock.
42 The upright will see it, and be glad. All the wicked will shut their mouths.
43 Whoever is wise will pay attention to these things. They will consider the loving kindnesses of Yahweh.
Psalms 107 (KJV)
1 O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;
3 And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.
4 They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.
5 Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.
6 Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.
7 And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.
8 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
9 For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.
10 Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;
11 Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:
12 Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.
13 Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.
14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.
15 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
16 For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.
17 Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.
18 Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death.
19 Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses.
20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
21 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
22 And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.
23 They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;
24 These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep.
25 For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
26 They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.
28 Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
31 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
32 Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.
33 He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground;
34 A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.
35 He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings.
36 And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation;
37 And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase.
38 He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease.
39 Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow.
40 He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way.
41 Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock.
42 The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.
43 Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord.
Psalms 107 (ASV)
1 O give thanks unto Jehovah; for he is good; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever.
2 Let the redeemed of Jehovah sayso, Whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the adversary,
3 And gathered out of the lands, From the east and from the west, From the north and from the south.
4 They wandered in the wilderness in a desert way; They found no city of habitation.
5 Hungry and thirsty, Their soul fainted in them.
6 Then they cried unto Jehovah in their trouble, And he delivered them out of their distresses,
7 He led them also by a straight way, That they might go to a city of habitation.
8 Oh that men would praise Jehovah for his lovingkindness, And for his wonderful works to the children of men!
9 For he satisfieth the longing soul, And the hungry soul he filleth with good.
10 Such as sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, Being bound in affliction and iron,
11 Because they rebelled against the words of God, And contemned the counsel of the Most High:
12 Therefore he brought down their heart with labor; They fell down, and there was none to help.
13 Then they cried unto Jehovah in their trouble, And he saved them out of their distresses.
14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, And brake their bonds in sunder.
15 Oh that men would praise Jehovah for his lovingkindness, And for his wonderful works to the children of men!
16 For he hath broken the gates of brass, And cut the bars of iron in sunder.
17 Fools because of their transgression, And because of their iniquities, are afflicted.
18 Their soul abhorreth all manner of food; And they draw near unto the gates of death.
19 Then they cry unto Jehovah in their trouble, And he saveth them out of their distresses.
20 He sendeth his word, and healeth them, And delivereth them from their destructions.
21 Oh that men would praise Jehovah for his lovingkindness, And for his wonderful works to the children of men!
22 And let them offer the sacrifices of thanksgiving, And declare his works with singing.
23 They that go down to the sea in ships, That do business in great waters;
24 These see the works of Jehovah, And his wonders in the deep.
25 For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, Which lifteth up the waves thereof.
26 They mount up to the heavens, they go down again to the depths: Their soul melteth away because of trouble.
27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, And are at their wits’ end.
28 Then they cry unto Jehovah in their trouble, And he bringeth them out of their distresses.
29 He maketh the storm a calm, So that the waves thereof are still.
30 Then are they glad because they are quiet; So he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
31 Oh that men would praise Jehovah for his lovingkindness, And for his wonderful works to the children of men!
32 Let them exalt him also in the assembly of the people, And praise him in the seat of the elders.
33 He turneth rivers into a wilderness, And watersprings into a thirsty ground;
34 A fruitful land into a salt desert, For the wickedness of them that dwell therein.
35 He turneth a wilderness into a pool of water, And a dry land into watersprings.
36 And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, That they may prepare a city of habitation,
37 And sow fields, and plant vineyards, And get them fruits of increase.
38 He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; And he suffereth not their cattle to decrease.
39 Again, they are diminished and bowed down Through oppression, trouble, and sorrow.
40 He poureth contempt upon princes, And causeth them to wander in the waste, where there is no way.
41 Yet setteth he the needy on high from affliction, And maketh him families like a flock.
42 The upright shall see it, and be glad; And all iniquity shall stop her mouth.
43 Whoso is wise will give heed to these things; And they will consider the lovingkindnesses of Jehovah.
Summary
Psalm 107 opens Book V of the Psalter with a call for the redeemed to give thanks, for the Lord's loving kindness endures forever. It gathers four portraits of human distress, each following the same hopeful pattern: trouble, a cry to Yahweh, deliverance, and a summons to praise. First come wanderers in a desert, hungry and thirsty, whom God leads to a city. Next are prisoners sitting in darkness and the shadow of death, whose chains God breaks. Then come fools afflicted by their own sin, drawn near to the gates of death, whom God heals by sending his word. Finally there are sailors on the storm-tossed sea, at their wits' end, whom God brings to their desired haven by making the storm a calm. Each section repeats the refrain, "Let them praise Yahweh for his loving kindness, for his wonderful works." The psalm widens out to celebrate how God reverses fortunes, turning deserts into pools and lifting the needy. It closes by inviting the wise to ponder the steadfast love of the Lord—a love supremely shown in Christ, who satisfies the hungry soul and stills the storm with a word.
Voices
- The redeemed — Those gathered from every direction whom the Lord has redeemed from the hand of the adversary, called to say so and give thanks.
- Yahweh (the LORD) — The God who hears the cry of the troubled, delivers from distress, heals by his word, and turns the storm to calm.
- The four troubled groups — Desert wanderers, bound prisoners, the self-afflicted sick, and storm-tossed sailors, each rescued when they cry to the Lord.
Key Verse
Psalm 107:9 (WEB)
For he satisfies the longing soul. He fills the hungry soul with good.
Lessons Learned
- Gratitude is the fitting response of all whom God has redeemed (Psalm 107:2).
- In every kind of trouble, crying out to the Lord is the path to deliverance (Psalm 107:6, 13, 19, 28).
- God meets our deepest hunger and thirst, satisfying the longing soul (Psalm 107:9).
- He heals and rescues by sending his word, which finds fullest meaning in Christ the living Word (Psalm 107:20).
- Wisdom pays attention to God's works and ponders his steadfast love (Psalm 107:43).
- The redeemed should testify. "Let the redeemed by Yahweh say so" (Psalm 107:2, WEB). Salvation is meant to be spoken, not kept silent.
- Crying out is never wasted. Four times the troubled "cried to Yahweh in their trouble" and he delivered them (Psalm 107:6, 13, 19, 28, WEB). No distress is beyond his reach.
- God satisfies the soul. "He satisfies the longing soul. He fills the hungry soul with good" (Psalm 107:9, WEB). What we crave most is finally found in him.
- His word heals. "He sends his word, and heals them" (Psalm 107:20, WEB). The same God who speaks healing here has spoken his Word made flesh.
- The wise reflect on his love. "Whoever is wise will pay attention to these things. They will consider the loving kindnesses of Yahweh" (Psalm 107:43, WEB).
- What pattern repeats in each of the four pictures of trouble in this psalm?
- The psalm opens with "Let the redeemed by Yahweh say so." How freely do we tell others what God has done for us?
- How does verse 9, "he satisfies the longing soul," speak to the hungers you feel right now?
- In what ways does Jesus fulfill verse 20, that God "sends his word, and heals them" and stills the storm (see Mark 4:39)?
- Which of the four scenes—lost, imprisoned, sick by your own folly, or storm-tossed—best describes a time you cried out to God?
- Each scene moves through distress, a cry to the Lord, deliverance, and a refrain of praise (107:6-9, 13-16, 19-22, 28-32). The repetition teaches that God's pattern of rescue is dependable across every kind of need.
- Verse 2 commands testimony: the redeemed should "say so." Encourage the group to recall and share specific rescues, however small. Gratitude grows when it is spoken aloud in community.
- This is partly personal. Verse 9 promises that God fills the hungry soul with good. Invite honest reflection on the cravings we try to satisfy elsewhere, and point to Christ, the bread of life, who alone meets our deepest longing.
- Jesus literally stilled a storm with a word (Mark 4:39) and heals by his word throughout the Gospels. The psalm's portrait of a God who sends his word to heal and calm finds its face in Jesus. Draw the connection warmly without forcing it.
- This is a personal-application question. Let members identify with whichever scene fits their story, and invite quiet thanksgiving. As leader, affirm that every kind of trouble is welcome to cry out, and that God hears.