"Let the one who is wise heed these things and ponder the loving deeds of the LORD".
So say the final verse of Psalm 107. So what warnings do we need to heed and what loving deeds should we ponder?
Without knowing 100% for certain, this psalm does sound like the return from Exile. After the Babylonian invasion, Israelites fled in all directions. But wherever they went, God saved some of them and eventually brought them back, each with their own story to tell. The Psalm begins that way:
"Let the redeemed of the LORD tell their story—those he redeemed from the hand of the foe" (v2). Perhaps you have a similar story of fleeing from God, his saving you and bringing you back to him. Every believer has a salvation story - what's your story?
The first story is those who end up in a desert (v4-9). Perhaps God has taken you to a place in life where you were desperate and gave you thirst for him. If that's you then, "Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things" (v8-9)
The second story is those who ended up captive in prison (v10-16). Perhaps God brought you out of an addiction or an abusive relationship or a situation in which you felt trapped. If that you then, "Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron." (v15-16)
Then there's the story of the rebel (v17-22). Much like the Prodigal Son who wilfully rejected the Father he once knew. But God left you to suffer the consequences of your rebellion and received you back with open arms. Perhaps you can now say, "Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind. Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy." (v21-22)
Next is the story of the sailor (v23-32). Like Jonah, he ran as far away from God as he could, taking to the open seas, instead preferring to seek wealth and adventure. But in his loving kindness, God caused a storm which hit your life hard and in your distress you called out to the One you've run from and he saved you. Well your prayer will be, "Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind. Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people and praise him in the council of the elders." (v31-32)
The final summary metaphor (v33-42) is about fruitfulness. God is a God who turns desert people into flowing springs, but formerly fruitful people into dead, salt wastes (v33-34). But who is which and why?
"he who pours contempt on nobles made them wander in a trackless waste. But he lifted the needy out of their affliction and increased their families like flocks." (v40-41)
Or as Jesus succinctly put it, "For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." (Luke 18:14)
For every story of salvation, God in his loving kindness makes us bottom out, so we have to call out to him. Our low humbling leads us to faith and being lifted high in exaltation. But there are many other stories of those who do not call out to God, who stubbornly persist in their rebellion and rejection. They remain high and exalted and won't come low. God will humble them in judgment.
So there are the warnings we need to heed and the loving deeds should we ponder. What's your story?
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