Psalm 107
The layout of your Bible will inform you that Psalm 107 is the first psalm of “Book V.” We have spoken about how the compilers grouped the 150 psalms into five “Books” and that this layout is very ancient in origin. But the logic behind the groupings has been lost. Psalm 107 seems to be linked to the previous two psalms. It seems logical that it should be part of Book IV. All three poems start with “Give thanks to the LORD.” They are all storytelling, history-telling hymns praising G-d for remembering His people and redeeming/saving them through miraculous deeds regardless of the people’s faithfulness.
Whereas Psalms 105 and 106 were quite specific recitations of Israel’s history, Psalm 107 is more generic. For me, this communicates that G-d’s faithfulness, lovingkindness and great deeds are available for ALL people in ALL generations. You don’t have to be part of the “in” crowd or the “religious” crowd to experience redemption. After the opening exhortation to give thanks, the psalmist proclaims, “Let the redeemed of the LORD say this [the thanksgiving] – those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, those he gathered from the lands, from the east and west, from the north and south.” (vv. 2-3)
To claim G-d’s redemption, one simply needs to cry out to YHWH. Once again, utilizing repetition to emphasize a theological point, four prototypical groups cry out to Him in this psalm: the hungry and thirsty who have been wandering (vv. 4-6); prisoners suffering in darkness and in chains (vv. 10-13); fools suffering affliction due to their iniquities (vv. 17-19); and those stranded on the tempest of the seas (vv. 23-28).
YHWH rescues them ALL. And the psalmist exhorts ALL of them to “give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men.” (vv. 8, 15, 21, 31) The psalm ends with a piece of advice which we should heed ourselves today: “Whoever is wise, let him heed these things and consider the great love of the LORD.” (v. 43)
Amen to that!
Godspeed,
DWach