"Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy, and gathered out of the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south." First, the inspired psalmist introduces the theme of his psalm in verses 1-3. Why should you and I give thanks to the Lord on a regular basis? First, give thanks because He is Jehovah, the Lord, the covenant-keeping God, and has made you His people in and through Jesus Christ, the Mediator of the covenant. Secondly, so that we may thereby acknowledge that He is the only fountain of all good (HC Q25). Thirdly, because He has redeemed you and me by gathering us from all over the world to redeem us from our spiritual enemies: the world, the flesh, and the devil. Now, by the grace of God in Christ, you are united to the Messiah. Now, let us consider the five reasons the Psalmist gives you to thank the Lord for His eternal goodness and mercy.

Give Thanks Because Christ Satisfies Hungry Souls

As we meditate on this Psalm, note the actions of Jehovah in each section. Note also the sins of church members and the consequences of their sins. See also what the Lord commands His covenant people to do or say; look at the various afflictions of church members; and finally, see the joy of church members blessed by Yahweh. Now read verses four through nine of Psalm 107. In Christ, you are the redeemed of the Lord. You were born spiritually wandering, hungry, and thirsty. But, at His appointed time, the Triune God gave you a spiritual home. He continually satisfies, week after week, your spiritual hunger and thirst through faith in Jesus Christ, the Messiah. "Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, And He delivered them out of their distresses. And He led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city for a dwelling place" (Ps. 107:5-7). Oh, that you would give thanks to the Lord, both in word and deed, for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to you!

Give Thanks Because Christ Breaks the Chains of Captives

Read verses 10-16. It may well be that some of the first readers of this psalm had literally been bound in chains and irons in Babylon, because they had rebelled against the words and counsel of the Most High. He brought their heart so low that they fell down and were helpless. "Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, And He saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and broke their chains in pieces" (Ps. 107:13-14).

You and I, too, dear brothers and sisters, were born in spiritual bondage. But the Most High has released you from your spiritual captivity, breaking your chains, through your union with Christ by grace through faith in Him. "But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. . . . But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life" (Rom. 6:17, 18, 22). Christ has broken the gates of bronze which bound you to sin and Satan and has cut the bars of iron in two. Oh, that you would give thanks to the Lord in word and deed for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!

Give Thanks Because Christ Heals and Saves

Read verses 17-22. In the history of God's covenant people, there were many times when they acted foolishly, transgressing His holy law. Jehovah responded by afflicting them in various ways. Sometimes He brought sickness or a plague which made them so ill that they could not even stomach a delicious meal. Many times He brought them right up to the gates of death before delivering them. But when they cried out to Him, He saved them, healed them and delivered them from their distresses and destructions.

The Lord still deals with His covenant children the same today. From time to time your foolishness will lead you into transgressions and iniquities. At such a time, your heavenly Father may well afflict you, even allowing you to draw near to the gates of death. Yet, He will never leave you or forsake you. His design in that affliction is not to destroy you or even hurt you. "And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: my son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives. . . . Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it" (Heb. 12:5-6, 11). When your heavenly Father disciplines you, dear brothers and sisters, cry out to God, and He will deliver you from your transgressions and destruction which comes when sin is not repented of. Oh, that you would give thanks to the Lord, both in word and deed, for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to you, even His work of chastening.

Give Thanks Because Christ Calms the Storms

Read verses 23-32. Not many, if any, of the readers of these words make their living on the seas. And yet, many of you have been on a good-sized boat or ship, in either a large lake or an ocean. You have seen the works and wonders of the Lord in the deep. Some of you have experienced the terror which the Psalmist describes in these verses. Think back now to that time when the Lord commanded and raised the stormy wind which lifted up the huge waves of that sea or lake. Remember how small your boat or ship seemed as it rose up to the top of the waves, only to be plunged down again into the trough? Remember how your soul melted with fear as your tiny ship was tossed? Maybe you tried to walk the deck in that storm only to find yourself reeling to and fro, staggering like a drunk. Maybe that experience brought you to your wit's end.

But for the rest of you, who have never had such an experience, think back to the worst storm you ever experienced. Maybe there was a tornado warning. Maybe there were gale force winds, a blizzard with white-out conditions, or rain so intense that flooding resulted, and you were at your wit's end. Our text reminds us that it is the Lord who commands and raises the stormy wind, and it is He who calms the storm. The next time you find yourself in such a storm, cry out to Jehovah in your trouble. When He is ready, He will calm the storm and bring you out of your distress. Winter storms are coming. Will you think of Christ in your distress and remember His power over His creation? "Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, "Lord, save us! We are perishing!" But He said to them, "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?" Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm" (Matt. 8:25-26). The Lord is always watching over you, because you are His adopted sons and daughters through Christ. Cry out to him in your distress, believing that He can bring you to your desired destination. When He calms the storm and brings you to your desired destination, give thanks to the Triune God, exalt Him and praise Him. Oh, that you would give thanks to the Lord, in word and in deed, for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to you!

Give Thanks for God's Providence and Your Understanding

Now please read the last stanza or section, verses 33-43. In this section we will see two more wonderful things about Yahweh. First, His providence governs everything and everyone (33-41), and secondly, the righteous understand His providence and steadfast love (42-43). You will notice in 33-41 that the Psalmist no longer mentions reactions to Jehovah's providence. Instead, this section simply draws our hearts and minds to consider the works of our covenant God apart from human reaction to His works. Our beloved catechism draws from Scripture passages like this one to teach you that His providence is "The almighty, everywhere-present power of God, whereby, as it were by His hand, He still upholds heaven and earth with all creatures, and so governs them that herbs and grass, rain and drought, fruitful and barren years, meat and drink, health and sickness, riches and poverty, indeed, all things come not by chance, but by His fatherly hand" (HC Q27). In verses 33-38 we see how Yahweh first brings drought to wicked citizens, then plenty of water, blessed plantings, harvests, and cattle. Because He blesses the land and the livestock, those citizens can establish a city to live in. Many of us in the RCUS live in cities and no longer live off the land. But every RCUS farmer knows very well how much He depends on the Lord for pools of water, water springs, a fruitful harvest, and the increase of his livestock. But even citified folk like me know what happens when the Lord is pleased to turn rivers into a wilderness and the water springs into dry ground.

What a blessing it is to know that the providence of our covenant God governs everything and everyone around us. This winter season, will you remember that it is the Triune God who brings rain or drought, fruitful harvests or famine? Will you confess that there is no good or bad luck, only God's perfect providence? Will you remember that He alone is the one who provides children, water for life, crops, and livestock? Will you acknowledge His wise and good providence when the amount or frequency of rainfall or snowfall does not please you? Will you give Him thanks for each customer He brings to you in His providence? Oh, that you would give thanks to the Lord, in word and in deed, for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to you!

In verses 39-41, the psalmist shows us how the Lord in His providence humbles the proud by bringing upon them sorrows, oppression, and affliction. Then, by contrast, in His providence, He sets the poor on high, far from affliction, and makes their families like a flock. He humbles the proud and exalts the lowly. This too is one of His wonderful works to the children of men. When your government leaders oppress you and fellow conservative Christians, will you look to Christ to pour contempt and confusion on them? In this uncertain time of economic recession, will you look to Christ to remove your afflictions and bless your family? Oh, that you would give thanks to the Lord, in word and in deed, for His goodness, and for His wonderful works of providence for you! The inspired psalmist closes his song with a declaration that the righteous understand His providence and steadfast love (42-43). The righteous see all these things we have spoken of and rejoice! Who are those who are counted as righteous and able to rejoice in the providence of the covenant God? Only those counted as righteous and made wise through the Messiah. Because of your union with the Lord Jesus Christ, you have experienced the special loving providence of your heavenly Father. Because of your union with Christ, you can and should see God's providence and rejoice in it. Because of your union with Christ, you can put your hand over your mouth when you feel like complaining against His good providence in your life.

This wonderful, yet convicting psalm closes with these challenging and comforting words: "Whoever is wise will observe these things, and they will understand the loving-kindness of the Lord." But who is wise enough to observe all these things and understand the steadfast love of the Triune God? Only those who have been made wise through their connection with the Lord Jesus Christ by faith in Him. You have experienced the loving-kindness of the Father in and through Him. Non-Christians cannot observe the providence of God rightly. They fault the God of the Bible as either unloving or impotent or both. But, by grace through faith in Christ, you understand what others cannot. So, let's conclude with our opening questions: Dear brothers and sisters, what do you have to thank the Lord for this past year? Or month? Or week?

Give Thanks to the Triune God for His Eternal Goodness and Mercy

Give thanks because Christ satisfies your hungry soul. Give thanks because Christ breaks the chains of your spiritual captivity. Give thanks because Christ heals and saves you. Give thanks because Christ calms the storms sent your way. Give thanks for God's providence and your understanding of the Father's steadfast love. Give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to you and your family. God grant us the grace to be thankful in word and deed. Amen