Oct-23-0540-Let the redeemed of the Lord give thanks
540_Let the redeemed of the Lord give thanks Psalm 107:1-9 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! 2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble 3 and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south. 4 Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in; 5 hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them. 6 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. 7 He led them by a straight way till they reached a city to dwell in. 8 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! 9 For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things. Vs. 39-43 When they are diminished and brought low through oppression, evil, and sorrow, 40 he pours contempt on princes and makes them wander in trackless wastes; 41 but he raises up the needy out of affliction and makes their families like flocks. 42 The upright see it and are glad, and all wickedness shuts its mouth. 43 Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord. There is a story told of a young soldier who returned home after years of war. His family had prayed every day for his safety. The day came when he stepped off the train, worn and weary, but alive and overwhelmed with gratitude. His parents hugged him tightly. His father knelt right there on the platform. He exclaimed, “I never want to forget who brought my son back to me. I never want to miss saying, ‘Thank You, Lord.’” Deep down, we all know that when we were pressed into corners we could not escape, it was God who stepped in to rescue us. The only fitting response is gratitude. And yet, strangely, giving thanks does not come naturally. It is natural to cry out when we are desperate, whether religious or not. But only a redeemed and grateful heart will stop to look back when the storm has been calmed, and to ponder, “Who is this who commands the wind and the waves!” This is the grateful heart. This is exactly what Psalm 107 is about. It is a song of the redeemed, a call to God’s people to remember and give thanks. The psalm opens with these words: “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble.” Thanksgiving is not optional—it is the mark of those who belong to God. We are reminded of the gospel story where ten lepers came to Jesus. They were desperate men, forced to live outside the city, away from family and community, carrying not only the pain of disease but also the shame of isolation. They cried out to Jesus for