17-18 Some were fools through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities suffered affliction; they loathed any kind of food and they drew near to the gates of death. 19-20 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction. 21-22 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!

23-24 Some went down to the sea in ships, doing business on the great waters; they saw the deeds of the Lord, his wondrous works in the deep. For he commanded and raised the stormy wind which lifted up the waves of the sea. 26-27 They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths; their courage melted away in their evil plight; they reeled and staggered like drunken men and were at their wits' end. 28 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. 29 He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. 30 Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven. 31-32 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! Let them extol him in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders. Psalm 107:17-32 English Standard Version

What deep joy and relief must be in those words “they were glad that the waters were quiet - and He brought them to their desired haven.” (vs 30) The dictionary defines a haven as 'a small port or area of water next to the coast where ships and boats can shelter'. What a lovely picture that is of what God does for the soul that calls on Him for mercy. “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise” Jesus said to the guilty criminal crucified alongside Him who had cried out to be remembered when He came into His kingdom. Which takes us to the first of two ‘divine rescues’ we read of today. The first is of some people who were in the dark distress of a physical affliction, such as a terrible illness, who experienced healing and escape from death. But what do vs 17-18 tell us about the cause of their condition?

There are times when God uses physical afflictions to bring us to our senses. Paul said to the Christians at Corinth who were abusing what the Lord's Supper was meant to represent, and behaving in selfish hurtful ways, that “if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honouring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself. That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died. But if we would examine ourselves, we would not be judged by God in this way.” (1 Corinthians 11:29-31) The humbling fact this Psalm brings out is that God can give a song of joy (vs 22) even to rebels if they turn back to Him in repentance. As the criminal on the cross did when he called upon Christ.

Verses 23-27 are different in that we aren't told if the merchant sailors had rebelled in any particular way – yet God raised up a fierce storm that left them at their wits end. For all we know their lives may have been more focused on the gold to be gained from trade than the grace to be had from God. But, once again, we draw the conclusion that God may raise up storms in our life to show us our helplessness, and to draw us to Himself. And we see how, when they cried to Him in their trouble, He delivered them out of their distress. (vs 28) That's the kind of God He is. What does the writer say such people ought to do? (vs 31-32)

They ought to give God the thanks He is worthy of, and to join the congregation of God's people in giving Him honour and praise. This is why Christians love to meet together and sing their songs of joy. We don't go to Church in order to look good and impress others, and hoping it will get us to heaven, we go in gratitude because of God's steadfast love and his wondrous works to the children of man. In particular we go to praise Him for the salvation He has given in such a profound manner through the Lord Jesus Christ. We were in the rags of sin – and He has given us a garment of praise!