Repetition is a pretty effective way of getting someone’s attention. And you’ve got to think that when God repeats Himself that it’s probably important to listen. Psalm 107 is pretty repetitive . . . i.e. “Listen Pete!!!” It starts with “Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!” It ends with “Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the LORD.” And in between, four times, the psalmist exhorts, “Let them thank the LORD for His steadfast love.” So, I’m thinking that giving thanks is a good thing to do . . . that, as the psalmist makes clear, that it’s an important part of a “circle of life.”

The “circle” presented here starts with trouble. The song-writer presents four disaster scenarios that can overcome God’s people. These scenarios range from being lost in the wilderness, hungry and thirsty (vv. 4-5) . . . to being bound and imprisoned because of rebellion against God (vv. 10-12) . . . to being destitute and near death due to the foolish pursuit of a life of sin (vv. 17-18) . . . to, through no fault of their own, being caught in life’s storms and tempests and at wit’s end on how to survive (vv.23-27). And four times the Psalmist says, “Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble” and four times it records that God delivered or saved them (vv.6, 13, 19, 28). And four times the Psalmist concludes, “Let them thank the LORD for His steadfast love, for His wondrous works to the children of men!” (vv.8, 15, 21, 31). Ok . . . so even I can kind of start to see a pattern here.

First, cry out to the LORD when you’ve “hit the wall”. Regardless of whether its from losing your way, or from pursuing the way of sin, or from just encountering the “normal” upset conditions of life, I am to cry out to the Lord in my trouble. Why? Because my God is faithful . . . my God is merciful . . . my God is gracious . . . my God is all-powerful. Why wouldn’t I cry out to my God in my time of trouble . . . whether that trouble was “self-inflicted” or through no fault of my own? What I really believe about God will drive whether or not I turn to Him in times of distress.

Second, give thanks to the LORD for His works in my life. Praise Him!! Acknowledge His goodness . . . acknowledge His grace.

And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of His deeds in songs of joy! . . . Let them extol Him in the congregation of the people, and praise Him in the assembly of the elders.   (Psalm 107:22, 32 ESV)

God forgive me for thanklessness . . . for taking the mighty works of God on my behalf for granted . . . for somehow thinking that I’m the one who is powering my way through life . . . for not recognizing daily His grace and strength. Oh, that this man would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness!

Paul got it . . . I was reading His testimony in 2Corinthians 12 this morning about his “thorn in the flesh”, “a messenger of Satan to harass me”, one of his many personal “disaster scenarios.” His response?

But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.    (2Corinthians 12:9-10 ESV)

What an amazing dynamic . . . God redeems people . . . people get in trouble . . . people cry out to God . . . God intervenes . . . people are restored . . . God’s power is shown . . . people praise God. Talk about your “circle of life”.

Oh, that I would recognize the Father’s redeeming and sustaining work in the everyday distresses of my life . . . both the big and the not so big. And then, might I acknowledge it. Might my tongue be loosened to give thanks . . . to lift up praise . . . to exalt His name.

For He is worthy . . . amen?