Psalms 107:1-16: a reflection

1Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever. 2Let the redeemed by the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed from the hand of the adversary, 3and gathered out of the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south. 4They wandered in the wilderness in a desert way. They found no city to live in. 5Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. 6Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses. 7He led them also by a straight way, that they might go to a city to live in. 8Let them praise the LORD for his loving kindness, for his wonderful deeds to the children of men! 9For he satisfies the longing soul. He fills the hungry soul with good. 10Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron, 11because they rebelled against the words of God, and condemned the counsel of the Most High. 12Therefore he brought down their heart with labor. They fell down, and there was no one to help. 13Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses. 14He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and broke away their chains. 15Let them praise the LORD for his loving kindness, for his wonderful deeds to the children of men! 16For he has broken the gates of bronze, and cut through bars of iron.

This psalm opens with a call, not merely to feel grateful, but to say so: Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; let the redeemed by the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed. The redeemed are called not to keep their gratitude silent, but to say so, to tell of what God has done, to give thanks aloud for his deliverance. And the psalm goes on to recount deliverance after deliverance, the wanderers led home, the prisoners freed, each time calling, Let them praise the LORD for his loving kindness. The redeemed are to speak of their redemption, not keep it silent.

Notice the call: let the redeemed say so. It is not enough to feel grateful inwardly; the redeemed are called to say so, to give thanks aloud, to tell of God's deliverance. The psalm recounts God's saving deeds, the wanderers satisfied, the prisoners released, and repeatedly calls the delivered to praise him and tell of his loving kindness. Gratitude that stays silent is not enough; the redeemed are to speak of what God has done, giving thanks aloud and telling others. To be redeemed and say nothing is to withhold the thanks and testimony God calls for; the redeemed are to say so.

That is worth taking to heart, for we who have known God's deliverance are called not to stay silent, but to say so. We can feel grateful for what God has done for us, yet keep it to ourselves, never giving thanks aloud or telling others of his deliverance; but the psalm calls the redeemed to say so, to speak of God's loving kindness. Gratitude that stays silent falls short of the thanks and testimony God calls for. Do not keep silent about what God has done for you; say so, giving thanks aloud and telling others of his deliverance, as the psalm calls the redeemed to do. Give thanks aloud and tell others of God's deliverance in your life, rather than keeping your gratitude silent, as the psalm calls the redeemed of the LORD to say so; for the redeemed are called not merely to feel grateful, but to speak of what God has done, giving him thanks aloud and telling of his loving kindness.

Lord, this psalm opens with a call, not merely to feel grateful, but to say so: give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; let the redeemed by the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed. The redeemed are called not to keep their gratitude silent, but to say so, to tell of what you have done, to give thanks aloud for your deliverance. And the psalm goes on to recount deliverance after deliverance, the wanderers led home, the prisoners freed, each time calling, let them praise the LORD for his loving kindness. Show me the call: let the redeemed say so. It is not enough to feel grateful inwardly; the redeemed are called to say so, to give thanks aloud, to tell of your deliverance. The psalm recounts your saving deeds and repeatedly calls the delivered to praise you and tell of your loving kindness. Gratitude that stays silent is not enough; the redeemed are to speak of what you have done. Take that to my heart, for I who have known your deliverance am called not to stay silent, but to say so. I can feel grateful for what you have done for me, yet keep it to myself, never giving thanks aloud or telling others of your deliverance; but the psalm calls the redeemed to say so. Keep me from staying silent about what you have done for me; help me say so, Lord, giving thanks aloud and telling others of your deliverance, as the psalm calls the redeemed to do. Help me give thanks aloud and tell others of your deliverance in my life, rather than keeping my gratitude silent.