Psalms 107, part 4: trouble, cry, deliverance, praise;

Welcome to part 4 of this series on Psalms 107!

Psalms 107
10 Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;
11 Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:

12 Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.
13 Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.

14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.
15 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
16 For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.

Help

Ironically, help for the Israelites was just around the corner, but they didn’t see it right away.

Psalms 107:12
Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.

Contrary to what verse 12 literally says, God himself didn’t bring down the Israelite’s hearts!

How do we know?

Because verse 12 has the figure of speech called a Hebrew idiom of permission which actually means God allowed their hearts to be brought down as a consequence of their freedom of will to be rebellious against the words of God.

A very important distinction.

But was there really none to help?!

There were no people to help because they were being held captive by their enemy in Babylon.

Sometimes people can’t or won’t help, but what about other sources, like God?

Psalms 46
1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

Both Psalms 107 and Psalms 119 are in the last book or section of Psalms with the main context being the word of God.

The word “offend” is used 14 times in the old testament and is often translated “stumblingblock”.

Since the Israelites spiritually stumbled 4 times in Psalms 107, they apparently didn’t have God’s peace.

With God as our refuge and strength and ready at a moment’s notice to help us out, we can have such strong peace that nothing blows us out of the water;  nothing can cause us to have a meltdown.

In this world of darkness and evil and lies [oh my!], how valuable is that?

Why didn’t the Israelites see God’s help?

Because rebellion is a form of unbelief.

In the Apostolic bible [a Greek translation of the old & new testaments], the word “help” in Psalms 46:1 is the Greek word boēthos [Strong’s #998].

This word is also used in Hebrews 13:6.

Hebrews 13 [amplified bible]
5 Let your character [your moral essence, your inner nature] be free from the love of money [shun greed—be financially ethical], being content with what you have; for He has said, “I will never [under any circumstances] desert you [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], nor will I forsake or let you down or relax My hold on you [assuredly not]!”
6 So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently say, “The Lord is my Helper [in time of need], I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?”

Helper definition below: [this is the only place this word is used in the New Testament].

HELPS Word-studies
998 boēthós (a masculine noun) – a helper bringing the right aid in time, i.e. to meet an urgent, real need. See 997 (boētheō)

Root word of #998 above:

Strong’s Concordance #997
boétheó: to come to the aid of
Part of Speech: Verb
Phonetic Spelling: (bo-ay-theh’-o)
Definition: I come to the rescue of, come to help, help.

HELPS Word-studies
997 boēthéō(from 995 /boḗ, “intense exclamation” and theō, “run”) – properly, to run and meet an urgent distress-call (cry for help); to deliver help, quickly responding to an urgent need (intense distress).

997 /boēthéō (“supply urgently needed help”) means to give immediate aid, in time, for a great need – i.e. “to run, on a call to help” (TDNT, 1:628).

[997 (boēthéō) was originally a military word, responding to a critical, urgent need (MM). 997 (boēthéō) is also used in Homeric Greek (800-900 bc) for responding to a war-cry.]

Significantly, this root word boetheo is used 8 times in the bible.

Biblically, eight is the number of a new beginning, like for the Israelites in Psalms 107 when they cried to God for help and got deliverance several different times.

It certainly is a new beginning in our lives when God quickly responds to an urgent call for help!

Who in their right mind wouldn’t want to have access to this?

The chain of deliverance in Hebrews

• Hebrews 4: the energized word
• Hebrews 11: believing
• Hebrews 13: help is on the way!

Break free from the bondage of the world with the power of God in manifestation.

The reason we’re going into this is to understand the background of the Lord being our helper in Hebrews 13:6 a bit deeper.

The orderly arrangement of the words in the word, as well as the subjects in the word, are always perfect.

We must first understand the true nature of God’s word  [this is only one tiny aspect of it] in order to see how the whole picture works.

Once we have the living and active word of God, it must be mixed with believing in order to see the results in our lives.

Hebrews 4:2
For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith [believing] in them that heard it.

The word “faith” in verse 2 comes from the Greek word pistis, which is better translated believing.

Look at this definition of “mixed”!

HELPS Word-studies
4786 sygkeránnymi (from 4862 /sýn, “identified with,” intensifying 2767 /keránnymi, “mix into a new and improved compound”) – properly, mix together into a superior compound – “a holistic blend” (unified whole) where the parts work together synergistically [the interaction of elements that when combined produce a total effect that is greater than the sum of the individual elements].

This is also very similar to the definition of God’s peace, which is one of the necessary ingredients of believing!

Romans 15:13
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost [the gift of holy spirit in operation].

Definition of peace:

Strong’s Concordance #1515
eiréné: one, peace, quietness, rest.
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Phonetic Spelling: (i-ray’-nay)
Definition: peace, peace of mind; invocation of peace a common Jewish farewell, in the Hebraistic sense of the health (welfare) of an individual.

HELPS Word-studies
1515 eirḗnē (from eirō, “to join, tie together into a whole”) – properly, wholeness, i.e. when all essential parts are joined together; peace (God’s gift of wholeness).

This is why anxiety is one of the 4 forms of weak believing that Jesus Christ corrected his disciples on.

Matthew 6
25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought [merimnaō – don’t be anxious] for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment [clothing]?
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith [believing]?

Jesus’ disciples had weak believing because of anxiety.

So below is an overview of believing, peace and anxiety.

Mixed [with believing]: “a holistic blend” (unified whole) where the parts work together synergistically.
Hebrews 4:2
For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith [believing] in them that heard it.

Peace: when all essential parts of our mind are joined together
Ephesians 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Anxiety: areas of our mind drawn in opposite directions; “divided into parts” = weak believing
Matthew 12
25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:
26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?

The distracted mind is the defeated mind.

This is why we must guard our hearts from the ungodly influences of the world so that it doesn’t divide up our mind against itself.

Below is Psalms 119:165 again, but illuminated with the new light of understanding from the New Testament regarding believing, anxiety and God’s peace.

Psalm 119:165
Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.

Philippians 4 [amplified bible]
6 Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God.
7 And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours].

Now we better understand why those who love the law of God [his word] can maintain their peace and fellowship with God, even during times of persecution.

The mustard seed of believing

The record below is about a man who brought to the disciples his son who was possessed with a devil spirit, but they couldn’t cast it out, but Jesus Christ did.

Matthew 17
19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith [believing] as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

Definition of “mustard”:

HELPS Word-studies
4615 sínapi – a mustard plant (“tree”), always used in connection with its seed (the smallest of all Palestinian seeds in common use).
[The mustard seed is the smallest of all seeds that a Palestinian farmer would sow in his field. A mustard plant reaches a height of three meters (about ten feet). This is a huge plant when fully matured and bears very tiny seeds.]

mustard-bush

Galatians 5:9
A little leaven [yeast] leaveneth the whole lump [loaf].

This principle works both positively and negatively.

The reason that only a tiny mustard seed of believing can move a mountain is because it’s energized by God’s infinite love.

Galatians 5:6
For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith [believing] which worketh by love.

“Worketh” comes from the Greek word energeo and means energized.

BELIEVING AND PRAYER

Hebrews 11:1 [amplified bible]
Now faith [believing] is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses].

Below are some verses on believing that can help us individually and enable us to help others as well:

Mark 11:24
Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

Luke 22:32
But I [Jesus Christ] have prayed for thee, that thy faith [believing] fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

We can pray for others that their believing succeeds.

1 Thessalonians 3:10
Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith [believing]?

James 5:15
And the prayer of faith [believing] shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

Believing the word = speaking the word!

Psalms 116
9 I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.
10 I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted:

2 Corinthians 4:13
We having the same spirit of faith [believing], according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;

Luke 6:45
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

This is where receiving, retaining, and releasing the word of God will cause us to grow abundantly in his grace, strength and love.

Ephesians 4:15
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

Want to take your believing up to the next level by speaking the words of God?

Try speaking in tongues! [after all, there’s *only* 18 benefits!]

I Corinthians 12:3 [The Living Bible (TLB)]
But now you are meeting people who claim to speak messages from the Spirit of God. How can you know whether they are really inspired by God or whether they are fakes? Here is the test: no one speaking by the power of the Spirit of God can curse Jesus, and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” and really mean it, unless the Holy Spirit is helping him.

Let’s clarify and summarize the Hebrews chain of deliverance:

1. Hebrews 4: We start with the rightly-divided, living and energized word of God
2. Hebrews 4: Mix it with a tiny mustard seed of believing
3. Galatians 5: Which is energized by God’s infinite and perfect love
4. Hebrews 11: Believing without actions is dead [James 2].  Believing = speaking the words of God, either by our 5-senses knowledge of the word or by operating the manifestations of holy spirit
5. Hebrews 13: While keeping idolatry at bay, we can boldly say the Lord is our helper and we receive deliverance from all our troubles.

Psalms 107
13 Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.
14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.

15 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
16 For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.

By crying unto God, with only a mustard seed of believing left, the Israelites were speaking God’s deliverance into their lives, once again tasting how truly good the Lord’s grace and mercy is.