Psalms 107: trouble, cry, deliverance, praise, repeat: part 9

Whew!  That was a long journey.

I never saw that one coming, but then again, I should have.

It seems like every interesting little thing in the word that you want to look up turns into a massive research project that is tied into hundreds of verses, concepts, and other teachings.

Which brings us to Psalms 107 – nine long, in-depth pieces of biblical research on only 1 chapter out of 1,189 chapters, which makes this less than 1/10 of 1% of the bible.

And we’ve only covered part of it.

Maybe this is just one reason why the word of God is God’s greatest work.

Enjoy just some of the highlights of each article, arranged in chronological and numerical order below.

This way we can better grasp the scope of this chapter and see from God’s 360-degree spiritual vantage point.

It’s important to gain closure on a subject before moving on to other concepts.

Part 1

In part 1, we saw the big picture of the Psalms as a whole and drilled down to the structure of Psalms 107 and what that means to us.

Once we got the overall structure of the 5 books of Psalms, we then got a more detailed look at the 5th book, the Deuteronomy book.

Then it was time to get into the meaning and structure of Psalms 107.

This illustrates the power of precision, order, and structure of the word of the Lord.

Part 2

Proverbs 28:9
He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.

This is why the Israelites in Jeremiah’s time didn’t get deliverance in their time of trouble: they rebelled against his word.

But the Israelites in Psalms 107, in spite of going through a phase of rebellion, ultimately, they came back to the Lord and got complete deliverance.

God’s deliverance is:

• Past
• Present
• Future

That covers all eternity!

What are some the wonderful works of God?

Psalms 107
8 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
9 For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.

“Wonderful works” is the Hebrew word pala: to be surpassing or extraordinary.

Below are just 2 of the things in the bible I know of that have surpassing excellence: the love of Christ and the peace of God.

Ephesians 3:19 [amplified bible]
and [that you may come] to know [practically, through personal experience] the love of Christ which far surpasses [mere] knowledge [without experience], that you may be filled up [throughout your being] to all the fullness of God [so that you may have the richest experience of God’s presence in your lives, completely filled and flooded with God Himself].

Philippians 4:7 [New English Translation]
And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

God has done so many great things:

• Created the universe that is so vast and advanced that even after studying it for thousands of years, we still haven’t even scratched the surface and nobody can fully comprehend even a tiny fraction of it
• Made the human body, which is the most advanced physical being ever; we will never fully understand how it all works, especially the brain
• How God works in our daily lives, who can do things that we will never figure out how it all worked together

According to NASA, the latest astronomical data reveals that there are at least 2 trillion galaxies in the universe, each containing several hundred billion stars and planets, and God has designed, created out of nothing, counted and named all of them!!

Psalms 147
4 He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.
5 Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is INFINITE.

In the old testament, when you read verses about God doing evil things to people, it’s the figure of speech called a Hebrew idiom of permission.  It means that God isn’t actually doing the evil thing, but is allowing it to happen because people reap what they sow and have freedom of will.

Part 3

The Israelites experienced spiritual darkness and imprisonment as a consequence of their rebellion against God’s word.

Although we don’t know what the prisons of Babylon were like, we can get a general idea from this image of the Mamertine prison in Rome, 12 feet underground right next to the city’s sewer system where the apostles Paul and Peter were captured and killed.

Yet the worst prison of all is psychological and spiritual.

It’s living in such things as darkness, bondage and fear.

Hebrews 2
14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Yet the Lord is merciful and gracious and will still deliver all those who are meek and humble enough to have a change of heart.

Acts 26:18
To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

Look at the unfathomable mercy of the Lord!!

Despite all the Israelites repeated rebellion, he still saved them!

No wonder all 26 verses of Psalms 136 end with the phrase “for his mercy endureth for ever“!   Verse 24 is particularly relevant to the Israelites.

Sometimes our worst enemy is in the mirror.

Such was the case with the Israelites, for not all their woes were from external attacks, but deceptions from within.

That is why we must stick to the word of God daily to keep the love and light of the Lord burning brightly in our hearts.

Part 4

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 distracted mind is the defeated mind.

Hebrews 4:12 [amplified bible]
For the word of God is living and active and full of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective]. It is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as the division of the soul and spirit [the completeness of a person], and of both joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart.

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.

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].

Part 5

In verse 13, it says that God had saved them out of their distresses [plural].

Although distress is on the lower end of the intensity scale, the fact that the  Israelites were surrounded by multiple distresses multiple times multiplies their effect.

Not a good place to be.

God’s order of deliverance:

1. God’s light leads them in the right way
2. Out of the darkness
3. Breaks their bondage
4. Heals them with his word
5. Delivered them from their destructions
6. Gives them peace, safety and gladness, the opposite of multiple distresses

The truth is that human behavior is more influenced by spiritual sources than anything else.

This is just one reason why modern psychology has failed us: it totally ignores the spiritual factors in human behavior.

Religious legalism often drives people into bondage and darkness, mentally and spiritually enslaving them.

Acts 21:20
And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:

However…

Galatians 5:1
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Man’s ways vs God’s ways

Proverbs 12:15
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

Proverbs 10:17
He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.

Jesus Christ is the true and living way.

There are 2 Babylons:  the physical city that was in the middle east that had the Euphrates river running through the middle of it and the other represents the spiritual realm of the devil.

What do history, metallurgy, and nutrition have in common?

There are 3 different metals known as the red metals:

• Copper
• Brass [copper + zinc]
• Bronze [copper + tin and other materials]

Copper is one of the few metals that occur in nature in directly usable metallic form [native metals] as opposed to needing extraction from an ore. This led to very early human use.

It’s interesting that in both Psalms 107:16 and Isaiah 45:2, brass [bronze] is mentioned first, then iron second.

This is historically accurate since the bronze age occurred before the iron age because extracting iron from iron ore is much more complex and expensive than just using copper directly.

Furthermore, if only 2% to as low as 0.002% carbon is combined with iron, they make steel, which is a metal alloy that has different characteristics than iron.

From a nutritional point of view, copper and iron are essential minerals.

Without copper in the diet, iron cannot even be absorbed, so copper is a prerequisite for iron absorption and that is why its listed before iron.

Thus, from historical, metallurgical and nutritional viewpoints, the order of the words bronze [which is almost all copper] and iron in Psalms 107:16 are perfect.

Part 6

This section has a lot of great information on God’s wisdom.

Psalms 107:17
Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.

What does the bible say about foolishness?

The root word “fool” is used in 189 verses in the kjv, and in 78 verses in Proverbs alone [41%!], more than any other book of the bible by a wide margin.

Proverbs 4:7
Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

Proverbs 1:7
The fear [reverence] of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Forms of Foolishness

Matthew 23
17 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?
33 Ye serpents, ye generation [offspring] of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?

Selling your soul to the devil tops the list of foolish things to do.

Not doing the will of God is foolish also.

Matthew 7
24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

Not being prepared for known needs is foolish.

Matthew 25
1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

These virgins knew the lamps needed oil, so why didn’t they take some extra with them?

One of the many ingredients of homosexuality is foolishness since Romans 1 lists it twice!

Romans 1 [amplified bible]
21 For even though they knew God [as the Creator], they did not honor Him as God or give thanks [for His wondrous creation]. On the contrary, they became worthless in their thinking [godless, with pointless reasonings, and silly speculations], and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools,

One of the consequences of the love of money is falling into many foolish and hurtful lusts.

When you are falling, you lose control, knowing there is injury and pain to follow.

I Timothy 6
8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

You must decide which is greater: the pain of your problem or the pain of discipline that is necessary to fix it.

This sounds like the Jepardy game!

“I’ll take Characteristics or Consequences for $200.”

Finally, we must have both the milk and meat of the word of God in order to grow.

Hebrews 5
12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age [spiritual maturity], even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Part 7

The word “word” is used 1,179 times in the bible.

Its first usage in Genesis sets a very important foundational principle.

Genesis 15:1 [amplified bible]
After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying,
“Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; Your reward [for obedience] shall be very great.”

If we are to get healed and delivered by the Lord, the first thing we must do is identify our fears and eliminate them with the love of God.

Why?

Job 3
25 For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.
26 I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came.

Job’s fear is what broke open a hole in the spiritual fence of protection around him and allowed Satan, the adversary, access to Job and his life and wreak havoc.

The new testament reveals why Job, full of fear, had no rest or peace.

I John 4
17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
19 We love him, because he first loved us.

Verse 18 says “fear hath torment”, the opposite of peace.

Why is peace so important?

Romans 15:13 [amplified bible]
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you will abound in hope and overflow with confidence in His promises.

Speaking of fear, when Gideon set up his army, the first thing he did was eliminate all the men with fear, then he removed all the idolaters.  After that, Gideon and his laughably small army of 300 decisively won a battle where:

• They were outnumbered approximately 450 to 1
• They used no weapons
• No casualties
• No injuries
• The enemy was completely annihilated.

Isn’t that the God you want fighting for you?

This is the exact same God that healed the Israelites and delivered them from all their distresses.

The old testament is the new testament concealed.

The new testament is the old testament revealed.

Anytime there is an apparent contradiction in the bible, the answer will always be in a wrong and/or incomplete understanding of scripture and/or a wrong translation of the bible.

Psalms 107:20
He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from all their destructions.

This is Jehovah Rapha, the Lord our healer.

Because Jesus Christ is God’s only begotten son, he was a great healer as well.

Luke 4:18
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

This is a quote from Isaiah 61:1, which Jesus Christ fulfilled.

Part 8

Luke 17:19
And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith [believing] hath made thee whole.

Look at the definition of the word “whole” in verse 19!

This is exactly what the Lord did for the Israelites in Psalms 107 multiple times!

Psalms 107:20
He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

There are 3 parts of Psalms 107:20 and they are all in perfect order – his word, healing, and deliverance.

• They put God and his word first by doing his will, which is the love of God [Matthew 6:33 & I John 5:3]
• Then the Lord healed their hearts, which is where believing originates [Proverbs 4:23 & 23:7].
• This enabled them to believe God for his deliverance 5 times in a row!  [Psalms 107:6, 13, 19, 20, 28].  5 in the bible is the number of grace = unmerited divine favor.

As Psalms 19 says, the heavenly bodies [planets, moons, stars etc] taught people the word of God long before the written word ever came around.

God so perfectly arranged the planets in our solar system, the stars in our galaxy and the trillions of galaxies in the universe to teach us his word so that the spiritual lessons in the night sky can only be seen and understood from the vantage point of earth, the only planet mentioned by name in the bible.

How could this have happened by accident???

Look at all these biblical maritime terms and concepts!

• [God’s] wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times [Isaiah 33:6]
• The hope of Jesus Christ’s return is the anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast [Hebrews 6:19]
• Wrong doctrines can make a shipwreck of our faith [believing – I Timothy 1:19]
• Don’t be like spiritual children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine [Ephesians 4:14]
• Don’t be double-minded, or you will be unstable as a wave in a stormy sea [James 1:8]

30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
31 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

I trust this has been an enlightening journey for us all, one that strengthens us daily as we walk for God all the days of our lives.

I just realized that part 9 is the final episode of Psalms 107 and the biblical meaning of 9 in the bible is finality.

I also just realized how the theme verse for Psalms 107:

Psalms 107:20
He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

dove-tails right into my next series on the bible vs the modern medical system.

It is the application of principles of healing that we learned from Psalms 107, which is God’s wisdom.

It is finally time to expose the lies and allow people to be told the truth and be healed.