leave this field blank to prove your humanity

Sermon #5721

Give Thanks Unto the Lord

A Sermon on Psalms 107:1-31

Share Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Play Sermon

Download Sermon Add to Queue Add to Playlist

Scripture

Psalms 107:1-31 ESV KJV

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south. … Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south. Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in; hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them. Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He led them by a straight way till they reached a city to dwell in. Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things. Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and in irons, for they had rebelled against the words of God, and spurned the counsel of the Most High. So he bowed their hearts down with hard labor; they fell down, with none to help. Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and burst their bonds apart. Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! For he shatters the doors of bronze and cuts in two the bars of iron. 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. 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. 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! 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. 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. Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven. Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! (ESV)

1O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

2Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;

3And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and …

1O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

2Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;

3And gathered them 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 solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.

5Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.

6Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.

7And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.

8Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

9For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.

10Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;

11Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:

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

13Then they cried unto 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 brake their bands in sunder.

15Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

16For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.

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

18Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death.

19Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses.

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

21Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

22And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.

23They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;

24These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.

25For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.

26They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.

27They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.

28Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.

29He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.

30Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.

31Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Sermon Description

In this sermon, “Give Thanks Unto the Lord” from Psalm 107:1–31, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones defines the Christian as the one who sees their sin and brokenness. They see their weakness and flee to Christ, abandoning all efforts of saving themselves. Regardless of one’s background and upbringing, what unifies all of humankind is their fallen nature and their need for redemption in Christ. All are born in Adam and are children of wrath. It is from this mess of fallen humankind that Christians are saved through the work of Christ. It is Christ that delivers people from sin and gives them new life in the midst of their distress. All Christians are saved through the same blood, Savior, and God. This common salvation applies to all people regardless of their personality. It saves all people regardless of their ethnic background and cultural background. The peace that Christ brings applies to everyone in all times and in all places. This is because Jesus Christ fulfills the deepest need of everyone. He delivers all who cry out and believe from their sin and brokenness by leading them into the heavenly Jerusalem, making them a new people by the power of His blood. Jesus delivers from all brokenness and sin by the power of His gospel.

Sermon Breakdown

The psalmist gathers people from all over to join in praising God.
There are four types of people depicted in the psalm:
Those wandering in the wilderness seeking truth but unable to find it. They represent those seeking meaning and purpose but unable to find it.
Those imprisoned and chained, representing those enslaved to sin and bad habits.
Those sick and losing interest in life, representing those who have lost meaning and purpose.
Those on a ship tossed by storms, representing those without control over their lives and circumstances.
Though different, they share a common experience of distress, trouble, and need.
In their distress, they all cry out to the same Lord, the only one who can save them.
The Lord delivers them in different ways according to their needs:
He leads the wanderers to the truth.
He breaks the chains of those imprisoned.
He heals those sick of life and gives them purpose.
He calms the storm for those with no control.
Though different, they come together in praising the Lord for his goodness and deliverance.
We are all sinners in need of deliverance. The question is whether we have joined in praising the Lord for saving us.

Sermon Q&A

How Does Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Address the Modern Rejection of Christianity?

What is the main theme of Dr. Lloyd-Jones' sermon on Psalm 107?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones focuses on Psalm 107 to address why people in the modern world reject Christianity. He demonstrates how the psalm presents four different types of people from "the east and from the west, from the north and from the south" who, despite their different circumstances and personalities, all share a common human condition and need for salvation. The sermon refutes the modern notion that religious belief is merely a matter of psychological temperament or natural inclination.

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones respond to the claim that religion is just for certain personality types?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones confronts the common excuse that religion is merely suitable for people with a particular temperament or "religious complex." He argues this is false by pointing to the diversity within Christianity throughout history - from the different personalities of the apostles (impulsive Peter, philosophical John, intellectual Paul) to the wide variety of converts from different backgrounds, races, and temperaments who have embraced Christianity. He emphasizes that the gospel is universal precisely because it addresses a universal human condition.

What are the four types of people described in Psalm 107?

The four types described in Psalm 107 are: 1. People wandering in the wilderness seeking a "city of habitation" - representing those searching for truth and meaning 2. Those sitting in darkness bound by "fetters and chains" - representing people enslaved by sin and harmful habits 3. Those sick and near death who "abhor all manner of meat" - representing people who have lost interest in living 4. Those on ships tossed by storms - representing people who are victims of circumstances beyond their control

What common experience do all four types of people share according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?

Despite their different circumstances, all four types share the common experience of distress, helplessness, and crying out to the Lord. As Lloyd-Jones states: "Though they are so different on the surface, you've noticed that there is one thing that is said about all of them. They cried unto the Lord in their distresses. They're all in distress." This universal experience of human need and failure is what makes the gospel applicable to all people regardless of background or personality.

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the common salvation experienced by these diverse people?

All four types experience the same salvation, though it manifests to meet their particular needs: 1. The wanderers are led to the city of habitation (truth and intellectual satisfaction) 2. The prisoners have their chains broken (freedom from moral bondage) 3. The sick are healed and given new life 4. The storm-tossed are brought to calm waters and their desired haven

Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that Christ provides the same deliverance for all, bringing each person exactly what they need regardless of their specific circumstances.

What image does Dr. Lloyd-Jones use at the end of his sermon to illustrate Christian unity?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones concludes with the powerful image of a great choir gathered from all directions, with different voice parts (soprano, alto, tenor, bass) singing together in praise. Each section sings of their particular deliverance, but all join in the chorus: "Oh, that men would praise the Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful works to the children of men." He extends this to the heavenly choir described in Revelation 5, with countless thousands praising "the Lamb that was slain," and invites his listeners to join this choir of the redeemed.

Itinerant Preaching

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.

More Ways to Listen

Sermon App