Understanding God's Sovereignty and Judgment in Psalm 107

What is the main theme of Psalm 107 according to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, Psalm 107 is about God's sovereignty and how He should be praised because of who He is and what He does for humanity. The main theme is that "all salvation is of God and comes from God." The psalm demonstrates through four distinct pictures that despite different circumstances, there is a common experience among all people who are redeemed by God—they faced need, failure, and distress, cried out to the Lord, and He delivered them.

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the structure of Psalm 107?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that Psalm 107 has a very specific structure: - It begins with a three-verse introduction praising God and introducing the theme - It then presents four distinct pictures of different types of people in distress who cry out to God and are delivered - The psalm continues with a concluding portion (verses 33-43) where the psalmist extracts principles from his teaching - It ends with a final appeal: "Whoso is wise and will observe these things, even they shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord"

What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say is the purpose of the Bible?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that the Bible is "God's book of Life" - not an encyclopedia but a textbook of life and a manual for the soul. Its one great message is about life: "how life is to be lived, how life is to be enjoyed, the end of life, the object of life, the purpose of life, the way to live life." The Bible's primary purpose is to reveal God to humanity so that people can know the truth about Him and establish a proper relationship with Him.

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain the contrast between fruitful lands and wilderness in Psalm 107?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones points out that the psalm describes how God "turneth rivers into a wilderness and the water springs into dry ground, a fruitful land into barrenness" and conversely can turn "the wilderness into standing water and dry ground into water springs." While the world might attribute these contrasts in nature to chance, heredity, or human effort, the psalm teaches that God controls everything. These contrasts demonstrate God's sovereignty and judgment—He brings barrenness "for the wickedness of them that dwell therein" but can also bring fertility and blessing to those He favors.

What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones teach about God's judgment in Psalm 107?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that God's judgment is certain and unavoidable. He states that God "judges because He's God. He must. His holy nature insists upon it." The psalm demonstrates this through statements like God turning "a fruitful land into barrenness for the wickedness of them that dwell therein." Lloyd-Jones references biblical examples like Eden, the Flood, Sodom and Gomorrah, and Jerusalem's destruction as evidence of God's judgment, and warns that both nations and individuals are subject to God's judgment, regardless of how well they may be doing temporarily.

What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones identify as the four essential truths about God from Psalm 107?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies four essential truths about God from the psalm: 1. God is righteous, just, and holy - "God is light, and in him is no darkness at all" 2. God has greatness and limitless power - "There is nothing that God cannot do" 3. God will certainly judge the world - "God judges because He's God. He must." 4. God has loving kindness - "God is love also. God is full of loving kindness and compassion and tender mercy"

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones apply Psalm 107 to modern listeners?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones applies Psalm 107 by urging his listeners to recognize their position before God. He warns that the "trouble with men today is they don't read and they don't know their Old Testament" and thus fail to understand God's character. He challenges listeners to consider their relationship with God, which "determines the character and the nature of your life in this world" and "determines whether in eternity you are going to enjoy everlasting bliss or eternal misery." He emphasizes that while God's judgment is real, His loving kindness is available to those who repent and believe in Christ.

What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say about how God views human power and authority?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones states that God "poureth contempt upon princes" and that "there are no VIPs in the eyes of the Almighty." He argues that all national power and human government that doesn't acknowledge God is "against God" and is "the beast." He reminds his listeners that no matter how powerful nations or leaders appear, they are "but as grasshoppers" and "the small dust of the balance" to God. He cites historical examples of mighty empires like Egypt that God eventually humbled, demonstrating that "unless they acknowledge him, he'll pour contempt upon them and they vanish out of sight."

What does the phrase "whoso is wise and will observe these things" mean in Psalm 107?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, this phrase (from verse 43) is the psalmist's final appeal, inviting people to look at the examples and principles he has laid out in the psalm and learn from them. Those who are truly wise will observe God's workings in the world—His sovereignty, judgment, and mercy—and come to "understand the loving kindness of the Lord." It's an invitation to move beyond mere knowledge to wisdom, which begins with "the fear of the Lord." By observing how God deals with people in various circumstances, one can gain true wisdom about God's character and how to live rightly before Him.