Psalm 107:1-9 - Taken to a city

In this psalm, we have several pictures of the spiritual life. The theme of the psalm is in verse 1 where God’s people are called to give thanks to the Lord for his display of divine goodness in revealing the steadfastness of his love and mercy.

Those addressed in the psalm are those rescued by the Lord from trouble. They were in trouble perhaps because of their sins, or perhaps they had become poor because of circumstances, or maybe they were enslaved by oppression. Only the Lord could come to their rescue.

The author identifies some who wandered in a desert, without provision, and unable to find a city where their needs could be met. In their desperation, they cried to the Lord. No one else could respond to such a cry of desperation but the Lord. In a sense, he as the sovereign Lord had arranged their dire circumstances so that they would call on him. When they did, he answered their requests and led them as a guide to a city.

God is described here as a shepherd who is willing to guide them from the place of abject poverty to the city that is full of supplies to meet their needs. In the city, there are no negative consequences of longing and hunger because God meets their needs and satisfies their longings. The outcome is that they are exhorted to praise the Lord for his steadfast love, for the expressions of his covenant commitment to them.

We, as God’s people, were rescued by him from the consequences of sin and guided by him to Mount Zion, the city full of divine provisions through the means of grace, provisions that meet the longings and hunger of our souls.