Psalm 107 throws two principal challenges. The first one is found right at the start of the psalm. The second one is at the very end.

Challenge #1 is an almost in-your-face challenge for anyone who has experienced God’s redeeming help in any form. The challenge is to acknowledge His goodness and His steadfast love that endures forever. It is essentially a call to say and “…give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!” (Psalms 107:1)

Psalms 107:2
Let the redeemed of the LORD say so,
whom he has redeemed from trouble (literally, the hand of the foe)

It’s a pure and simple call to those who’ve experienced God’s redeeming grace in delivering them from every kind of trouble – whatever the cause. The psalmist then goes on to detail different instances of God’s redemptive grace. He shows God’s power at work in the lives of those in distress. God graciously intervenes to powerfully deliver.

In the first instance, people find themselves lost in a barren desert from where there seems to be no way out. Facing certain death, they choose to cry out to the Lord. He delivers them out of their distress. Psalms 107:6
Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.

The second is a self-inflicted state of affairs. People find themselves in this state because of their rejection of God, His word, and His counsel. Psalms 107:10–11
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.

Even these who find themselves in predicaments of their own making are delivered by God as they sincerely cry out to Him. Psalms 107:13
Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.

God responds to their cry too.

The third instance is again one that is man made, a result of people’s wrong choices: Psalms 107:17–18
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.

Yet even these, when they turn to God in their distress, He faithfully responds to their cry of desperation: Psalms 107:19
Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.

In the fourth instance, people face a different kind of life-threatening predicament. This time, it is caused by a natural disaster, a windstorm at sea. Even here, as they find themselves at their wits end, they cry out to The Lord and He steps in to still the furious storm.

Psalms 107:2829
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.

In each instance, distressed and desperate people turn to God. They experience His faithful deliverance and redemption. Hence the psalmist’s call and challenge to them: “Let the redeemed of The Lord say so!” (vs 2)

Challenge #1 is not to keep quiet but openly declare God’s goodness and His loving redemption through thanksgiving. This challenge is reiterated and reinforced throughout the psalm. It shows up in the refrain found in verses 8, 15, 21 and 31:
Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!

These instances tell the story of God’s amazing grace. Their story highlights His steadfast love that endures forever. This love redeems people in any and every situation. He has absolute power over every conceivable circumstance we may find ourselves in.

What do you need God’s help or deliverance on?

All the people did in Psalm 107 was cry out to The Lord in desperation. He responded to their cries out of His goodness and His steadfast love which endures forever. Even today, God responds to the cries of those who look to Him. He has not changed. He is still good and His steadfast love still endures forever. Here is God’s invitation and challenge to the prophet Jeremiah in Jeremiah 33:3
Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.

The story of God’s redemptive grace continues with another two instances. These instances depict God’s just nature. He punishes the wicked in their evil while providentially protecting the destitute and the oppressed.

But we turn to the second and final challenge that the psalmist chooses to close with. It is essentially a call to wisdom – to paying close attention to these stories and considering the steadfast love of The Lord conveyed through them.

Psalms 107:43
Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things;
let them consider the steadfast love of the LORD.

Wisdom demands that we attend to these things and studiously consider the steadfast love of the Lord. Not doing so would be rejecting wisdom. You see, whatever situation or circumstance you’re in – whether one of your own making or not – you can cry out to the Lord. And because His steadfast love endures forever, He is faithful to respond to your cry.

But regardless of whether you are in a predicament or not, attending to these things and considering the steadfast love of The Lord primes and preps you to call on Him when you need to.

Now that, is wisdom.