I know I've mentioned the 107th Psalm already, probably more than once. I won't make any apologies for repeating myself in this case: I can't see any other way to understand the final verse (Psalm 107:43) than a call to meditate, ruminate, and mull over the chapter.
Berlin once described Psalm 107 something like, "various ways we get ourselves into trouble and God delivers." That's a horrible misquote, but you get the idea. Psalm 107 tells us about how our own foolishness, sin, and weakness get us into hopeless situations, but God can deliver us from them. And He does.
Psalm 107:10 has special meaning to me. I recognize in myself someone who has "spurned the counsel of the Most High" (ESV). And I'm not alone: I know many people who "rebelled against the words of God" (ESV) and found themselves trapped as a result.
Psalm 107:17 strikes some similar notes, "[f]ools, because of their way of transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted." I suppose all of us have been that sort of fool, at least once or twice in our lives.
I expect all of us know someone (or perhaps several someones) who fall into these verses. We know people who are bound in affliction and iron because they rebelled against the words of God, or they're afflicted because of their transgressions and foolishnesses. Let's not stop praying for them. We sometimes find our best attempts to help will come to naught, but God delivers fools and rebels.
And if we're in one of those rare moments when things are actually going well, when we're not currently trapped in our own sins and folly... Then let's not forget, "Whoso is wise, let him observe these things" (Psalm 107:43). There is tremendous wisdom (and we all need wisdom!) in coming to understand the lovingkindness of the Lord.
