"Yadah" — Give Thanks!

I love Psalm 107, which my Bible titles, "Thanksgiving to the Lord for His Great Works of Deliverance." (Thomas Nelson NKJ Study Bible)

 

Matthew Henry wrote that Psalm 107 celebrates the Lord's providential care of His people, that the "psalmist specifies some of the most common calamities of human life, and shows how God succours those that labour under them, in answer to their prayers."

 

Psalm 107 ends with—"Whoever is wise will observe these things and they will understand the lovingkindness of the Lord." (107:43 NKJ)

 

What things?

 

Perhaps it is what we see repeated. When reading Scripture, repetition is something to note, just like we do when we see the word "Selah" in other Psalms.

 

"Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble." This is repeated in verses 6, 15, 19, and 28.

 

These words are followed by, what I believe, are the answer to "What things?"—

 

"He [the Lord] delivered them…led them…saved them…brought them…broke their chains…saved them…sent His word…healed them…delivered them…brings them out of their distresses…guides them to their desired haven…" (107:6-7, 13-14, 19-20, 28, 30 NKJ) And, the Psalmist goes on and on to list further actions of the Lord on the behalf of those who cry out to Him.

 

But, there's more.

 

"Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!" These words are repeated in verses 8, 15, 21, and 31. 

 

The Hebrew word used to express "give thanks" is "yadah" and it means to throw, shoot, or cast. No apathy here. In fact, these repeated words sound out as a plea as if men were not giving thanks. Verse 2 adds credibility to this statement as it begins, "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so." As Matthew Henry wrote, this Psalm begins as a "general call to all to give thanks to God."

 

We who have experienced the lovingkindness and redemption (verse 2) of the Lord have voices that we need to use to vocally "say so."

 

What lovingkindnesses has your God shown to you? Are you saying so?

 

When those who know the goodness of the Lord say so, the result is priceless.

 

Good people see this and are glad;

bad people are speechless, stopped in their tracks.

If you are really wise, you’ll think this over—

it’s time you appreciated God’s deep love.

Psalm 107:42-43 (MSG)

 

So, praying moms, we must, as Paul wrote—

 

Rejoice always,

pray continually,

give thanks in all circumstances;

for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)