GOD SAVES THOSE IN DISTRESS - This begins the fifth and last section of the book of Psalms with a portrayal of God’s saving acts to people who are in distress. The psalm names God’s faithfulness and care to everyone, but provides at least four separate and quite different contexts. These four groups have reason to praise God-they have been redeemed from life-threatening adversity.

STORY OF REFUGEES - The first three verses which open this psalm calls on people from all points on compass to speak out in praise of God who has redeemed them. Our lesson focuses on the first group-"some" who are wanderers on earth, the refugees of the world. They cry out to the lord and find deliverance. Though our current world is marked by hundreds of refugee groups who cry out for deliverance and find none, the psalmist’s group does find help from their distress. [1]

RADICAL WORDS - . . . The message of Psalm 107 is simple but radical: There is ultimately no such thing as self-sufficiency, for human life depends on God. The good news is that we can depend on God, God is good (v. 1), and God shares God’s goodness (v. 9). [2]

In Psalm 107, four contexts are given-distressful situations in which God rescues or saves. What "contexts" can you name that describe God’s loving and gracious saving in your life? What contexts can you truly offer God praise because in those moments you discovered the saving action of God?

Which of the four context are you most drawn to (vv. 4-9/ 10-16 / 17-22 / 23-32)?

I would retell the contexts that the psalmist gives throughout this psalm; imagine even more distinctly scenarios that the texts suggest.

Reflect on your own life / the life of a community of faith that you grew up in / the current congregation you worship with; what contexts can you come up with? What challenging moments, impasses, difficult decisions, risky meetings, tough experiences made you or the community to truly cry out in the midst of the trouble? How did God "hear" those cries?

Lead the congregation in a litany of thanking God for God’s love and faithfulness; on alternate lines include one or two line "contexts" that are known among the congregation and then after each, have the entire congregation respond with God’s faithfulness and love.

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[1] The New Interpreter’s Study Bible (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2003), page 853.
[2] The New Interpreter’s Bible IV (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1996), page 1119.