Truth and the Interpretation of Scripture

Providential Wisdom and Understanding

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: Apologetics

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2025-02-09

Synopsis: Pastor John Weaver expounds Psalm 107:43, emphasizing that true wisdom involves observing God's sovereign providential acts in our lives, the lives of others, and in history. He illustrates four distresses (lost travelers, captives, the sick, and mariners) where people cried to the Lord and were delivered, leading to the repeated refrain: 'Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness.' The message calls believers to contemplate God's works, understand His lovingkindness, and offer continual praise and thanksgiving as the proper response to His providence.

[John Weaver] All right, I want you to open your Bibles if you would to Psalm 107 and verse 43. Psalm 107 and verse 43. The title of the message is Providential Wisdom and Understanding.

[John Weaver] providential wisdom and understanding So if you look in verse 43 the psalmist said whoso is wise and will observe these things Even they shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord when you look at that verse and you see and Will observe these things you have to immediately ask what things and of course the answer is those things are that he has revealed in this particular psalm. So this psalm deals with God's sovereign providence.

[John Weaver] I've often said that there is no such thing as luck, chance, fate, or fortune in a world that's ruled by God. There are only acts of God's sovereign providence. I've also said this same truth in a different way, and here it is. nothing less than God's eternal decrees coming to pass in time. That truth emphasizes that God's providential acts in time in history are exceedingly important because they reveal his attributes and they also reveal his purpose. So Psalm 107 is a special treatise on God's providence and it shows not only the distresses that are brought about upon individuals by God's providence, but it also shows the comforts that we are deriving from those acts of providence as well.

[John Weaver] And therefore, in this psalm, you're going to find that we are commanded to praise the Lord. Now, I want you to notice, if you would, verses one and two of Psalm 107. We're going to look at the entire Psalm, but look at verses one and two right now. He says, Oh, give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endureth forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from the hand of the enemy.

[John Weaver] So how often then have you been blessed, delivered, healed, saved from miseries and death? And then you have to ask yourself, how often have you given the Lord praise and thanks for His gracious acts of providence? In fact, if you have been delivered, the Bible says in verse 2, let the redeemed of the Lord say so. In fact, Psalm 50 and verse 23, which I will quote again before I end this message, simply says this. Whosoever offereth praise glorifyeth me and to him that ordered his conversation aright will I show the salvation of God. But note that first part, whosoever offereth praise glorifyeth me. So if you really genuinely want to glorify God, then you must praise him for as many blessings, life, health, and all of his sinner mercies. So, let the redeemed of the Lord say so. That is, you say so secretly, you say so privately, you say so publicly as well. Now, there is one very important verse in this psalm that happens to occur four times. There's also one very important word in this psalm that happens to occur four times in relationship to those four verses.

[John Weaver] Now the verse that occurs four times is this verse Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful works to the children of men You will find that in verse 8 verse 15 verse 21 and verse 31 So let me just repeat it again. You'll see it in verse 8. Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness and and for his wonderful works to the children of men."

[John Weaver] So I want to give you two quotes. The first one is by John Trapp, the old Puritan. He said, they that would confess it to the Lord, both in secret and in society, this is all the rent that God requireth. He is content that we have the comfort of his blessings, so he may have the honor of them. This was all the fee that Christ looked for, for his cures. Go and tell what God hath done for thee. Words seem to be a poor and slight recompense, but Christ himself is called the Word. Now, the interesting thing is, when he gives this quote, he says, this is all the rent that God required.

[John Weaver] One of the funny things that happened to me years ago, Was reading a lot of the Puritans and this phrase basically I came across it quite frequently at that particular time we were living in Pensacola, Florida and We were members of Smyrna Baptist Church and Roy Julian was the pastor, but I was traveling and preaching and very seldom was I ever a Home on a sunday, but one sunday I happened to be there on sunday night and so alice and I of course went to church and pastor julian preached and uh But before he started the service, he said it's good to have john weaver in the congregation He said he's hardly ever get gets to be with us because he's always off preaching So he said i'm going to ask him to lead us in prayer And so I prayed And one of the phrases and requests that I used in that prayer was this, Lord, help us to

[John Weaver] pay up our past due rent of thanksgiving. In other words, that's what the old Puritan said, because what they meant by that was, let us thank God for what he's already done before we ask him for something else. Well, when church was over, I kind of tarried behind so I could speak to Pastor Julian. And as I shook his hand, I felt something in my hand, and I looked down.

[John Weaver] It was a hundred dollar bill. I said, what's this for? He said, Some man gave it to me and told me to give it to you to help you pay up your best to rent. And the truth of the matter is, I didn't even pay rent where we live. We were living rent free. I said, Oh Lord, I need to use that phrase more often. So when John Trapp says this is all the rib that God required that was the way they they spoke back then John Gill said it like this for his providential goodness in providing food and drink for them and when fainting, in directing them to their right way when they had lost it, and

[John Weaver] in bringing them safe to the place that they were bound for, and particularly for a special grace and goodness in redemption and effectual calling, for bringing out of a wilderness state and condition, and supplying them with all the spiritual provisions, and putting them in the right way to eternal glory and happiness. And this is why he's saying we should be praising the Lord. And the truth of the matter is God is indeed our chief good. His goodness abounds to all the earth, both to the saved and to the unsaved, both to the just and the unjust.

[John Weaver] Now, there's a passage in the book of Acts, chapter 14, verse 17, that is very, very specific. I want you to listen to it as I quote it. Nevertheless, He left not himself without witness in that he did good and gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons Filling our hearts with food and gladness So he left himself not without witness and that he did good and of course that goodness goes to both saved and unsaved alike And then you remember that passage in Matthew chapter five in verse forty five. He said that you may be the children of your father who is in heaven, for he make it the rain or the sun, first of all, to rise upon the evil and the good and send it the rain upon the just and the unjust. So the goodness of God is not only upon the saved and the unsaved. I want to show you something very quickly. It's also something for which we should completely and hourly and daily give thanks for so I want you to turn back in your bibles to psalm 103 And I want you to just look at the first five verses And when you get home today, this would be a good opportunity For you to

[John Weaver] meditate upon these verses and think about them So david begins in psalm 103 verse 1 and he says this bless the lord. Oh my soul Watch this next phrase and all that is within me Bless his holy name. So this is not just some Casual thanking God it is the entirety of his being Involved in thanking God So he says bless the Lord of my soul and all that is within me bless his holy name bless the Lord of my soul now look at this and forget not all of his

[John Weaver] benefits and So he named some of them, who forgiveth all thine iniquities, who healeth all thy diseases, who redeemeth thy life from destruction, who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies, who satisfied thy mouth with good things, so that thy youth is renewed like the eagles. So when you just stop and think about these things, those Should be sufficient to make us begin praising the lord and thanking him for his goodness as well But since you're in psalm 103, I want you to turn right over to psalm 104 Because I want you to see that the goodness of god extends not just To the saved and the unsaved but to his creation to all the animals as well so in psalm 104 look if you would beginning there with verse 10 He sent the springs into the valleys which run among the hills.

[John Weaver] They give drink to every beast of the field. The wild asses quench their thirst. By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches. He waters the hills from the chambers. The earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works. He causeth a grass to grow for the cattle, an herb for the service of man, that he may bring forth food out of the earth, and wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart.

[John Weaver] The trees of the Lord are full of sap, the cedars of Lebanon which he hath planted, where the birds make their nests, as for the stork, Their fir trees are her house. The high hills are refuge for the wild goats, and the rocks for the conies. He appointed the moon for seasons. The sun knoweth his going down. Thou makest darkness, and it is night.

[John Weaver] Now look at this, wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth. The young lions roar after their prey. Here it is, and seek their meat from God. The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens. Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labor until the evening. O Lord, how manifold are thy works! In wisdom hast thou made them all. The earth is full of thy riches."

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to go back to Psalm 107, because I told you that there was indeed a verse that occurred four times and I quoted that verse. Oh that man would praise the Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful works to the children of men. And of course there is another word now that I pointed out that goes in relationship to that verse and the little word is then. T-h-e-n. You're going to find that Word in verse 6, in verse 13, in verse 19, and verse 30. And each time, I want you to notice how the word then is connected to the distresses that men find themselves in. Now, the psalm is very easily divided into four distinct categories, or four distinct examples.

[John Weaver] First of all, In this psalm, you have the example or the illustration of someone who is weary and lost in their traveling. The second illustration you have in this psalm happens to be miserable captives in a hideous dungeon. The third illustration you have in this psalm is the sick and the dying. And the fourth illustration you have in this psalm happens to be mariners who are in a raging storm on the sea.

[John Weaver] Now, before I actually get into this psalm, I want to ask you a question. Have you ever found yourself in any of these situations or any of these circumstances?

[John Weaver] Now, it's very easy for me to imagine a weary and lost traveler. because Alice and I have traveled all over this country. And there have been times I've started driving at five o'clock in the morning and did not even stop until 11 or 12 at night, except for gas and to use the bathroom. And there have been occasions when I have gotten lost, not really, really lost, but not finding where exactly I was going.

[John Weaver] And so I can identify with that a little bit, and probably you as well. But some of you are going to say, well, I've never ever been a captive in a dungeon, especially a hideous dungeon. Well, before you say that, let me remind you of Pilgrim's Progress written by John Bunyan. And the truth of the matter is, many people have been in a dungeon, a hideous dungeon, and in deep distress. It may not have been a real physical dungeon, but it was a dungeon. So I want to read just a few paragraphs from Pilgrim's Progress.

[John Weaver] Because Pilgrim and hopeful, weary in their journeys, fall asleep. Of course they happen to fall asleep on the land owned by giant despair Who then captures them and throws them into his dungeon? So here it is Neither could they with all their skill they had get again to the style that night wherefore at last Lining under a little shelter. They sat down there until the daybreak, but being weary they fell asleep Now there was, not far from the place where they lay, a castle named Doubting Castle. The owner whereof was Giant Despair, and it was his grounds that they are now were sleeping. Wherefore he getting up in the morning early, and walking up and down in his fields, caught Christian and Hopeful asleep in his grounds.

[John Weaver] Then with a grim and surly voice he bid them awake, and asked them whence they were, and what they did in his grounds. They told him they were pilgrims, and that they had lost their way. Then said the giant, You have this night trespassed on me by trampling in and lying on my grounds, and therefore you must go along with me. So they were forced to go, because he was stronger than they.

[John Weaver] They also had but little to say, for they knew themselves to be in a fault. The giant therefore drove them before him and put them into his castle into a very dark nasty dungeon and stinking to the spirits of those two men. Here they then lay from Wednesday morning until Saturday night without one bit of bread or one drop of drink or light or any to ask how they did. They were therefore here in an evil case and were far from friends and acquaintance."

[John Weaver] Now in this place, Christian had double sorrow because it was through his unadvised counsel that they were brought into this dungeon. Christian and hopeful lie in prison in Doubting Castle because they were no longer looking to Christ and resting in his provision. They had looked to themselves to find an easier path. And even when they realized their error and sought to return to the way, they failed, striving in their own efforts.

[John Weaver] All the skill they had was not sufficient to revive and restore them. It looked grim for the pilgrims, but their troubles were just beginning.

[John Weaver] Now you ask, how did they escape? As Christian lay in the dungeon, he recalls the key called Promise, which he wears around his neck. realizing its significance, he uses the key to unlock the doors and gates of Doubting Castle, freeing himself and Hopeful from their tormentors." So, here we're talking about a dungeon, but it's a dungeon of despair, it's a dungeon of discouragement, it's a dungeon of distress. There have been plenty of Christians in this dungeon, and probably still many as well. So we can understand from that aspect because I have known of prominent preachers and prominent believers who had great, great problems with what you and I would call despair and discouragement and being downcast.

[John Weaver] In fact, Charles Spurgeon was one of them. So we can understand that. But the third illustration, of course, would be that of sick and dying people. And then, of course, the fourth one would be that of Mariner. So let's look in our Bibles to Psalm 107 at the first five verses. Here is the weary and lost traveler. Give thanks unto the Lord for he is good for his mercy endureth forever Let the redeemed of the Lord say so whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy now look what he has done for them and Gathered them out of the lands from the east and from the west and

[John Weaver] from the north and from the south They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way. They found no city to dwell in hungry and thirsty Their soul fainted in them now Want you to note the first then here it is then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble and He delivered them out of their distresses and he led them forth by the right way That they might go to a city of habitation.

[John Weaver] So the distress was They were weary. They were lost. They were hungry their deliverance was Then they cried to the Lord, and he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to the city of habitation.

[John Weaver] Now here's the first occurrence of this one verse in verse eight. What should be the response of individuals when God delivers them from their distresses? Oh, that men would praise the Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful works to the children of men. For he satisfied the longing soul Filleth the hungry soul with goodness Isn't that amazing? Wow So here's the second illustration beginning there in verse 10 look at this such as sin and darkness and in the shadow of death being bound in affliction and iron Because they rebelled against the words of the Lord and condemned the counsel of the Most High and Therefore he brought down their heart

[John Weaver] with labor They fell down and there was none to help. So here they are in a hideous dungeon discouraged distressed Here's the second then in verse 13 then they cried in the Lord in their trouble And he saved them out of their distresses He brought them out of darkness and the shut of death and break their bands and sunder well What should be the response of man?

[John Weaver] Oh That men would praise the Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful works to the children of men Wow in the words every time We are in a distress regardless of what that distress is and God grants us deliverance We should be praising him for his goodness and for his wonderful works to the children of men It is only in distress That we really learn to cry and to pray now Since you see that obviously, oh That men would praise the Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful works to the children of man. Yes For he hath that's something that God has done now.

[John Weaver] I want you to notice if you would please the third one that begins in verse 17 and He said fools because of their transgression and because of their iniquities are afflicted words We sin we get afflicted now not all sickness is from sin But some sickness is from sin and here he's giving you this illustration that it is Then he said their soul abhorred all manner of meat. They're so sick They cannot eat and they draw near unto the gates of death. I So here is a sick and dying person what happens look in verse 19 Here's the third one then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble and he saveth them out of their distresses He sent his word and healed them and delivered them from their destructions What should be the response when you were sick and you were healed you were near death you were healed What should be the response?

[John Weaver] That men would praise the Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful works to the children of men now watch verse 22 and let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving and Declare his works with rejoicing. So God is saying look Whenever God has healed us We need to rejoice and thank him for it now If I were to ask you Have you ever been sick and recovered and the truth is each one of us has been sick and recovered But my next question would be did you really praise God and thank you for his goodness in healing you and in raising you up Many many times When we're sick, we just take it for granted that we're going to get well and sometimes we do not get well and Remember years ago When Melvin Stringer's mother was in the hospital, in fact,

[John Weaver] she was in the intensive care unit they called the entire family in and Although I was not related I've been a family friend ever since I was a child and so they called me in with the family And they told us that she would not make it through the day well I prayed for her and I prayed with her. And so did Melvin, her son, who was also a preacher. And so when we left, everybody was kind of downhearted and broken because they told us she would not make it through the day.

[John Weaver] And would you like to know, the very next week she was at our pond fishing. Doctors don't always know what's gonna happen. And so we rejoiced and and we thanked the Lord for that So this this is what he's saying We should learn to praise the Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful works now the fourth one that you're going to find is in verses 23 through 27 Look what he says they then go down to the sea and ships that do business in great waters and These see the works of the Lord and his wonders in the deep For he commandeth and raises the stormy wind. There's his providence which lifted up the waves thereof They mount up to the heavens they go down again to the depths their soul is melted because of trouble they reel to and fro and stagger like a drunken man and rip their wits in Watch this then They cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.

[John Weaver] Then they are glad, because they be quiet, for he bringeth them unto their desired haven. And what should be the response? Oh, that men would praise the Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful works to the children of men.

[John Weaver] Now, I will tell you this. I've never in my entire life been in a storm on the sea. And to be absolutely honest, I do not care to be in one.

[John Weaver] Now, I have been on a very large shrimp boat for 24 hours, 40 miles from land in the Gulf of Mexico. There were some very interesting experiences on that boat. One that I recall quite vividly was it was midnight and I was on the bow of that boat. The moon was full, the stars were shining, that ocean was as smooth as silk and everything was reflecting on that water and I sat Could not believe my eyes and you could not see land. You could not see or hear anything And I was very vividly impressed at the vastness of God's creation But I will tell you this When I got back to land and use this verse right here. I They reel to and fro and stagger like a drunken man and right there with sin Of course, I realize that verse deals with that boat going up and down. I understand that But if you are like me you're not a mariner You're not raised on the sea. I was on that boat for 24 hours and when I stepped off that boat, I almost fell and Why?

[John Weaver] Because I was staggering like a drunk man. I did not any longer have my land legs. I had sea legs because everything had been and it took me hours so I could walk the way I should walk on land. I'm just simply pointing out the fact. Yes, it is very, very upsetting when you realize you can't even walk after being in a ship.

[John Weaver] Now, You've seen videos, you've seen pictures, you've seen TV of these boats and especially these fishing boats that are diving up and down in the ocean and the waves wallowing over them and washing everything away. No, that's not my piece of cake. Would never be a Navy man. I'm sorry if you've been in the Navy, huh? I've never be a Navy man, but I'm just simply saying God has sovereignly graciously delivered plenty of individuals in storms like that You can think of the Apostles They were in the boat when the storm came along and our Lord calmed that storm So what should be our response? And this response is, oh, that men would praise the Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful works to the children of men.

[John Weaver] And it's very interesting that when you see the word then in relationship to these distresses, it's then they cry. Now, without commenting particularly on this next section, I just want to read it. Want you to I want to get to the text that I want to expound But I want you to see there are multiple reasons why we should praise the Lord. So let's begin reading in verse 32 he says let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people and praise him in the assembly of the elders." So you remember that verse in verse 2, let the redeemed of the Lord say so, who means redeemed out of the hand of the enemy. Now he says, let them exalt him, that is God, in the congregation of the people and praise him in the assembly of the elders. So our thanks should not be simply secret, they should not be just simply private, they should also be public as well.

[John Weaver] Now look what else he does. He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the water springs into dry ground, of fruitful land unto barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein. He turned the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into water springs. And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation, and sow their fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase.

[John Weaver] He blessed them also, that they are multiplied greatly, and suffered not their cattle to decrease. Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow. He pours contempt upon princes and causes them to wander in the wilderness where there is no way. Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock. The righteous shall see it and rejoice, and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.

[John Weaver] Now we're at the last verse. Whoso is wise and will observe these things, even they shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord. Now, note he said, whosoever is wise and will observe these things. In other words, what this psalm is all about is that we are to pay close attention to the providence of God in our lives. There are reasons why we get sick. There are reasons why sometimes we don't have any money. There are reasons sometimes why God blesses us immensely. There are reasons for everything in our lives. So many times we just ignore everything that happens to us But listen to this not only are we to observe that which God does in our lives We're also to observe that which God does in the lives of others that we know So let me show you I want you to hold Psalm 107 but I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Matthew chapter 21 and Look if you would please at verse 32 Matthew 21 and Look if you would please at verse 32 Look what our Lord said Matthew 21 verse 32.

[John Weaver] This is a very powerful verse Our Lord said for John came into you in the way of righteousness and And you believe him not. Now he's talking to the scribes and Pharisees. John, that is John the Baptist, came to you in the way of righteousness and you believe him not. But the publicans and the heralds believed him. And you, when you had seen it, repented not afterwards that you might believe. Now, look at what our Lord is saying. John the Baptist came preaching righteousness. The publicans, that is the notorious thieves, the tax collectors, and the harlots believed him. And they repented and were baptized, and their lives were changed. The Pharisees and the scribes did not believe the preaching of John.

[John Weaver] But here's what he said. When the publicans and the harlots believed him, and you, when you had seen it, Repented not afterwards as you might believe in other words They were required they were responsible they were accountable to learn from the work of God in the lives of others that they knew and Especially when God had done that work in their presence So, let me just boil this down for you You and I are obligated and responsible to learn from what God does in our lives as individuals. But we're also responsible to learn what he does in the lives of others whom we know, whether it's family or friends.

[John Weaver] I'm going to take it a step further. We're also duty bound and obligated and responsible to learn what God does in time and in history because nothing happens by accident. There's no such thing as luck, chance, fate, or fortune in a world ruled by God. Anything that comes to pass in time was based upon God's eternal degree in eternity. So nothing happens by accident. We are accountable and responsible to learn.

[John Weaver] Now look what God says back in Psalm 107 verse 43. He said, whoso is wise and will observe these things. Now, when God says whoso is wise and will observe these things, the word observe does not simply mean to see or to look at. The word observe means that we contemplate, that we meditate, that we study, that we think upon, that we comprehend, that we understand, and ultimately, that we apply the truth that is communicated.

[John Weaver] Most people do not even notice that which is happening in their lives. They don't even pay attention to what happens in the lives of other people. And they certainly don't even pay attention to what happens in the world. Do you realize that God's judgment is called His strange act? Now, we're supposed to notice anything that's strange. So if Steve came in here for this Message and he had on a t-shirt and a pair of Bermuda shorts. I would think that was very strange of Steve And so with Lorraine Why would he do that What's wrong with him? I mean, is he sick does he yeah, what's going on? It would be strange.

[John Weaver] I want you to look in your Bibles to the book of Isaiah chapter 28 Verse 21 look at this Isaiah 28 and verse 21 Look what the Bible says Isaiah 28 and verse 21 Here it is for the Lord shall rise up in Mount Perazim He shall be wroth as in the Valley of Gibeon. I that he may do his work, his strange work, and bring to pass his act, his strange act." In other words, the judgment of God is here referred to as his strange act. Wow. His strange act. Look, if you would, at the cyclones. Look at the tornadoes. Look at the hurricanes. Look at the volcanic eruptions. Look at the building collapses. Look at the fires. Look at the floods. Look at the droughts. These are God's strange acts. These are acts of judgment.

[John Weaver] All of God's works are done in wisdom, righteousness, grace, mercy, and goodness. You remember in the book of Job, he talks about the weather. And he sends it, he said, for correction, or for punishment, or for the good of the land. Wow. So our Lord said, whoso is wise will observe these things. So that would also imply that those who are unwise, those who are foolish, will not observe these things.

[John Weaver] They will not consider them. Now, in the book of Hosea, chapter 14, in verse 9, here's what God says. Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? Prudent, and he shall know them. For the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them, but the transgressors shall fall therein. So God asks who is wise, and he shall understand these things. Prudent, he said, and he shall know them. So it's only then as we observe God's providential acts in time and in history That we understand something. What is it? Look at verse 43 again. Whoso was wise and will observe these things even they shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord Have you ever considered how graciously God provides for us. And I'm not just simply talking about food. He provides in a multitude of ways.

[John Weaver] I actually could think of four, but I'm gonna mention three. Years ago, when Alice and I got a Chevrolet Trailblazer, I was driving it, and I can tell you exactly where we were, and I had a flat tire. And I pulled over beside the road so I could change the tire. And I was raised on a farm. I've changed tires all my life. And I got to looking at the spare tire, and underneath the car, I couldn't figure out how to get it down. I mean, I got under on my back and I tried to turn and it wouldn't turn. Thankfully, a man pulled up right behind us. He laughed.

[John Weaver] He said, let me show you. I didn't realize that little hole in the bumper was to stick something in to let that tire down. I'd never seen that in my life. But but thankfully the Lord just provided for him to come along on another instance Alice and I were going to church we were on 32 going into Douglas and of course I had on a shirt and tie and slacks and I had another flat tire and I pulled over and changed the flat tire and just as I pulled over a man pulled in right behind me He saw me standing there. He said he didn't know I was a preacher. He said sir.

[John Weaver] He said don't worry You don't have to get your clothes dirty. He said he said I'll I'll change this tire for you. I And I said, well, I'm thankful because we're on our way to church. And I said, I need to get there on time. And he found out I was a preacher. Guess what? When he changed my tire, he handed me 10 bucks. He said, this will get it fixed for you.

[John Weaver] I said, man, isn't that wonderful? And then one other time, which was hilarious. This was oh, this was years ago. But Alice and I and her mother, her mother was alive at that particular time. We were on our way to see Melvin Stringer who was in a retirement village And I had a flat tire and so I pulled over and just as I pulled over a Young man in a truck pulled right behind me. I was out. I was looking at the tire and he was on the cell phone and I He said on the cell phone while Alice and I were standing there, well, I got to go right now. I've got to change this tire for these elderly people.

[John Weaver] And we were only in our 60s. I thought, oh, Lord, have mercy. Elderly in my 60s? But I said, I thank you, Lord. I'm willing to let a young man change the tire for this elderly man who is about 62 or three or four, something like that. Wow, well, you know stop and think about how graciously God provides for us think about how graciously God graciously God protects us You know many times God has protected us.

[John Weaver] We don't even realize what he's done We don't even know it Sometimes I might be fussing a little bit because I think we're five minutes late and we get down the road and there's a wreck and The first thing it hits my mind is if I'd left on time that might have been me God just stall me where I could yeah just you and I have no idea how many times God protects us how many times God has preserved us and This is what he's saying. We should learn to praise him God graciously does this For his people and for his works if you look in your Bibles to Psalm 145 Psalm 145 Notice if you would please their verses 8 through 10 Psalm 145 verses 8 through 10 look at this The Lord is gracious and full of compassion

[John Weaver] Slow to anger and a great mercy. The Lord is good to all and his tender mercies over all his works all thy works shall praise thee O Lord and thy saints shall bless thee They shall speak of thy glory, of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power. So this is what he's saying. God's been so gracious and kind. His providence, yes, we get into the stresses, but then he delivers us.

[John Weaver] You know, there's a wonderful verse back in Deuteronomy 8. It just came to my mind. I want you to go there. I want you to see this. You sometimes wonder why you get into trouble or why you get into distress or why things happen to you? Well, I want you to see this look at this Let's see, yes look in Proverbs and not Proverbs a Deuteronomy chapter 8 and let's read verses 1 through 3 He says, All the commandments which I command thee this day shall you observe to do, that you may live, and multiply, and go in

[John Weaver] and possess the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers. And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee. And to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments or no. Now, God does not humble and prove us so that he may know. He already knows. He humbles us and proves us so that we may know.

[John Weaver] But look at verse three. And he humbled thee and suffered thee to hunger. Why did God allow them to hunger? and fed them with manna which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live. God let them go hungry so that he could feed them, and in feeding them, teach them a biblical principle and a biblical truth. Many times things happen to us just so God can teach us now I want you to go back before I make some applications. I want you to look at Psalm 140 Psalm 107 again in verse 43 look at this He said whoso is wise and will observe these things Even they shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord So if you want to understand even to a small degree the loving-kindness of the Lord, you must

[John Weaver] consider and pay attention to the providential acts of God in your life, in the lives of others, and the providential acts of God in time and in history. Now listen, we may only get a glimpse of the loving-kindness of God But a glimpse would be sufficient for us. You remember how Moses said to the Lord? Show me thy glory And what did God say to Moses? You can't see my glory and live But I tell you what I'm gonna do.

[John Weaver] I'll put you in the cleft of the rock I'll pass by you and cover you with my hand and when I pass by I'll move my hand and you can see my back parts and I've got news for you. If we just saw the back parts of God, it would change our lives. It would motivate us to praise him and to glorify him and to serve him forever and ever. So if we can just get a glimpse of God's loving kindness in Providence, it'll change our lives.

[John Weaver] Now, let me make some applications. Here's the first one. I said in the beginning of this message, Wanted you to notice the little word then in its relationship to the stress That these individuals found themselves in So the lost and weary traveler Then they cried Wow The ones locked in the hideous dungeon were suffering then they cried and The man sick and dying could not help himself. Then he cried. And the lost mariner or the mariner fighting that storm. Then he cried.

[John Weaver] Have you ever stopped to think about this? Many times it takes distress. To make us really pray and cry to the Lord. When everything's going smoothly and everything's going well, we don't really need to pray, we think. Or we don't pray as we should pray. But brother, when our boat starts to sink, we can start crying to God. When we think we're dying, we can start crying to God. When we're lost and can't find our way, we can start crying to God. When we are captured and can't escape the dungeon, we can start crying to God. It's interesting the word then when they got to the rock bottom when they found out that they were Absolutely helpless and hopeless and could not deliver themselves then they cried So, let me say this another way as long as you think you can do something You're not gonna cry to God for help You're not But when you realize how helpless and hopeless you are, then you will cry. Here's the second application. It would be wise for us to understand the loving kindness of God.

[John Weaver] And in order to do that, we must not only study his word, but we must also observe His gracious acts of providence. What He does in our lives, what He does in the lives of others, and what He does in time and history. And then when we observe what God is doing in our lives, in the lives of others, and in time and history, then we bring that to the Word of God, and let the Word of God interpret for us and show us exactly the purpose of God, The reason God has brought us into this distress or the reason God has allowed something to happen to us You know the reason we don't do that most people think they're too busy We're too busy to study we're too busy to pray We're too busy to consider what's happening in our lives and the lives of our family the lives of our friends But no, we're just too busy But there's another truth. I think it's not that we're too busy I think what it is is that we really do not care and We really do not have any pleasure in the works of God What did our what did that verse say?

[John Weaver] Oh that the oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness Huh? Praise the Lord to his goodness to the children of men and that they would have praised him for his works well Look in your Bible since you're close to Psalm 111 look at verse 2 Psalm 111 verse 2 here it is The works of the Lord are great sought out of all of them that have pleasure therein If you have pleasure in the works of God You're going to seek his works out if you have no pleasure in the work of God You're not gonna pay any attention to them So if you have pleasure in the works of God and what he's doing in your life and the life of your family and the life of your friends and if you have pleasure in what God is doing in this world, you will consider it. You will pay attention. You will meditate. You will learn the truth and apply it in your life. The real reason most people do not pay any attention to the providential act of God is they have no pleasure in his works.

[John Weaver] And the second reason I would say is they still believe in luck, chance, fate, or fortune. Here's the third application. We must learn to give God praise and thanksgiving for his multitudinous blessings in our lives. The Bible says in 1 Thessalonians chapter five and verse 18, In everything give thanks. In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. In everything give thanks. You can give thanks for your food. You give thanks for life and health and sleep and rest for protection. You give thanks for a multitudinous number of things.

[John Weaver] I remember reading years ago about Richard Wurmbrand, who was in a communist prison for years. He came to the States, was in a Bible conference, and they went out to a restaurant the preachers there that was with him. And they all ordered their food. And when the waitresses brought out the food for all of those preachers and set it there, and when Richard Wurmbrand saw all that food, he immediately fell on his knees in the restaurant and began to pray loudly, thanking God for the food. And one of the preachers that was there He said, I got embarrassed. And then I got embarrassed that I was embarrassed. He said, if I'd eaten rats for about 14 years, I think I could learn to be thankful for real food as well. Listen, you can be thankful we're not reduced to that. You can be thankful that God allows you to have a garden, that God allows you to have life, that God allows you to have health, that God allows you to wake up. Wow.

[John Weaver] The crucial question is this, do you really praise him? Do you think of those little incidental things that you take for granted every day, like breath, breathing? We don't ever think about that. I still praise God for his deliverance from the hurricane back the first of October. Guess what? They're still cleaning up. All along the roads, there's still roofs that have never been repaired yet. We're talking months. God is gracious. God is good. God is kind.

[John Weaver] So we need to thank him not only for our lives, but how about this one? Do you praise him for the goodness of God in the lives of others? I don't know about you, but I'm thankful when others are blessed. I'm thankful that Justin and Catherine found each other. I'm thankful that I found Alice many, many years ago. Well, let me change that. I'm thankful she chased me down. Oh, you know better than that. I'm just saying there's so many things that we could be thankful for. And we can also be thankful in the lives of other individuals as well.

[John Weaver] Now, so You know this verse that we read earlier in Psalm 107 verse 22 look at that and let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving and Declare his works with rejoicing So here's my question. How do you sacrifice the sacrifice of thanksgiving? Today we don't go to a temple We don't carry a physical sacrifice Well, I'll answer that for you if you'll turn in your Bibles to Hebrews chapter 13 Hebrews chapter 13 and I want us to begin reading there with verse 12 Hebrews 13 and verse 12 Look at this Hebrews 13 and verse 12 Look what the Bible says.

[John Weaver] Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. So there's his great sacrifice. Now watch this. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. For here we have no continuing city, but we seek one to come by him that is by Jesus Christ by him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually look at this that is the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name so how do we offer the sacrifice of praise with the fruit of our lips and we're to offer it through the Lord Jesus Christ he is the great sacrifice and therefore our sacrifice is acceptable through him.

[John Weaver] So the psalmist then, in Psalm 107 verse two said, let the redeemed of the Lord say so, who made the redeemed out of the hand of the enemy. So if God has blessed you, you need to learn to say so, say so to God, say so to his people. Say so privately, say so publicly.

[John Weaver] Now, remember I told you I was gonna quote a verse again before I ended this message? I want you to listen. It's Psalm 50 and verse 23. Whoso offereth praise, glorifieth me. And to him that ordereth his conversation aright, to him will I show the salvation of God. But here's the first part. Listen to it again. Whoso offereth praise, glorifieth me. If you want to really, genuinely glorify God, give Him praise. Give Him thanksgiving. Acknowledge Him. Pay up your past due rent of thanksgiving, and continue to pay your rent, because He continues to bless you, and provide for you, and protect you, and preserve you.

[John Weaver] We need to learn from God's gracious, sovereign providence. Father, we pray that you would indeed teach us, build us up in the most holy faith, help us to see your work, and help us, Lord, to glorify thy name and praise thee. In the name of Jesus Christ, whose name we pray, amen. ♪♪ ♪♪ you

Providential Wisdom and Understanding

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	3wudernkr-M
Subject	Apologetics
Course	Truth and the Interpretation of Scripture
Genre	Sermon
Date	2025-02-09
Dictation Name
Book	Book 064: Truth and the Interpretation of Scripture — Chapter 5
Source Timed Segments	80

Formatted Transcript

Introduction to Psalm 107 and God's Providence

The psalmist calls the wise to observe God's works to understand His lovingkindness. Psalm 107 is a treatise on God's sovereign providence, showing both distresses and comforts.

All right, I want you to open your Bibles, if you would, to Psalm 107 and verse 43. Psalm 107 and verse 43. The title of the message is "Providential Wisdom and Understanding."

Providential wisdom and understanding. So if you look in verse 43, the psalmist said,

Scripture Reading — Psalm 107:43

"Whoso is wise and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord."

When you look at that verse and you see

Scripture Reading — Psalm 107:43

"and will observe these things,"

you have to immediately ask, "What things?" And of course, the answer is those things are that he has revealed in this particular psalm. So this psalm deals with God's sovereign providence. I've often said that there is no such thing as luck, chance, fate, or fortune in a world that's ruled by God. There are only acts of God's sovereign providence. I've also said this same truth in a different way, and here it is: nothing less than God's eternal decrees coming to pass in time. That truth emphasizes that God's providential acts in time, in history, are exceedingly important because they reveal his attributes and they also reveal his purpose. So Psalm 107 is a special treatise on God's providence, and it shows not only the distresses that are brought about upon individuals by God's providence, but it also shows the comforts that we are deriving from those acts of providence as well.

The Command to Praise and the Repeated Refrain

Believers are commanded to praise the Lord for His goodness. The verse 'Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness' appears four times, emphasizing the required response to deliverance.

And therefore, in this psalm, you're going to find that we are commanded to praise the Lord. Now, I want you to notice, if you would, verses 1 and 2 of Psalm 107. We're going to look at the entire psalm, but look at verses 1 and 2 right now. He says,

Scripture Reading — Psalm 107:1-2

"O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy."

So how often then have you been blessed, delivered, healed, saved from miseries and death? And then you have to ask yourself, how often have you given the Lord praise and thanks for his gracious acts of providence? In fact, if you have been delivered, the Bible says in verse 2, "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so." In fact, Psalm 50 and verse 23, which I will quote again before I end this message, simply says this:

Scripture Reading — Psalm 50:23

"Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I show the salvation of God."

But note that first part,

Scripture Reading — Psalm 50:23

"Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me."

So if you really genuinely want to glorify God, then you must praise him for as many blessings, life, health, and all of his sinner mercies. So, let the redeemed of the Lord say so. That is, you say so secretly, you say so privately, you say so publicly as well. Now, there is one very important verse in this psalm that happens to occur four times. There's also one very important word in this psalm that happens to occur four times in relationship to those four verses.

Now the verse that occurs four times is this verse: "Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!" You will find that in verse 8, verse 15, verse 21, and verse 31. So let me just repeat it again. You'll see it in verse 8: "Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!" So I want to give you two quotes. The first one is by John Trapp, the old Puritan. He said, "They that would confess it to the Lord, both in secret and in society, this is all the rent that God requireth. He is content that we have the comfort of his blessings, so he may have the honor of them. This was all the fee that Christ looked for, for his cures. Go and tell what God hath done for thee. Words seem to be a poor and slight recompense, but Christ himself is called the Word." Now, the interesting thing is, when he gives this quote, he says, "This is all the rent that God requireth."

Four Illustrations of Distress and Deliverance

The psalm presents four examples: weary lost travelers, miserable captives, the sick and dying, and mariners in storms. In each case, they cried to the Lord and were delivered.

First of all, in this psalm, you have the example or the illustration of someone who is weary and lost in their traveling. The second illustration you have in this psalm happens to be miserable captives in a hideous dungeon. The third illustration you have in this psalm is the sick and the dying. And the fourth illustration you have in this psalm happens to be mariners who are in a raging storm on the sea.

Now, before I actually get into this psalm, I want to ask you a question. Have you ever found yourself in any of these situations or any of these circumstances? Now, it's very easy for me to imagine a weary and lost traveler, because Alice and I have traveled all over this country. And there have been times I've started driving at five o'clock in the morning and did not even stop until 11 or 12 at night, except for gas and to use the bathroom. And there have been occasions when I have gotten lost, not really, really lost, but not finding where exactly I was going. And so I can identify with that a little bit, and probably you as well. But some of you are going to say, "Well, I've never ever been a captive in a dungeon, especially a hideous dungeon." Well, before you say that, let me remind you of Pilgrim's Progress written by John Bunyan. And the truth of the matter is, many people have been in a dungeon, a hideous dungeon, and in deep distress. It may not have been a real physical dungeon, but it was a dungeon. So I want to read just a few paragraphs from Pilgrim's Progress.

Because Pilgrim and Hopeful, weary in their journeys, fall asleep. Of course they happen to fall asleep on the land owned by Giant Despair, who then captures them and throws them into his dungeon. So here it is: "Neither could they, with all the skill they had, get again to the stile that night. Wherefore, at last, lighting under a little shelter, they sat down there until the daybreak; but being weary, they fell asleep. Now there was, not far from the place where they lay, a castle named Doubting Castle. The owner whereof was Giant Despair, and it was his grounds that they now were sleeping. Wherefore he, getting up in the morning early, and walking up and down in his fields, caught Christian and Hopeful asleep in his grounds.

Then with a grim and surly voice he bid them awake, and asked them whence they were, and what they did in his grounds. They told him they were pilgrims, and that they had lost their way. Then said the giant, 'You have this night trespassed on me by trampling in and lying on my grounds, and therefore you must go along with me.' So they were forced to go, because he was stronger than they. They also had but little to say, for they knew themselves to be in a fault. The giant therefore drove them before him and put them into his castle, into a very dark nasty dungeon, and stinking to the spirits of those two men. Here they then lay from Wednesday morning until Saturday night without one bit of bread or one drop of drink, or light, or any to ask how they did. They were therefore here in an evil case and were far from friends and acquaintance."

Now in this place, Christian had double sorrow because it was through his unadvised counsel that they were brought into this dungeon. Christian and Hopeful lie in prison in Doubting Castle because they were no longer looking to Christ and resting in his provision. They had looked to themselves to find an easier path. And even when they realized their error and sought to return to the way, they failed, striving in their own efforts. All the skill they had was not sufficient to revive and restore them. It looked grim for the pilgrims, but their troubles were just beginning.

Now you ask, how did they escape? As Christian lay in the dungeon, he recalls the key called Promise, which he wears around his neck. Realizing its significance, he uses the key to unlock the doors and gates of Doubting Castle, freeing himself and Hopeful from their tormentors. So, here we're talking about a dungeon, but it's a dungeon of despair, it's a dungeon of discouragement, it's a dungeon of distress. There have been plenty of Christians in this dungeon, and probably still many as well. So we can understand from that aspect because I have known of prominent preachers and prominent believers who had great, great problems with what you and I would call despair and discouragement and being downcast. In fact, Charles Spurgeon was one of them. So we can understand that. But the third illustration, of course, would be that of sick and dying people. And then, of course, the fourth one would be that of mariners. So let's look in our Bibles to Psalm 107 at the first five verses. Here is the weary and lost traveler. "O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy." Now look what he has done for them: "And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west,

and from the north, and from the south. They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them." Now, I want you to note the first "then" here it is: "Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses. And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation."

So the distress was: they were weary, they were lost, they were hungry. Their deliverance was: then they cried to the Lord, and he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to the city of habitation. Now here's the first occurrence of this one verse in verse 8. What should be the response of individuals when God delivers them from their distresses? "Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness." Isn't that amazing? Wow. So here's the second illustration beginning there in verse 10. Look at this: "Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron; because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High: therefore he brought down their heart

with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help." So here they are in a hideous dungeon, discouraged, distressed. Here's the second "then" in verse 13: "Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder." Well, what should be the response of man? "Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!" Wow. In other words, every time we are in a distress, regardless of what that distress is, and God grants us deliverance, we should be praising him for his goodness and for his wonderful works to the children of men. It is only in distress that we really learn to cry and to pray. Now, since you see that obviously, "Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!" Yes, "For he hath"—that's something that God has done now.

I want you to notice, if you would please, the third one that begins in verse 17. And he said, "Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted." In other words, we sin, we get afflicted. Now, not all sickness is from sin, but some sickness is from sin, and here he's giving you this illustration that it is. Then he said, "Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; they are so sick they cannot eat, and they draw near unto the gates of death." So here is a sick and dying person. What happens? Look in verse 19. Here's the third one: "Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses. He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions." What should be the response when you were sick and you were healed, you were near death and you were healed? What should be the response?

"Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!" Now watch verse 22: "And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing." So God is saying, look, whenever God has healed us, we need to rejoice and thank him for it. Now, if I were to ask you, "Have you ever been sick and recovered?" and the truth is each one of us has been sick and recovered. But my next question would be, "Did you really praise God and thank him for his goodness in healing you and in raising you up?" Many, many times when we're sick, we just take it for granted that we're going to get well, and sometimes we do not get well. And remember years ago when Melvin Stringer's mother was in the hospital, in fact,

she was in the intensive care unit. They called the entire family in, and although I was not related, I've been a family friend ever since I was a child, and so they called me in with the family. And they told us that she would not make it through the day. Well, I prayed for her and I prayed with her. And so did Melvin, her son, who was also a preacher. And so when we left, everybody was kind of downhearted and broken because they told us she would not make it through the day. And would you like to know, the very next week she was at our pond fishing. Doctors don't always know what's going to happen. And so we rejoiced and we thanked the Lord for that. So this is what he's saying. We should learn to praise the Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful works. Now the fourth one that you're going to find is in verses 23 through 27. Look what he says: "They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; these see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep. For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind"—there's his providence—"which lifteth up the waves thereof. They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit's end." Watch this: "Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.

Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven." And what should be the response? "Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!" Now, I will tell you this. I've never in my entire life been in a storm on the sea. And to be absolutely honest, I do not care to be in one.

The Call to Observe and Understand

Verse 43 commands the wise to observe God's providential acts. Observing means contemplating, meditating, and applying the truth, not merely seeing.

Now we're at the last verse. "Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord." Now, note he said, "Whoso is wise, and will observe these things." In other words, what this psalm is all about is that we are to pay close attention to the providence of God in our lives. There are reasons why we get sick. There are reasons why sometimes we don't have any money. There are reasons sometimes why God blesses us immensely. There are reasons for everything in our lives. So many times we just ignore everything that happens to us. But listen to this: not only are we to observe that which God does in our lives, we're also to observe that which God does in the lives of others that we know. So let me show you. I want you to hold Psalm 107, but I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Matthew chapter 21 and look, if you would please, at verse 32. Matthew 21 and look, if you would please, at verse 32. Look what our Lord said. Matthew 21 verse 32.

This is a very powerful verse. Our Lord said, "For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not." Now he's talking to the scribes and Pharisees. "John," that is John the Baptist, "came to you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him." Now, look at what our Lord is saying. John the Baptist came preaching righteousness. The publicans, that is the notorious thieves, the tax collectors, and the harlots believed him. And they repented and were baptized, and their lives were changed. The Pharisees and the scribes did not believe the preaching of John.

But here's what he said: "When the publicans and the harlots believed him, and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him." In other words, they were required, they were responsible, they were accountable to learn from the work of God in the lives of others that they knew, and especially when God had done that work in their presence. So, let me just boil this down for you. You and I are obligated and responsible to learn from what God does in our lives as individuals. But we're also responsible to learn what he does in the lives of others whom we know, whether it's family or friends. I'm going to take it a step further. We're also duty bound and obligated and responsible to learn what God does in time and in history, because nothing happens by accident. There's no such thing as luck, chance, fate, or fortune in a world ruled by God. Anything that comes to pass in time was based upon God's eternal decree in eternity. So nothing happens by accident. We are accountable and responsible to learn.

Now look what God says back in Psalm 107 verse 43. He said, "Whoso is wise, and will observe these things." Now, when God says "whoso is wise, and will observe these things," the word "observe" does not simply mean to see or to look at. The word "observe" means that we contemplate, that we meditate, that we study, that we think upon, that we comprehend, that we understand, and ultimately, that we apply the truth that is communicated.

Learning from God's Acts in Others and in History

We are accountable to learn from God's work in the lives of others (Matthew 21:32) and in historical events, as nothing happens by accident.

God's Strange Acts of Judgment

God's judgments (e.g., natural disasters) are called His 'strange act' (Isaiah 28:21). The wise observe these as acts of God's providence.

Most people do not even notice that which is happening in their lives. They don't even pay attention to what happens in the lives of other people. And they certainly don't even pay attention to what happens in the world. Do you realize that God's judgment is called his strange act? Now, we're supposed to notice anything that's strange. So if Steve came in here for this message and he had on a t-shirt and a pair of Bermuda shorts, I would think that was very strange of Steve. And so with Lorraine. Why would he do that? What's wrong with him? I mean, is he sick? Does he—yeah, what's going on? It would be strange.

I want you to look in your Bibles to the book of Isaiah chapter 28, verse 21. Look at this. Isaiah 28 and verse 21. Look what the Bible says. Isaiah 28 and verse 21. Here it is:

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 28:21

"For the Lord shall rise up as in mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act."

In other words, the judgment of God is here referred to as his strange act. Wow. His strange act. Look, if you would, at the cyclones. Look at the tornadoes. Look at the hurricanes. Look at the volcanic eruptions. Look at the building collapses. Look at the fires. Look at the floods. Look at the droughts. These are God's strange acts. These are acts of judgment.

All of God's works are done in wisdom, righteousness, grace, mercy, and goodness. You remember in the book of Job, he talks about the weather. And he sends it, he said, for correction, or for punishment, or for the good of the land. Wow. So our Lord said, "Whoso is wise will observe these things." So that would also imply that those who are unwise, those who are foolish, will not observe these things.

Applications: Distress Drives Prayer, Observe Providence, and Give Thanks

Distress often drives us to cry to God. We must observe God's works with pleasure and bring them to Scripture for interpretation. Continual praise and thanksgiving are the will of God.

Now, let me make some applications. Here's the first one. I said in the beginning of this message, I wanted you to notice the little word "then" in its relationship to the distress that these individuals found themselves in. So the lost and weary traveler: then they cried. Wow. The ones locked in the hideous dungeon were suffering: then they cried. And the man sick and dying could not help himself: then he cried. And the lost mariner or the mariner fighting that storm: then he cried.

Have you ever stopped to think about this? Many times it takes distress to make us really pray and cry to the Lord. When everything's going smoothly and everything's going well, we don't really need to pray, we think. Or we don't pray as we should pray. But brother, when our boat starts to sink, we can start crying to God. When we think we're dying, we can start crying to God. When we're lost and can't find our way, we can start crying to God. When we are captured and can't escape the dungeon, we can start crying to God. It's interesting the word "then." When they got to the rock bottom, when they found out that they were absolutely helpless and hopeless and could not deliver themselves, then they cried. So, let me say this another way: as long as you think you can do something, you're not going to cry to God for help. You're not. But when you realize how helpless and hopeless you are, then you will cry. Here's the second application. It would be wise for us to understand the lovingkindness of God.

And in order to do that, we must not only study his word, but we must also observe his gracious acts of providence. What he does in our lives, what he does in the lives of others, and what he does in time and history. And then when we observe what God is doing in our lives, in the lives of others, and in time and history, then we bring that to the Word of God, and let the Word of God interpret for us and show us exactly the purpose of God, the reason God has brought us into this distress or the reason God has allowed something to happen to us. You know the reason we don't do that? Most people think they're too busy. We're too busy to study, we're too busy to pray. We're too busy to consider what's happening in our lives and the lives of our family, the lives of our friends. But no, we're just too busy. But there's another truth. I think it's not that we're too busy. I think what it is is that we really do not care. And we really do not have any pleasure in the works of God. What did that verse say?

"Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness!" Huh? Praise the Lord for his goodness to the children of men, and that they would have praised him for his works. Well, look in your Bible, since you're close to Psalm 111, look at verse 2. Psalm 111 verse 2. Here it is:

Scripture Reading — Psalm 111:2

"The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein."

If you have pleasure in the works of God, you're going to seek his works out. If you have no pleasure in the work of God, you're not going to pay any attention to them. So if you have pleasure in the works of God and what he's doing in your life and the life of your family and the life of your friends, and if you have pleasure in what God is doing in this world, you will consider it. You will pay attention. You will meditate. You will learn the truth and apply it in your life. The real reason most people do not pay any attention to the providential act of God is they have no pleasure in his works.

And the second reason I would say is they still believe in luck, chance, fate, or fortune. Here's the third application. We must learn to give God praise and thanksgiving for his multitudinous blessings in our lives. The Bible says in 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 and verse 18,

Scripture Reading — 1 Thessalonians 5:18

"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

In everything give thanks. You can give thanks for your food. You give thanks for life and health and sleep and rest, for protection. You give thanks for a multitudinous number of things.

I remember reading years ago about Richard Wurmbrand, who was in a communist prison for years. He came to the States, was in a Bible conference, and they went out to a restaurant, the preachers there that were with him. And they all ordered their food. And when the waitresses brought out the food for all of those preachers and set it there, and when Richard Wurmbrand saw all that food, he immediately fell on his knees in the restaurant and began to pray loudly, thanking God for the food. And one of the preachers that was there, he said, "I got embarrassed. And then I got embarrassed that I was embarrassed." He said, "If I'd eaten rats for about 14 years, I think I could learn to be thankful for real food as well." Listen, you can be thankful we're not reduced to that. You can be thankful that God allows you to have a garden, that God allows you to have life, that God allows you to have health, that God allows you to wake up. Wow.

The crucial question is this: do you really praise him? Do you think of those little incidental things that you take for granted every day, like breath, breathing? We don't ever think about that. I still praise God for his deliverance from the hurricane back the first of October. Guess what? They're still cleaning up. All along the roads, there's still roofs that have never been repaired yet. We're talking months. God is gracious. God is good. God is kind.

So we need to thank him not only for our lives, but how about this one? Do you praise him for the goodness of God in the lives of others? I don't know about you, but I'm thankful when others are blessed. I'm thankful that Justin and Catherine found each other. I'm thankful that I found Alice many, many years ago. Well, let me change that. I'm thankful she chased me down. Oh, you know better than that. I'm just saying there's so many things that we could be thankful for. And we can also be thankful in the lives of other individuals as well.

Now, so you know this verse that we read earlier in Psalm 107 verse 22, look at that: "And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing." So here's my question. How do you sacrifice the sacrifice of thanksgiving? Today we don't go to a temple. We don't carry a physical sacrifice. Well, I'll answer that for you if you'll turn in your Bibles to Hebrews chapter 13. Hebrews chapter 13, and I want us to begin reading there with verse 12. Hebrews 13 and verse 12. Look at this. Hebrews 13 and verse 12. Look what the Bible says.

"Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate." So there's his great sacrifice. Now watch this. "Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. By him"—that is by Jesus Christ—"by him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually." Look at this: "That is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name." So how do we offer the sacrifice of praise? With the fruit of our lips, and we're to offer it through the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the great sacrifice, and therefore our sacrifice is acceptable through him.

So the psalmist then, in Psalm 107 verse 2 said, "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy." So if God has blessed you, you need to learn to say so. Say so to God, say so to his people. Say so privately, say so publicly. Now, remember I told you I was going to quote a verse again before I ended this message? I want you to listen. It's Psalm 50 and verse 23. "Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God." But here's the first part. Listen to it again. "Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me." If you want to really, genuinely glorify God, give him praise. Give him thanksgiving. Acknowledge him. Pay up your past due rent of thanksgiving, and continue to pay your rent, because he continues to bless you, and provide for you, and protect you, and preserve you.

Study Guide

Major Themes

God's Sovereign Providence

Summary: God rules the world through His sovereign providence; there is no luck, chance, or fate. All events are acts of God's eternal decrees coming to pass in time.

Evidence: I've often said that there is no such thing as luck, chance, fate, or fortune in a world that's ruled by God. There are only acts of God's sovereign providence.

The Necessity of Praise and Thanksgiving

Summary: Believers are repeatedly commanded to praise the Lord for His goodness and wonderful works, offering the 'rent' of thanksgiving for His blessings.

Evidence: Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Distress as a Catalyst for Crying to God

Summary: In each illustration, distress leads people to cry to the Lord, and He delivers them. Trouble often drives us to genuine prayer.

Evidence: Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.

Observing God's Works to Understand His Lovingkindness

Summary: The wise observe and contemplate God's providential acts in their lives, others' lives, and history to gain understanding of His lovingkindness.

Evidence: Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord.

Learning from God's Work in Others

Summary: We are responsible to learn from God's work in the lives of others, as illustrated by the Pharisees' failure to repent when they saw publicans and harlots believe.

Evidence: For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward.

The Goodness of God to All Creation

Summary: God's goodness extends to all people (saved and unsaved) and to all creation, providing for animals and the natural world.

Evidence: He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man... The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.

Key Arguments

Providence reveals God's attributes and purposes

Summary: God's providential acts in time are important because they reveal His attributes and purpose, and we are to observe them to understand His lovingkindness.

Evidence: That truth emphasizes that God's providential acts in time, in history, are exceedingly important because they reveal his attributes and they also reveal his purpose.

Praise is the required response to deliverance

Summary: The repeated refrain 'Oh that men would praise the Lord' shows that praise is the proper response to God's deliverance from distress.

Evidence: Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Distress leads to prayer

Summary: The word 'then' in each distress narrative indicates that when people reached the end of their own resources, they cried to God, and He delivered them.

Evidence: Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.

Observing means deep contemplation, not mere sight

Summary: The word 'observe' in Psalm 107:43 means to contemplate, meditate, study, and apply, not just to see or look at.

Evidence: The word 'observe' does not simply mean to see or to look at. The word 'observe' means that we contemplate, that we meditate, that we study, that we think upon, that we comprehend, that we understand, and ultimately, that we apply the truth that is communicated.

We must learn from God's work in others and in history

Summary: We are duty-bound to learn from what God does in the lives of others and in historical events, as nothing happens by accident.

Evidence: We're also duty bound and obligated and responsible to learn what God does in time and in history, because nothing happens by accident.

Praise glorifies God

Summary: Offering praise is a direct way to glorify God, as stated in Psalm 50:23.

Evidence: Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.

Scripture References

Psalm 107:43

Context: The main text: the wise observe God's works and understand His lovingkindness.

Psalm 107:1-2

Context: Command to give thanks and let the redeemed say so.

Psalm 50:23

Context: Offering praise glorifies God.

Psalm 107:8, 15, 21, 31

Context: The repeated refrain to praise the Lord for His goodness.

Acts 14:17

Context: God left not Himself without witness, doing good and giving rain and fruitful seasons.

Matthew 5:45

Context: God makes His sun rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and unjust.

Psalm 103:1-5

Context: Bless the Lord and forget not all His benefits: forgiveness, healing, redemption, lovingkindness, satisfaction.

Psalm 104:10-24

Context: God's provision for animals and creation, showing His goodness to all.

Psalm 107:4-9

Context: The weary lost travelers cry to the Lord and are led to a city; call to praise.

Psalm 107:10-16

Context: Captives in darkness and affliction cry to the Lord and are brought out; call to praise.

Psalm 107:17-22

Context: Fools afflicted for their transgressions cry to the Lord and are healed; call to praise and sacrifice of thanksgiving.

Psalm 107:23-32

Context: Mariners in storms cry to the Lord and are brought to desired haven; call to praise and exalt Him.

Matthew 21:32

Context: The Pharisees saw publicans and harlots believe but did not repent; we must learn from God's work in others.

Isaiah 28:21

Context: God's judgment is called His strange act.

Hosea 14:9

Context: Who is wise shall understand these things; the ways of the Lord are right.

Psalm 145:8-10

Context: The Lord is gracious, full of compassion, good to all; all His works shall praise Him.

Deuteronomy 8:1-3

Context: God humbled Israel and let them hunger to teach them that man lives by every word of God.

Psalm 111:2

Context: The works of the Lord are great, sought out by those who have pleasure in them.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Context: In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God.

Hebrews 13:12-15

Context: By Jesus we offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, the fruit of our lips giving thanks.

Historical References

John Trapp (Puritan commentator)

Context: Quoted: 'This is all the rent that God requireth' regarding thanksgiving.

John Gill (theologian)

Context: Quoted on God's providential goodness and the call to praise.

Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan

Context: Illustration of Christian and Hopeful in Doubting Castle as a dungeon of despair.

Charles Spurgeon

Context: Mentioned as a prominent preacher who struggled with despair and discouragement.

Richard Wurmbrand

Context: Story of his thanksgiving for food after years of imprisonment, illustrating gratitude.

Important Quotes

I've often said that there is no such thing as luck, chance, fate, or fortune in a world that's ruled by God. There are only acts of God's sovereign providence.

Significance: Establishes the foundational doctrine of God's absolute sovereignty over all events.

Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Significance: The central repeated refrain of the psalm, emphasizing the required response to God's deliverance.

Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.

Significance: Illustrates the pattern of distress leading to prayer and divine deliverance.

Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord.

Significance: The key verse of the message, linking observation of providence to understanding God's lovingkindness.

The word 'observe' does not simply mean to see or to look at. The word 'observe' means that we contemplate, that we meditate, that we study, that we think upon, that we comprehend, that we understand, and ultimately, that we apply the truth that is communicated.

Significance: Defines the depth of engagement required to truly observe God's works.

Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.

Significance: Connects praise directly to glorifying God, a key application of the message.

Discussion Questions

In what ways have you experienced God's deliverance from distress, and how did you respond?

Context: The four illustrations of distress and deliverance in Psalm 107.

What does it mean to 'observe' God's providential acts in your life, and how can you cultivate a habit of doing so?

Context: The definition of 'observe' as contemplation and application.

How can we learn from God's work in the lives of others, and why is this important?

Context: The example of the Pharisees failing to learn from the publicans and harlots (Matthew 21:32).

Why do you think distress often drives people to pray more earnestly?

Context: The repeated 'then they cried' in each distress narrative.

What are some practical ways to 'sacrifice the sacrifice of thanksgiving' in your daily life?

Context: Hebrews 13:15 and the call to offer praise through Christ.

How does recognizing God's providence change your perspective on difficult circumstances?

Context: The overall message that nothing happens by accident.

Applications

Cry to God in distress

Summary: When you find yourself helpless and hopeless, cry to the Lord, for He delivers those who call on Him.

Evidence: Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.

Observe God's providence

Summary: Pay close attention to what God is doing in your life, in the lives of others, and in world events, and meditate on His purposes.

Evidence: Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord.

Give continual praise and thanks

Summary: Offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually through Jesus Christ, thanking Him for all His blessings and deliverances.

Evidence: By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

Learn from God's work in others

Summary: Be attentive to how God works in the lives of fellow believers and even unbelievers, and apply those lessons to your own walk.

Evidence: And ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.

Do not take blessings for granted

Summary: Recognize that every good thing—life, health, food, protection—comes from God's gracious providence, and thank Him specifically.

Evidence: Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T23:36:26Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T14:29:20Z

Clean Transcript

Providential Wisdom and Understanding

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

All right, I want you to open your Bibles, if you would, to Psalm 107 and verse 43. Psalm 107 and verse 43. The title of the message is "Providential Wisdom and Understanding."
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Providential wisdom and understanding. So if you look in verse 43, the psalmist said, "Whoso is wise and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord." When you look at that verse and you see "and will observe these things," you have to immediately ask, "What things?" And of course, the answer is those things are that he has revealed in this particular psalm. So this psalm deals with God's sovereign providence.
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I've often said that there is no such thing as luck, chance, fate, or fortune in a world that's ruled by God. There are only acts of God's sovereign providence. I've also said this same truth in a different way, and here it is: nothing less than God's eternal decrees coming to pass in time. That truth emphasizes that God's providential acts in time, in history, are exceedingly important because they reveal his attributes and they also reveal his purpose. So Psalm 107 is a special treatise on God's providence, and it shows not only the distresses that are brought about upon individuals by God's providence, but it also shows the comforts that we are deriving from those acts of providence as well.
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And therefore, in this psalm, you're going to find that we are commanded to praise the Lord. Now, I want you to notice, if you would, verses 1 and 2 of Psalm 107. We're going to look at the entire psalm, but look at verses 1 and 2 right now. He says, "O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy."
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So how often then have you been blessed, delivered, healed, saved from miseries and death? And then you have to ask yourself, how often have you given the Lord praise and thanks for his gracious acts of providence? In fact, if you have been delivered, the Bible says in verse 2, "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so." In fact, Psalm 50 and verse 23, which I will quote again before I end this message, simply says this: "Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I show the salvation of God." But note that first part, "Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me." So if you really genuinely want to glorify God, then you must praise him for as many blessings, life, health, and all of his sinner mercies. So, let the redeemed of the Lord say so. That is, you say so secretly, you say so privately, you say so publicly as well. Now, there is one very important verse in this psalm that happens to occur four times. There's also one very important word in this psalm that happens to occur four times in relationship to those four verses.
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Now the verse that occurs four times is this verse: "Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!" You will find that in verse 8, verse 15, verse 21, and verse 31. So let me just repeat it again. You'll see it in verse 8: "Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!"
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So I want to give you two quotes. The first one is by John Trapp, the old Puritan. He said, "They that would confess it to the Lord, both in secret and in society, this is all the rent that God requireth. He is content that we have the comfort of his blessings, so he may have the honor of them. This was all the fee that Christ looked for, for his cures. Go and tell what God hath done for thee. Words seem to be a poor and slight recompense, but Christ himself is called the Word." Now, the interesting thing is, when he gives this quote, he says, "This is all the rent that God requireth."
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One of the funny things that happened to me years ago, was reading a lot of the Puritans and this phrase basically I came across it quite frequently. At that particular time we were living in Pensacola, Florida, and we were members of Smyrna Baptist Church and Roy Julian was the pastor, but I was traveling and preaching and very seldom was I ever home on a Sunday. But one Sunday I happened to be there on Sunday night, and so Alice and I, of course, went to church and Pastor Julian preached. But before he started the service, he said, "It's good to have John Weaver in the congregation." He said, "He's hardly ever gets to be with us because he's always off preaching." So he said, "I'm going to ask him to lead us in prayer." And so I prayed. And one of the phrases and requests that I used in that prayer was this: "Lord, help us to
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pay up our past due rent of thanksgiving." In other words, that's what the old Puritan said, because what they meant by that was, let us thank God for what he's already done before we ask him for something else. Well, when church was over, I kind of tarried behind so I could speak to Pastor Julian. And as I shook his hand, I felt something in my hand, and I looked down.
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It was a hundred dollar bill. I said, "What's this for?" He said, "Some man gave it to me and told me to give it to you to help you pay up your past due rent." And the truth of the matter is, I didn't even pay rent where we lived. We were living rent free. I said, "Oh Lord, I need to use that phrase more often." So when John Trapp says, "This is all the rent that God requireth," that was the way they spoke back then. John Gill said it like this: "For his providential goodness in providing food and drink for them and when fainting, in directing them to their right way when they had lost it, and
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in bringing them safe to the place that they were bound for, and particularly for a special grace and goodness in redemption and effectual calling, for bringing out of a wilderness state and condition, and supplying them with all the spiritual provisions, and putting them in the right way to eternal glory and happiness." And this is why he's saying we should be praising the Lord. And the truth of the matter is God is indeed our chief good. His goodness abounds to all the earth, both to the saved and to the unsaved, both to the just and the unjust.
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Now, there's a passage in the book of Acts, chapter 14, verse 17, that is very, very specific. I want you to listen to it as I quote it: "Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness." So he left himself not without witness in that he did good, and of course that goodness goes to both saved and unsaved alike. And then you remember that passage in Matthew chapter 5 in verse 45. He said, "That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust." So the goodness of God is not only upon the saved and the unsaved. I want to show you something very quickly. It's also something for which we should completely and hourly and daily give thanks for. So I want you to turn back in your Bibles to Psalm 103. And I want you to just look at the first five verses. And when you get home today, this would be a good opportunity for you to
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meditate upon these verses and think about them. So David begins in Psalm 103 verse 1 and he says this: "Bless the Lord, O my soul." Watch this next phrase: "And all that is within me, bless his holy name." So this is not just some casual thanking God; it is the entirety of his being involved in thanking God. So he says, "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul." Now look at this: "And forget not all his
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benefits." And so he named some of them: "Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's." So when you just stop and think about these things, those should be sufficient to make us begin praising the Lord and thanking him for his goodness as well. But since you're in Psalm 103, I want you to turn right over to Psalm 104, because I want you to see that the goodness of God extends not just to the saved and the unsaved, but to his creation, to all the animals as well. So in Psalm 104, look, if you would, beginning there with verse 10: "He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills.
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They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst. By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches. He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works. He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth; and wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart.
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The trees of the Lord are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted; where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house. The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies. He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down. Thou makest darkness, and it is night.
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Now look at this: "Wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth. The young lions roar after their prey." Here it is: "And seek their meat from God. The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens. Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening. O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches."
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Now, I want you to go back to Psalm 107, because I told you that there was indeed a verse that occurred four times and I quoted that verse: "Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!" And of course there is another word now that I pointed out that goes in relationship to that verse, and the little word is "then." T-h-e-n. You're going to find that word in verse 6, in verse 13, in verse 19, and verse 30. And each time, I want you to notice how the word "then" is connected to the distresses that men find themselves in. Now, the psalm is very easily divided into four distinct categories, or four distinct examples.
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First of all, in this psalm, you have the example or the illustration of someone who is weary and lost in their traveling. The second illustration you have in this psalm happens to be miserable captives in a hideous dungeon. The third illustration you have in this psalm is the sick and the dying. And the fourth illustration you have in this psalm happens to be mariners who are in a raging storm on the sea.
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Now, before I actually get into this psalm, I want to ask you a question. Have you ever found yourself in any of these situations or any of these circumstances?
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Now, it's very easy for me to imagine a weary and lost traveler, because Alice and I have traveled all over this country. And there have been times I've started driving at five o'clock in the morning and did not even stop until 11 or 12 at night, except for gas and to use the bathroom. And there have been occasions when I have gotten lost, not really, really lost, but not finding where exactly I was going.
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And so I can identify with that a little bit, and probably you as well. But some of you are going to say, "Well, I've never ever been a captive in a dungeon, especially a hideous dungeon." Well, before you say that, let me remind you of Pilgrim's Progress written by John Bunyan. And the truth of the matter is, many people have been in a dungeon, a hideous dungeon, and in deep distress. It may not have been a real physical dungeon, but it was a dungeon. So I want to read just a few paragraphs from Pilgrim's Progress.
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Because Pilgrim and Hopeful, weary in their journeys, fall asleep. Of course they happen to fall asleep on the land owned by Giant Despair, who then captures them and throws them into his dungeon. So here it is: "Neither could they, with all the skill they had, get again to the stile that night. Wherefore, at last, lighting under a little shelter, they sat down there until the daybreak; but being weary, they fell asleep. Now there was, not far from the place where they lay, a castle named Doubting Castle. The owner whereof was Giant Despair, and it was his grounds that they now were sleeping. Wherefore he, getting up in the morning early, and walking up and down in his fields, caught Christian and Hopeful asleep in his grounds.
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Then with a grim and surly voice he bid them awake, and asked them whence they were, and what they did in his grounds. They told him they were pilgrims, and that they had lost their way. Then said the giant, 'You have this night trespassed on me by trampling in and lying on my grounds, and therefore you must go along with me.' So they were forced to go, because he was stronger than they.
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They also had but little to say, for they knew themselves to be in a fault. The giant therefore drove them before him and put them into his castle, into a very dark nasty dungeon, and stinking to the spirits of those two men. Here they then lay from Wednesday morning until Saturday night without one bit of bread or one drop of drink, or light, or any to ask how they did. They were therefore here in an evil case and were far from friends and acquaintance."
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Now in this place, Christian had double sorrow because it was through his unadvised counsel that they were brought into this dungeon. Christian and Hopeful lie in prison in Doubting Castle because they were no longer looking to Christ and resting in his provision. They had looked to themselves to find an easier path. And even when they realized their error and sought to return to the way, they failed, striving in their own efforts.
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All the skill they had was not sufficient to revive and restore them. It looked grim for the pilgrims, but their troubles were just beginning.
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Now you ask, how did they escape? As Christian lay in the dungeon, he recalls the key called Promise, which he wears around his neck. Realizing its significance, he uses the key to unlock the doors and gates of Doubting Castle, freeing himself and Hopeful from their tormentors. So, here we're talking about a dungeon, but it's a dungeon of despair, it's a dungeon of discouragement, it's a dungeon of distress. There have been plenty of Christians in this dungeon, and probably still many as well. So we can understand from that aspect because I have known of prominent preachers and prominent believers who had great, great problems with what you and I would call despair and discouragement and being downcast.
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In fact, Charles Spurgeon was one of them. So we can understand that. But the third illustration, of course, would be that of sick and dying people. And then, of course, the fourth one would be that of mariners. So let's look in our Bibles to Psalm 107 at the first five verses. Here is the weary and lost traveler. "O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy." Now look what he has done for them: "And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west,
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and from the north, and from the south. They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them." Now, I want you to note the first "then" here it is: "Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses. And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation."
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So the distress was: they were weary, they were lost, they were hungry. Their deliverance was: then they cried to the Lord, and he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to the city of habitation.
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Now here's the first occurrence of this one verse in verse 8. What should be the response of individuals when God delivers them from their distresses? "Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness." Isn't that amazing? Wow. So here's the second illustration beginning there in verse 10. Look at this: "Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron; because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High: therefore he brought down their heart
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with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help." So here they are in a hideous dungeon, discouraged, distressed. Here's the second "then" in verse 13: "Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder." Well, what should be the response of man?
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"Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!" Wow. In other words, every time we are in a distress, regardless of what that distress is, and God grants us deliverance, we should be praising him for his goodness and for his wonderful works to the children of men. It is only in distress that we really learn to cry and to pray. Now, since you see that obviously, "Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!" Yes, "For he hath"—that's something that God has done now.
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I want you to notice, if you would please, the third one that begins in verse 17. And he said, "Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted." In other words, we sin, we get afflicted. Now, not all sickness is from sin, but some sickness is from sin, and here he's giving you this illustration that it is. Then he said, "Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; they are so sick they cannot eat, and they draw near unto the gates of death." So here is a sick and dying person. What happens? Look in verse 19. Here's the third one: "Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses. He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions." What should be the response when you were sick and you were healed, you were near death and you were healed? What should be the response?
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"Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!" Now watch verse 22: "And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing." So God is saying, look, whenever God has healed us, we need to rejoice and thank him for it. Now, if I were to ask you, "Have you ever been sick and recovered?" and the truth is each one of us has been sick and recovered. But my next question would be, "Did you really praise God and thank him for his goodness in healing you and in raising you up?" Many, many times when we're sick, we just take it for granted that we're going to get well, and sometimes we do not get well. And remember years ago when Melvin Stringer's mother was in the hospital, in fact,
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she was in the intensive care unit. They called the entire family in, and although I was not related, I've been a family friend ever since I was a child, and so they called me in with the family. And they told us that she would not make it through the day. Well, I prayed for her and I prayed with her. And so did Melvin, her son, who was also a preacher. And so when we left, everybody was kind of downhearted and broken because they told us she would not make it through the day.
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And would you like to know, the very next week she was at our pond fishing. Doctors don't always know what's going to happen. And so we rejoiced and we thanked the Lord for that. So this is what he's saying. We should learn to praise the Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful works. Now the fourth one that you're going to find is in verses 23 through 27. Look what he says: "They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; these see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep. For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind"—there's his providence—"which lifteth up the waves thereof. They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit's end." Watch this: "Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
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Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven." And what should be the response? "Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!"
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Now, I will tell you this. I've never in my entire life been in a storm on the sea. And to be absolutely honest, I do not care to be in one.
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Now, I have been on a very large shrimp boat for 24 hours, 40 miles from land in the Gulf of Mexico. There were some very interesting experiences on that boat. One that I recall quite vividly was it was midnight and I was on the bow of that boat. The moon was full, the stars were shining, that ocean was as smooth as silk and everything was reflecting on that water. And I sat, could not believe my eyes, and you could not see land. You could not see or hear anything. And I was very vividly impressed at the vastness of God's creation. But I will tell you this: when I got back to land and used this verse right here, "They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit's end." Of course, I realize that verse deals with that boat going up and down. I understand that. But if you are like me, you're not a mariner, you're not raised on the sea. I was on that boat for 24 hours, and when I stepped off that boat, I almost fell. And why?
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Because I was staggering like a drunk man. I did not any longer have my land legs. I had sea legs because everything had been—and it took me hours so I could walk the way I should walk on land. I'm just simply pointing out the fact. Yes, it is very, very upsetting when you realize you can't even walk after being in a ship.
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Now, you've seen videos, you've seen pictures, you've seen TV of these boats and especially these fishing boats that are diving up and down in the ocean and the waves wallowing over them and washing everything away. No, that's not my piece of cake. Would never be a Navy man. I'm sorry if you've been in the Navy, huh? I'd never be a Navy man, but I'm just simply saying God has sovereignly, graciously delivered plenty of individuals in storms like that. You can think of the apostles. They were in the boat when the storm came along and our Lord calmed that storm. So what should be our response? And this response is, "Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!"
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And it's very interesting that when you see the word "then" in relationship to these distresses, it's "then they cry." Now, without commenting particularly on this next section, I just want to read it. I want to get to the text that I want to expound, but I want you to see there are multiple reasons why we should praise the Lord. So let's begin reading in verse 32. He says, "Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders." So you remember that verse in verse 2, "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy." Now he says, "Let them exalt him," that is God, "in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders." So our thanks should not be simply secret, they should not be just simply private, they should also be public as well.
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Now look what else he does. "He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground; a fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein. He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings. And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation; and sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase.
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He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease. Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow. He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way. Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock. The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.
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Now we're at the last verse. "Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord." Now, note he said, "Whoso is wise, and will observe these things." In other words, what this psalm is all about is that we are to pay close attention to the providence of God in our lives. There are reasons why we get sick. There are reasons why sometimes we don't have any money. There are reasons sometimes why God blesses us immensely. There are reasons for everything in our lives. So many times we just ignore everything that happens to us. But listen to this: not only are we to observe that which God does in our lives, we're also to observe that which God does in the lives of others that we know. So let me show you. I want you to hold Psalm 107, but I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Matthew chapter 21 and look, if you would please, at verse 32. Matthew 21 and look, if you would please, at verse 32. Look what our Lord said. Matthew 21 verse 32.
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This is a very powerful verse. Our Lord said, "For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not." Now he's talking to the scribes and Pharisees. "John," that is John the Baptist, "came to you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him." Now, look at what our Lord is saying. John the Baptist came preaching righteousness. The publicans, that is the notorious thieves, the tax collectors, and the harlots believed him. And they repented and were baptized, and their lives were changed. The Pharisees and the scribes did not believe the preaching of John.
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But here's what he said: "When the publicans and the harlots believed him, and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him." In other words, they were required, they were responsible, they were accountable to learn from the work of God in the lives of others that they knew, and especially when God had done that work in their presence. So, let me just boil this down for you. You and I are obligated and responsible to learn from what God does in our lives as individuals. But we're also responsible to learn what he does in the lives of others whom we know, whether it's family or friends.
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I'm going to take it a step further. We're also duty bound and obligated and responsible to learn what God does in time and in history, because nothing happens by accident. There's no such thing as luck, chance, fate, or fortune in a world ruled by God. Anything that comes to pass in time was based upon God's eternal decree in eternity. So nothing happens by accident. We are accountable and responsible to learn.
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Now look what God says back in Psalm 107 verse 43. He said, "Whoso is wise, and will observe these things." Now, when God says "whoso is wise, and will observe these things," the word "observe" does not simply mean to see or to look at. The word "observe" means that we contemplate, that we meditate, that we study, that we think upon, that we comprehend, that we understand, and ultimately, that we apply the truth that is communicated.
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Most people do not even notice that which is happening in their lives. They don't even pay attention to what happens in the lives of other people. And they certainly don't even pay attention to what happens in the world. Do you realize that God's judgment is called his strange act? Now, we're supposed to notice anything that's strange. So if Steve came in here for this message and he had on a t-shirt and a pair of Bermuda shorts, I would think that was very strange of Steve. And so with Lorraine. Why would he do that? What's wrong with him? I mean, is he sick? Does he—yeah, what's going on? It would be strange.
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I want you to look in your Bibles to the book of Isaiah chapter 28, verse 21. Look at this. Isaiah 28 and verse 21. Look what the Bible says. Isaiah 28 and verse 21. Here it is: "For the Lord shall rise up as in mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act." In other words, the judgment of God is here referred to as his strange act. Wow. His strange act. Look, if you would, at the cyclones. Look at the tornadoes. Look at the hurricanes. Look at the volcanic eruptions. Look at the building collapses. Look at the fires. Look at the floods. Look at the droughts. These are God's strange acts. These are acts of judgment.
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All of God's works are done in wisdom, righteousness, grace, mercy, and goodness. You remember in the book of Job, he talks about the weather. And he sends it, he said, for correction, or for punishment, or for the good of the land. Wow. So our Lord said, "Whoso is wise will observe these things." So that would also imply that those who are unwise, those who are foolish, will not observe these things.
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They will not consider them. Now, in the book of Hosea, chapter 14, in verse 9, here's what God says: "Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein." So God asks, "Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them." So it's only then as we observe God's providential acts in time and in history that we understand something. What is it? Look at verse 43 again. "Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord." Have you ever considered how graciously God provides for us? And I'm not just simply talking about food. He provides in a multitude of ways.
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I actually could think of four, but I'm going to mention three. Years ago, when Alice and I got a Chevrolet Trailblazer, I was driving it, and I can tell you exactly where we were, and I had a flat tire. And I pulled over beside the road so I could change the tire. And I was raised on a farm. I've changed tires all my life. And I got to looking at the spare tire, and underneath the car, I couldn't figure out how to get it down. I mean, I got under on my back and I tried to turn and it wouldn't turn. Thankfully, a man pulled up right behind us. He laughed.
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He said, "Let me show you." I didn't realize that little hole in the bumper was to stick something in to let that tire down. I'd never seen that in my life. But thankfully the Lord just provided for him to come along. On another instance, Alice and I were going to church. We were on 32 going into Douglas, and of course I had on a shirt and tie and slacks, and I had another flat tire. And I pulled over and changed the flat tire, and just as I pulled over, a man pulled in right behind me. He saw me standing there. He said he didn't know I was a preacher. He said, "Sir,
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don't worry. You don't have to get your clothes dirty." He said, "I'll change this tire for you." And I said, "Well, I'm thankful because we're on our way to church." And I said, "I need to get there on time." And he found out I was a preacher. Guess what? When he changed my tire, he handed me 10 bucks. He said, "This will get it fixed for you."
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I said, "Man, isn't that wonderful?" And then one other time, which was hilarious. This was—oh, this was years ago. But Alice and I and her mother, her mother was alive at that particular time. We were on our way to see Melvin Stringer who was in a retirement village. And I had a flat tire, and so I pulled over, and just as I pulled over, a young man in a truck pulled right behind me. I was out. I was looking at the tire and he was on the cell phone. And he said on the cell phone while Alice and I were standing there, "Well, I got to go right now. I've got to change this tire for these elderly people."
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And we were only in our 60s. I thought, "Oh, Lord, have mercy. Elderly in my 60s?" But I said, "I thank you, Lord. I'm willing to let a young man change the tire for this elderly man who is about 62 or 3 or 4, something like that." Wow. Well, you know, stop and think about how graciously God provides for us. Think about how graciously God protects us. You know, many times God has protected us.
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We don't even realize what he's done. We don't even know it. Sometimes I might be fussing a little bit because I think we're five minutes late, and we get down the road and there's a wreck. And the first thing it hits my mind is, "If I'd left on time, that might have been me." God just stalled me where I could—yeah, just—you and I have no idea how many times God protects us, how many times God has preserved us. And this is what he's saying. We should learn to praise him. God graciously does this for his people and for his works. If you look in your Bibles to Psalm 145, Psalm 145. Notice, if you would please, there verses 8 through 10. Psalm 145 verses 8 through 10. Look at this: "The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion;
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slow to anger, and of great mercy. The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works. All thy works shall praise thee, O Lord; and thy saints shall bless thee. They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power." So this is what he's saying. God's been so gracious and kind. His providence, yes, we get into distresses, but then he delivers us.
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You know, there's a wonderful verse back in Deuteronomy 8. It just came to my mind. I want you to go there. I want you to see this. You sometimes wonder why you get into trouble or why you get into distress or why things happen to you? Well, I want you to see this. Look at this. Let's see, yes, look in—not Proverbs, but Deuteronomy chapter 8, and let's read verses 1 through 3. He says, "All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in
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and possess the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers. And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no." Now, God does not humble and prove us so that he may know. He already knows. He humbles us and proves us so that we may know.
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But look at verse 3. "And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger." Why did God allow them to hunger? "And fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live." God let them go hungry so that he could feed them, and in feeding them, teach them a biblical principle and a biblical truth. Many times things happen to us just so God can teach us. Now I want you to go back before I make some applications. I want you to look at Psalm 107 again in verse 43. Look at this. He said, "Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord." So if you want to understand, even to a small degree, the lovingkindness of the Lord, you must
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consider and pay attention to the providential acts of God in your life, in the lives of others, and the providential acts of God in time and in history. Now listen, we may only get a glimpse of the lovingkindness of God, but a glimpse would be sufficient for us. You remember how Moses said to the Lord, "Show me thy glory." And what did God say to Moses? "You can't see my glory and live. But I tell you what I'm going to do.
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I'll put you in the cleft of the rock. I'll pass by you and cover you with my hand, and when I pass by I'll move my hand and you can see my back parts." And I've got news for you. If we just saw the back parts of God, it would change our lives. It would motivate us to praise him and to glorify him and to serve him forever and ever. So if we can just get a glimpse of God's lovingkindness in providence, it'll change our lives.
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Now, let me make some applications. Here's the first one. I said in the beginning of this message, I wanted you to notice the little word "then" in its relationship to the distress that these individuals found themselves in. So the lost and weary traveler: then they cried. Wow. The ones locked in the hideous dungeon were suffering: then they cried. And the man sick and dying could not help himself: then he cried. And the lost mariner or the mariner fighting that storm: then he cried.
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Have you ever stopped to think about this? Many times it takes distress to make us really pray and cry to the Lord. When everything's going smoothly and everything's going well, we don't really need to pray, we think. Or we don't pray as we should pray. But brother, when our boat starts to sink, we can start crying to God. When we think we're dying, we can start crying to God. When we're lost and can't find our way, we can start crying to God. When we are captured and can't escape the dungeon, we can start crying to God. It's interesting the word "then." When they got to the rock bottom, when they found out that they were absolutely helpless and hopeless and could not deliver themselves, then they cried. So, let me say this another way: as long as you think you can do something, you're not going to cry to God for help. You're not. But when you realize how helpless and hopeless you are, then you will cry. Here's the second application. It would be wise for us to understand the lovingkindness of God.
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And in order to do that, we must not only study his word, but we must also observe his gracious acts of providence. What he does in our lives, what he does in the lives of others, and what he does in time and history. And then when we observe what God is doing in our lives, in the lives of others, and in time and history, then we bring that to the Word of God, and let the Word of God interpret for us and show us exactly the purpose of God, the reason God has brought us into this distress or the reason God has allowed something to happen to us. You know the reason we don't do that? Most people think they're too busy. We're too busy to study, we're too busy to pray. We're too busy to consider what's happening in our lives and the lives of our family, the lives of our friends. But no, we're just too busy. But there's another truth. I think it's not that we're too busy. I think what it is is that we really do not care. And we really do not have any pleasure in the works of God. What did that verse say?
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"Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness!" Huh? Praise the Lord for his goodness to the children of men, and that they would have praised him for his works. Well, look in your Bible, since you're close to Psalm 111, look at verse 2. Psalm 111 verse 2. Here it is: "The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein." If you have pleasure in the works of God, you're going to seek his works out. If you have no pleasure in the work of God, you're not going to pay any attention to them. So if you have pleasure in the works of God and what he's doing in your life and the life of your family and the life of your friends, and if you have pleasure in what God is doing in this world, you will consider it. You will pay attention. You will meditate. You will learn the truth and apply it in your life. The real reason most people do not pay any attention to the providential act of God is they have no pleasure in his works.
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And the second reason I would say is they still believe in luck, chance, fate, or fortune. Here's the third application. We must learn to give God praise and thanksgiving for his multitudinous blessings in our lives. The Bible says in 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 and verse 18, "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." In everything give thanks. You can give thanks for your food. You give thanks for life and health and sleep and rest, for protection. You give thanks for a multitudinous number of things.
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I remember reading years ago about Richard Wurmbrand, who was in a communist prison for years. He came to the States, was in a Bible conference, and they went out to a restaurant, the preachers there that were with him. And they all ordered their food. And when the waitresses brought out the food for all of those preachers and set it there, and when Richard Wurmbrand saw all that food, he immediately fell on his knees in the restaurant and began to pray loudly, thanking God for the food. And one of the preachers that was there, he said, "I got embarrassed. And then I got embarrassed that I was embarrassed." He said, "If I'd eaten rats for about 14 years, I think I could learn to be thankful for real food as well." Listen, you can be thankful we're not reduced to that. You can be thankful that God allows you to have a garden, that God allows you to have life, that God allows you to have health, that God allows you to wake up. Wow.
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The crucial question is this: do you really praise him? Do you think of those little incidental things that you take for granted every day, like breath, breathing? We don't ever think about that. I still praise God for his deliverance from the hurricane back the first of October. Guess what? They're still cleaning up. All along the roads, there's still roofs that have never been repaired yet. We're talking months. God is gracious. God is good. God is kind.
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So we need to thank him not only for our lives, but how about this one? Do you praise him for the goodness of God in the lives of others? I don't know about you, but I'm thankful when others are blessed. I'm thankful that Justin and Catherine found each other. I'm thankful that I found Alice many, many years ago. Well, let me change that. I'm thankful she chased me down. Oh, you know better than that. I'm just saying there's so many things that we could be thankful for. And we can also be thankful in the lives of other individuals as well.
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Now, so you know this verse that we read earlier in Psalm 107 verse 22, look at that: "And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing." So here's my question. How do you sacrifice the sacrifice of thanksgiving? Today we don't go to a temple. We don't carry a physical sacrifice. Well, I'll answer that for you if you'll turn in your Bibles to Hebrews chapter 13. Hebrews chapter 13, and I want us to begin reading there with verse 12. Hebrews 13 and verse 12. Look at this. Hebrews 13 and verse 12. Look what the Bible says.
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"Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate." So there's his great sacrifice. Now watch this. "Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. By him"—that is by Jesus Christ—"by him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually." Look at this: "That is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name." So how do we offer the sacrifice of praise? With the fruit of our lips, and we're to offer it through the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the great sacrifice, and therefore our sacrifice is acceptable through him.
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So the psalmist then, in Psalm 107 verse 2 said, "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy." So if God has blessed you, you need to learn to say so. Say so to God, say so to his people. Say so privately, say so publicly.
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Now, remember I told you I was going to quote a verse again before I ended this message? I want you to listen. It's Psalm 50 and verse 23. "Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God." But here's the first part. Listen to it again. "Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me." If you want to really, genuinely glorify God, give him praise. Give him thanksgiving. Acknowledge him. Pay up your past due rent of thanksgiving, and continue to pay your rent, because he continues to bless you, and provide for you, and protect you, and preserve you.
#79 | 1:01:44 to 1:02:50 | cleaned
We need to learn from God's gracious, sovereign providence. Father, we pray that you would indeed teach us, build us up in the most holy faith, help us to see your work, and help us, Lord, to glorify thy name and praise thee. In the name of Jesus Christ, whose name we pray, amen.
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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T23:36:26Z

Providential Wisdom and Understanding

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

Pastor John Weaver expounds Psalm 107:43, emphasizing that true wisdom involves observing God's sovereign providential acts in our lives, the lives of others, and in history. He illustrates four distresses (lost travelers, captives, the sick, and mariners) where people cried to the Lord and were delivered, leading to the repeated refrain: 'Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness.' The message calls believers to contemplate God's works, understand His lovingkindness, and offer continual praise and thanksgiving as the proper response to His providence.

Introduction to Psalm 107 and God's Providence

The psalmist calls the wise to observe God's works to understand His lovingkindness. Psalm 107 is a treatise on God's sovereign providence, showing both distresses and comforts.

All right, I want you to open your Bibles, if you would, to Psalm 107 and verse 43. Psalm 107 and verse 43. The title of the message is "Providential Wisdom and Understanding."

Providential wisdom and understanding. So if you look in verse 43, the psalmist said,

Scripture Reading — Psalm 107:43

"Whoso is wise and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord."

When you look at that verse and you see

Scripture Reading — Psalm 107:43

"and will observe these things,"

The Command to Praise and the Repeated Refrain

Believers are commanded to praise the Lord for His goodness. The verse 'Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness' appears four times, emphasizing the required response to deliverance.

Scripture Reading — Psalm 107:1-2

"O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy."

Scripture Reading — Psalm 50:23

"Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I show the salvation of God."

But note that first part,

Scripture Reading — Psalm 50:23

"Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me."

Four Illustrations of Distress and Deliverance

The psalm presents four examples: weary lost travelers, miserable captives, the sick and dying, and mariners in storms. In each case, they cried to the Lord and were delivered.

The Call to Observe and Understand

Verse 43 commands the wise to observe God's providential acts. Observing means contemplating, meditating, and applying the truth, not merely seeing.

Learning from God's Acts in Others and in History

We are accountable to learn from God's work in the lives of others (Matthew 21:32) and in historical events, as nothing happens by accident.

God's Strange Acts of Judgment

God's judgments (e.g., natural disasters) are called His 'strange act' (Isaiah 28:21). The wise observe these as acts of God's providence.

I want you to look in your Bibles to the book of Isaiah chapter 28, verse 21. Look at this. Isaiah 28 and verse 21. Look what the Bible says. Isaiah 28 and verse 21. Here it is:

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 28:21

"For the Lord shall rise up as in mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act."

Applications: Distress Drives Prayer, Observe Providence, and Give Thanks

Distress often drives us to cry to God. We must observe God's works with pleasure and bring them to Scripture for interpretation. Continual praise and thanksgiving are the will of God.

Scripture Reading — Psalm 111:2

"The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein."

Scripture Reading — 1 Thessalonians 5:18

"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

In everything give thanks. You can give thanks for your food. You give thanks for life and health and sleep and rest, for protection. You give thanks for a multitudinous number of things.

Providential Wisdom and Understanding

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	3wudernkr-M
Subject	Apologetics
Course	Truth and the Interpretation of Scripture
Genre	Sermon
Date	2025-02-09
Dictation Name
Book	Book 064: Truth and the Interpretation of Scripture — Chapter 5
Source Timed Segments	80

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction to Psalm 107 and God's Providence: The psalmist calls the wise to observe God's works to understand His lovingkindness. Psalm 107 is a treatise on God's sovereign providence, showing both distresses and comforts.
The Command to Praise and the Repeated Refrain: Believers are commanded to praise the Lord for His goodness. The verse 'Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness' appears four times, emphasizing the required response to deliverance.
Four Illustrations of Distress and Deliverance: The psalm presents four examples: weary lost travelers, miserable captives, the sick and dying, and mariners in storms. In each case, they cried to the Lord and were delivered.
The Call to Observe and Understand: Verse 43 commands the wise to observe God's providential acts. Observing means contemplating, meditating, and applying the truth, not merely seeing.
Learning from God's Acts in Others and in History: We are accountable to learn from God's work in the lives of others (Matthew 21:32) and in historical events, as nothing happens by accident.
God's Strange Acts of Judgment: God's judgments (e.g., natural disasters) are called His 'strange act' (Isaiah 28:21). The wise observe these as acts of God's providence.
Applications: Distress Drives Prayer, Observe Providence, and Give Thanks: Distress often drives us to cry to God. We must observe God's works with pleasure and bring them to Scripture for interpretation. Continual praise and thanksgiving are the will of God.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

Providence reveals God's attributes and purposes

God's providential acts in time are important because they reveal His attributes and purpose, and we are to observe them to understand His lovingkindness.

That truth emphasizes that God's providential acts in time, in history, are exceedingly important because they reveal his attributes and they also reveal his purpose.

Praise is the required response to deliverance

The repeated refrain 'Oh that men would praise the Lord' shows that praise is the proper response to God's deliverance from distress.

Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Distress leads to prayer

The word 'then' in each distress narrative indicates that when people reached the end of their own resources, they cried to God, and He delivered them.

Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.

Observing means deep contemplation, not mere sight

The word 'observe' in Psalm 107:43 means to contemplate, meditate, study, and apply, not just to see or look at.

The word 'observe' does not simply mean to see or to look at. The word 'observe' means that we contemplate, that we meditate, that we study, that we think upon, that we comprehend, that we understand, and ultimately, that we apply the truth that is communicated.

We must learn from God's work in others and in history

We are duty-bound to learn from what God does in the lives of others and in historical events, as nothing happens by accident.

We're also duty bound and obligated and responsible to learn what God does in time and in history, because nothing happens by accident.

Praise glorifies God

Offering praise is a direct way to glorify God, as stated in Psalm 50:23.

Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.

Scripture References

Psalm 107:43: The main text: the wise observe God's works and understand His lovingkindness.
Psalm 107:1-2: Command to give thanks and let the redeemed say so.
Psalm 50:23: Offering praise glorifies God.
Psalm 107:8, 15, 21, 31: The repeated refrain to praise the Lord for His goodness.
Acts 14:17: God left not Himself without witness, doing good and giving rain and fruitful seasons.
Matthew 5:45: God makes His sun rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and unjust.
Psalm 103:1-5: Bless the Lord and forget not all His benefits: forgiveness, healing, redemption, lovingkindness, satisfaction.
Psalm 104:10-24: God's provision for animals and creation, showing His goodness to all.
Psalm 107:4-9: The weary lost travelers cry to the Lord and are led to a city; call to praise.
Psalm 107:10-16: Captives in darkness and affliction cry to the Lord and are brought out; call to praise.
Psalm 107:17-22: Fools afflicted for their transgressions cry to the Lord and are healed; call to praise and sacrifice of thanksgiving.
Psalm 107:23-32: Mariners in storms cry to the Lord and are brought to desired haven; call to praise and exalt Him.
Matthew 21:32: The Pharisees saw publicans and harlots believe but did not repent; we must learn from God's work in others.
Isaiah 28:21: God's judgment is called His strange act.
Hosea 14:9: Who is wise shall understand these things; the ways of the Lord are right.
Psalm 145:8-10: The Lord is gracious, full of compassion, good to all; all His works shall praise Him.
Deuteronomy 8:1-3: God humbled Israel and let them hunger to teach them that man lives by every word of God.
Psalm 111:2: The works of the Lord are great, sought out by those who have pleasure in them.
1 Thessalonians 5:18: In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God.
Hebrews 13:12-15: By Jesus we offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, the fruit of our lips giving thanks.

Historical References

John Trapp (Puritan commentator): Quoted: 'This is all the rent that God requireth' regarding thanksgiving.
John Gill (theologian): Quoted on God's providential goodness and the call to praise.
Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan: Illustration of Christian and Hopeful in Doubting Castle as a dungeon of despair.
Charles Spurgeon: Mentioned as a prominent preacher who struggled with despair and discouragement.
Richard Wurmbrand: Story of his thanksgiving for food after years of imprisonment, illustrating gratitude.

Important Quotes

I've often said that there is no such thing as luck, chance, fate, or fortune in a world that's ruled by God. There are only acts of God's sovereign providence.

Establishes the foundational doctrine of God's absolute sovereignty over all events.

Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

The central repeated refrain of the psalm, emphasizing the required response to God's deliverance.

Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.

Illustrates the pattern of distress leading to prayer and divine deliverance.

Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord.

The key verse of the message, linking observation of providence to understanding God's lovingkindness.

The word 'observe' does not simply mean to see or to look at. The word 'observe' means that we contemplate, that we meditate, that we study, that we think upon, that we comprehend, that we understand, and ultimately, that we apply the truth that is communicated.

Defines the depth of engagement required to truly observe God's works.

Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.

Connects praise directly to glorifying God, a key application of the message.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

In what ways have you experienced God's deliverance from distress, and how did you respond?

[Context]

The four illustrations of distress and deliverance in Psalm 107.

[Question]

What does it mean to 'observe' God's providential acts in your life, and how can you cultivate a habit of doing so?

[Context]

The definition of 'observe' as contemplation and application.

[Question]

How can we learn from God's work in the lives of others, and why is this important?

[Context]

The example of the Pharisees failing to learn from the publicans and harlots (Matthew 21:32).

[Question]

Why do you think distress often drives people to pray more earnestly?

[Context]

The repeated 'then they cried' in each distress narrative.

[Question]

What are some practical ways to 'sacrifice the sacrifice of thanksgiving' in your daily life?

[Context]

Hebrews 13:15 and the call to offer praise through Christ.

[Question]

How does recognizing God's providence change your perspective on difficult circumstances?

[Context]

The overall message that nothing happens by accident.

Applications

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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T14:29:20Z