psalm · 107B
They Cried Unto the Lord
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summary
The cry counts — even when you helped build the trouble you are crying out from.
lyrics
For He has broken the gates of bronze And cut the bars of iron in two. Fools, because of their transgression And because of their iniquities, are afflicted. Their soul abhors all manner of food, And they draw near to the gates of death. Then they cry to the Lord in their trouble, And He saves them out of their distresses. He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions. Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, And declare His works with rejoicing. Those who go down to the sea in ships, Who do business on great waters— They see the works of the Lord And His wonders in the deep. For He commands and raises the stormy wind, Which lifts up the waves of the sea. They mount up to the heavens, They go down again to the depths; Their soul melts because of trouble. They reel to and fro and stagger like a drunken man, And are at their wit’s end. Then they cry to the Lord in their trouble, And He brings them out of their distresses. He makes the storm a calm, So that the waves thereof are still. Then they are glad because they are quiet; So He brings them to their desired haven. Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
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Psalm 107B: They Cried Unto the Lord
When you need to remember — that You're still my Shepherd.
What's Going On…
You can be in trouble that you partly caused yourself. Not random hardship — consequences. Your own decisions put you near the gates of death, and you do not have a clean victim narrative to hold onto. The hard part is wondering if cries-for-help still count when you helped build the trouble you are in.
You also know what it is like to be in a different kind of storm — one you did not start, but that is still tossing you so hard you cannot stand up. Both kinds need the same response: cry out.
What It Means
This passage covers two more stories, and they both end the same way. The first is about fools: "Fools, because of their transgression and because of their iniquities, are afflicted. Their soul abhors all manner of food, and they draw near to the gates of death." Honest about consequence — sometimes the affliction came from your own iniquity. But the rescue line does not change: "Then they cry to the Lord in their trouble, and He saves them out of their distresses. He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions." The God who allowed the consequence still saves the one who cries.
The second story is the sailors: "Those who go down to the sea in ships... see the works of the Lord and His wonders in the deep." He raises the stormy wind; the waves go up and down; "their soul melts because of trouble. They reel to and fro and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit's end." Then the same line: "Then they cry to the Lord in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distresses. He makes the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still." He brings them to their desired haven.
The refrain repeats: "Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare His works with rejoicing." The rescue earns testimony.
Right Here, Right Now
• Right now, cry out loud about one trouble you are in — whether you helped cause it or did not — and follow it with: "Then they cried to the Lord, and He saved them."
• Write this down: "What kind of cry have I been holding back because I think I do not have a clean enough story to ask for help?"
• Repeat this line when you are at your wit's end: "He makes the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still."
Selah
Stop. Breathe. Let the God who calms storms and breaks iron bars meet you at your wit's end. Then tell Him exactly where you need Him to bring you to a quiet haven — out loud if you can.
Prayer
God, sometimes I am the fool whose iniquity drew me near the gates of death.
Sometimes I am the sailor whose storm I did not start.
Either way, I cry to You — and You have always answered cries from people in worse shape than me.
Send Your word and heal me. Make the storm a calm. Bring me to a quiet haven I do not know how to find.
I will sacrifice the sacrifice of thanksgiving and declare Your works with rejoicing.
You're still my Shepherd.
Stay Strong
The cry counts — even when you helped build the trouble you are crying out from.
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