AP

Psalm 107:28-31  Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress.  He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed.  They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven.  Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men.

The writer of this psalm highlights various times in Israel’s history when the LORD’s distressed people cried out to him from the depths of their despair and he answered them in ways that should have convinced them of his willingness to forgive all their rebellious thoughts and actions, and of his power to rescue them from the consequences of their folly.

Sadly, each time this happened they quickly forgot, and the cycle repeated itself over and over again!

The verses above could well have been among those quoted by Jesus when he met the two disciples on the road to Emmaus after his resurrection, when he ‘explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself’ (Luke 24:27).  The direct application of these verses to life-threatening experiences on the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 8:24-27; 14:22-33; Mark 4:37-41; Luke 8:22-25;  John 6:16-21) would have helped to convince them of Jesus’ true identity as God, the Son.

Paul, the ex-Pharisee, would have been very familiar with these verses as he wrestled with fears and emotions during the violent storm on the potentially disastrous sea voyage to Rome (Acts 27:21-26).  We, too, need to remember them whenever our circumstances are overwhelming us – not only in facing the danger, but in REMEMBERING TO GIVE THANKS when it is over!  And if our own sin and foolishness were contributing factors in the circumstances, it is good to remember that the Hebrew word translated ‘unfailing love’ [‘ches-ed’] carries with it the idea of kindness, forgiveness and mercy.
– Bruce Christian