Psalm 107:33-43 NKJV 33 He turns rivers into a wilderness,
And the watersprings into dry ground;
34 A fruitful land into [a]barrenness,
For the wickedness of those who dwell in it.
35 He turns a wilderness into pools of water,
And dry land into watersprings.
36 There He makes the hungry dwell,
That they may establish a city for a dwelling place,
37 And sow fields and plant vineyards,
That they may yield a fruitful harvest.
38 He also blesses them, and they multiply greatly;
And He does not let their cattle decrease.
39 When they are diminished and brought low
Through oppression, affliction, and sorrow,
40 He pours contempt on princes,
And causes them to wander in the wilderness where there is no way;
41 Yet He sets the poor on high, far from affliction,
And makes their families like a flock.
42 The righteous see it and rejoice,
And all iniquity stops its mouth.
43 Whoever is wise will observe these things,
And they will understand the lovingkindness of the Lord.
In this portion of Psalm 107, the Holy Spirit teaches us through the writer that God most certainly can and will turn the land against those wicked people who dwell in it (vv. 33-34; 39-40). This takes us back to Eden where God caused the ground (“a-da-MAH”) from which man was created to be cursed because of the sin of man (“a-DAM”); the earth then produced thorns and thistles, and the man was sentenced to work the ground because it no longer produced its fruit freely without God’s help. Man can indeed ruin his own livelihood by his sin and rebellion against God.
But God can also bless the land for those who trust and believe Him and live according to His Word, as evidenced in vv. 35-38, and 41-43. In 42, “the righteous see it and rejoice.” We are to acknowledge that God, in His goodness toward us for the sake of Christ, takes care of His people and promises to continue to do so even in the face of uncertainty and earthly conflict and strife. We are to thank God for all His goodness toward us, even as Luther says in the closing phrase of the meaning to the First Article of the Creed, “For all this it is my duty to thank and praise, serve and obey Him; this is most certainly true.”
With eyes of faith you, dear Saint, get to rejoice in God’s goodness toward you, particularly for His Son’s atoning sacrifice for all sin on His cross. You who are “wise and observe these things” (Ps 107:43) will understand the lovingkindness of the Lord, thanking Him for his goodness, for His punishment of evildoers, and for blessing the land out of his grace and mercy.
Let us pray: Thanks and praise to You, O Lord, because You have guarded us in many dangers and helped us in many a need. Let Your good providence be over us in the future as in the past, and cause us steadfastly to trust in You, looking to none other for help, through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord. Amen.