Passage

Psalm 107:1–3 (ESV) — 1 Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! 2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble 3 and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.

Redeemed - The meaning

• Purchased - A slave but bought back
• Rescued - The act of coming to get
• Restored - Restored to former glory 

Humans are prone to:

1. We are prone to WANDER Nomads (searching for something)
   1. Psalm 107:4–5 (NLT) — 4 Some wandered in the wilderness, lost and homeless. 5 Hungry and thirsty, they nearly died.
   2. Roux and the neighborhood
   3. We wander off, we get lost, we need direction and a home
   4. Why do we wander? We are on the search for love, home, family, safety, a place that’s better than where we are now. 
   5. Where do we wander
      1. Away from God’s presence
      2. Away from God’s people
      3. Away from values
   6. Our WANDERING leads us to the WILDERNESS
   7. If you feel lost and directionless, maybe you have drifted away from Jesus. 
2. We are prone to DESCEND Prisoners (sitting in a prison)
   1. Psalm 107:10–11 (NLT) — 10 Some sat in darkness and deepest gloom, imprisoned in iron chains of misery. 11 They rebelled against the words of God, scorning the counsel of the Most High.
   2. Venus fly trap?
   3. We go into things we shouldn’t, we get bound, we need deliverance and a light
   4. Why do we descend? Because we’re curious, because we are searching for a feeling, because our sinful nature craves sinful things. 
   5. Where do we descend
      1. Into addiction
      2. Into relationships
      3. Into life patterns
   6. Our DESCENT leads us to the DUNGEON
   7. If you feel chained  and imprisoned, maybe you have descended into bondage
3. We are prone to REBEL Sick  (doing things their own way)
   1. Psalm 107:17–18 (NLT) — 17 Some were fools; they rebelled and suffered for their sins. 18 They couldn’t stand the thought of food, and they were knocking on death’s door.
   2. Humans proclivity to rebel is seen in a toddler.
   3. We rebel and do things our way, we get sick and almost die, we need healing
   4. Why do we rebel? Because we want to be our own boss. We want to do what we want to do.
   5. Our REBELLION leads us to the DOOR OF DEATH
   6. If you feel afflicted because of your choices, maybe you have rebelled against God’s Word
4. We are prone to STRIVE Merchants (pushing with ambition) 
   1. Psalm 107:23 (NLT) — 23 Some went off to sea in ships, plying the trade routes of the world.
   2. Never enough! We are proned to not be content and grateful. 
   3. We have ambition, we find ourselves in chaos, we need rest.
   4. Why do we strive? Because we have have an insatiable desire for more. More money, more attention, more things, more power. 
   5. Our STRIVING leads us to STORMY SEA
   6. If you feel out of control and in danger, maybe you have let ambition drive you too far

God is prone to: 

1. Find us
   1. He leads the wanderers to safety, a city in which to live
   2. Psalm 107:7–9 (NLT) — 7 He led them straight to safety, to a city where they could live. 8 Let them praise the LORD for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them. 9 For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.
   3. He’s prone to seek and save
   4. God’s plan for people who are wandering, dehydrated, hungry, is to lead them to a city, a city of peace, a home, a family. 
2. Free us
   1. He leads the prisoners out of darkness, breaking their chains
   2. Psalm 107:14–16 (NLT) — 14 He led them from the darkness and deepest gloom; he snapped their chains. 15 Let them praise the LORD for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them. 16 For he broke down their prison gates of bronze; he cut apart their bars of iron.
   3. He’s prone to deliver
   4. God’s plan for the bound is to shine a light, break the chains, and lead them out! 
3. Heal us
   1. He heals the rebel from sickness, snatching them from the door of death
   2. Psalm 107:20–22 (NLT) — 20 He sent out his word and healed them, snatching them from the door of death. 21 Let them praise the LORD for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them. 22 Let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving and sing joyfully about his glorious acts.
   3. He’s prone to heal
   4. God’s plan for the sick is to send His Word and heal their disease! 
4. Calm us
   1. He silences the sea around the merchant, and brings them into harbor
   2. Psalm 107:29–32 (NLT) — 29 He calmed the storm to a whisper and stilled the waves. 30 What a blessing was that stillness as he brought them safely into harbor! 31 Let them praise the LORD for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them. 32 Let them exalt him publicly before the congregation and before the leaders of the nation.
   3. He’s prone to bring peace
   4. God’s plan for the striving merchant is to speak to the storm, calm the waves, and lead them back to a port of contentment. 

What we must do - 

1. We must CRY OUT! 
   1. In every case, THEY CRIED OUT! Psalm 107:6 (NLT) — 6 “LORD, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he rescued them from their distress. 13, 19, 28
   2. Why don’t we cry out?! 
      1. Pride can stop us - I’m not quite desparate enough
      2. Bitterness can stop us - I’m mad at God
      3. Doubt can stop us - I prayed before and He didn’t answer
   3. Desperation will push us
2. We must FOLLOW HIM OUT!! Take a hold of Jesus
3. Let the redeemed of the Lord, SPEAK OUT! 
   1. Tell others about the redeeming power of the Lord
   2. Sing the song of the redeemed
      1. Revelations