Psalm 107:1-24 (KJV): He filleth the hungry soul with goodness

From Psalms

Psalm 107

¹O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good:
      for his mercy endureth for ever.
²Let the redeemed of the LORD say so,
      whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;
³And gathered them out of the lands,
      from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.

⁴They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way;
      they found no city to dwell in.
⁵Hungry and thirsty,
      their soul fainted in them.
⁶Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble,
      and he delivered them out of their distresses.
⁷And he led them forth by the right way,
      that they might go to a city of habitation.
⁸Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness,
      and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
⁹For he satisfieth the longing soul,
      and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.

¹⁰Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
      being bound in affliction and iron;
¹¹Because they rebelled against the words of God,
      and contemned the counsel of the most High:
¹²Therefore he brought down their heart with labour;
      they fell down, and there was none to help.
¹³Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble,
      and he saved them out of their distresses.
¹⁴He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death,
      and brake their bands in sunder.
¹⁵Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness,
      and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
¹⁶For he hath broken the gates of brass,
      and cut the bars of iron in sunder.

¹⁷Fools because of their transgression,
      and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.
¹⁸Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat;
      and they draw near unto the gates of death.
¹⁹Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble,
      and he saveth them out of their distresses.
²⁰He sent his word, and healed them,
      and delivered them from their destructions.
²¹Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness,
      and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
²²And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving,
      and declare his works with rejoicing.

²³They that go down to the sea in ships,
      that do business in great waters;
²⁴These see the works of the LORD,
      and his wonders in the deep.

Here's some good news - the Lord heals the afflicted and fills their cups that are bottomless for other things.  As addicts were pursued happiness with a cup that had no bottom.  The more we got the more we needed - because we had ignored the word of God.  So, he let us destroy ourselves and our lives in our own ways.  Until we hit bottom, we were not ready to listen to anyone else - let alone God.  At least that was the story for me...and it does seem common.

Then through the first three steps, of the 12 steps, I let God into my life and started paying attention to his word.  I even cried out to the Lord in my struggle.  As I started to create a relationship with God in those early steps he started to work in my life.  My marriage is being repaired.  My relationship with my sons is a healthy one.  My demons and enemies do not have the stranglehold over my life that they once did.  "He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions." (verse 20).

And so I praise the Lord, Hallelu Yah, for bringing peace to my life, and bringing goodness into my life.  There is still much work to be done - but I, the AA big book promises, was amazed before I was halfway through.  For that, and all of this, I give thanks to God.

Thanks for letting me share.