More from Psalm 107

"Some wandered in desert wastelands,"

[when we reject your truth and go our own way, we dwell in dry and parched lands of our own making, far from the green pastures you have for us.]

"finding no way to a city where they could settle. They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away."

[When on our own path, we go from one bad decision to the next. We search for emotional and physical sustenance but find none; instead we grow weaker and weaker. Everything goes downhill because we are far from your way.]

"Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,"

[When we finally saw that our selfish way was not good, that our weak wisdom was insufficient, that our strength was too little to escape condemnation, then we cried out to you.]

"and he delivered them from their distress."

[You, Lord, in your goodness, were right there, waiting for us to come to our senses, to see our need, to cry out to you. You were ready to help as soon as we were ready to receive. You plucked us out of our distress and inserted us into your forgiveness, your family and your future plans.]

"He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle."

[You, Lord, know the way to shelter and are very willing, even eager to lead us to it, if only we will follow. Thank you that You give us wisdom, insight, security and community, all we need to prosper.]