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“How quickly we forget God’s great deliverance in our lives. How easily we take for granted the miracles he performed in our past.” —David Wilkerson

The name of God: Deliverer reminds us God will rescue us if we call on Him. He will give us victory over the most difficult circumstances and will see us through to victory.” 2 Samuel 22:18 reminds us, “He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me.”

Psalm 107 is a beautiful song written about deliverance. It was sung to celebrate the Jews’ return to freedom from bondage in Egypt and their exile in Babylon. Remember Joseph’s story? Through his brothers’ jealous mistreatment, God ordained Joseph to be taken away as a slave to Egypt. He ultimately became Pharaoh’s right-hand man and planned ahead for years of famine; lead the country to become the world’s economic leader. Through Joseph, God provided for the Israelites to thrive in the land of Egypt. Decades later, there was a Pharaoh ruling who didn’t know Joseph. God allowed the Israelites to be oppressed by the Egyptians. The Israelites grew in numbers and power, and the pharaohs began to eliminate them. Moses was sent by God to lead the Israelites to freedom.

Psalm 107:1–2 “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say this. . . .“

Thankfulness to God should always be on the lips of those whom he has saved. This is a beautiful picture of the response of the Israelites after they had been freed—who deserved only judgement.  Set free from captivity, they had been in bondage, yet the Lord heard their cries and freed them.

A definition of redeemed found at answers.com says redeemed means to extricate from an undesirable state: reclaim, recover, rescue. God rescued His people. The Israelites experienced the God who redeems. To restore the honor, worth, or reputation of: You botched the last job but can redeem yourself on this one.What about you? Have you truly experienced what redemption means? We can trust God can redeem us in impossible circumstances and claim his promises.

“They cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.” —Psalm 107:6

God the Deliverer heard the cries of the children of Israel; he knew their situation. Exodus 2:23 says, “The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God. God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant…so God looked on them and was concerned about them.” God promised deliverance in Exodus 6:6, “I am the Lord and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them. Verse 7 says, “I will take you as my own people and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.”

God’s people had cried out to God. They were in anguish because of their oppression. He heard them. The children of Israel had cried out to God, the only God who could save them. God delivered them; he brought them out of slavery. He freed them from captivity. Have you cried out to God in your trouble?

In June of 2004, I was given a diagnosis of stage 4 non-Hodgkins lymphoma. There was cancer, a blood cancer, in four places in my body. It was not only in the lymph node of my lower left eye-lid, but in the bone marrow of my right arm, shoulder, elbow and the femur of my left leg. I prayed to God for my healing and so did others around the world. We prayed; some nights and days, we anguished in prayer for my healing. If it was God’s will. During the season of cancer, I studied the healing of the ten lepers in Luke 17. There were ten lepers who asked for healing. All ten were healed, but only one went back and thanked Jesus for that healing. So after six months of chemotherapy and lots of prayer, I  my doctor called and said, “Sheryl, I can’t believe it. There’s no more cancer!”

I was delivered from disease—from stage 4 cancer! After God chose to heal me, I decided I want to be that one to thank God and glorify Him whenever possible for my healing, to thank Him for my life. In fact, I borrowed this prayer of Moses from  Psalm 90:12 that says, “Teach me to number my days, that I might present to you a heart of wisdom.” I thank God for delivering me from cancer. For giving my life back to me, it’s actually His life to use for whatever purpose he wills it. Everyday, I thank God, like that tenth leper who out of the ten who asked Jesus for healing. I want to be that one who goes back to thank Him.

God wants to deliver you. What is it you need deliverance from? Are you worried about the future? Isaiah 40:31 is for you: “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.” Are you worried about the unknown: test results, finances, even a prodigal child? Isaiah 54:10 is for you: “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken, nor my covenant of peace be removed.” And when the Deliverer carries you through, thank Him and praise Him for the satisfaction He brings.

“Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love…for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.” —Ps. 107:8–9

“Hope in things=Distracted, Hope in people=Disappointed, Hope in myself=Devastated, Hope in Christ=Delivered.” —Rachel Wojo

Let’s pray:

Heavenly Father, we give thanks to you, for you are good. Your love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say this” (Psalm 107:1–2). Thank you for hearing my cries, as I cry out to you in time of trouble. Thank you for delivering me (Psalm 107:6). Thank you, Lord, for your unfailing love. Thank you for satisfying the thirsty and filling the hungry with good things (Psalm 107:8–9). Thank you, my Deliverer; you are so good. Thank you, my God, my Deliverer. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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