Here are some questions based on last Sunday’s sermon text (Psalm 107), in case they’re helpful to you for personal growth or group discussion…

• [1, 43] This is a Psalm about God’s “steadfast love” (a phrase appearing six times: vv. 1, 8, 15, 21, 31, 43). Do you think God’s excommunicating/exiling his people for their sin (the setting for Psalm 107) could be an outworking of his steadfast love? Why or why not? Can you imagine facing the Lord’s discipline or excommunication, believing that it was God’s good will for your salvation and restoration?

• [4-9] What is the essence of the suffering of these “hungry” exiles? What does it look like to turn to the Lord and call upon him in a time of distress like this? What is the essence of God’s deliverance? Can you think of times in your own life when you’ve experienced something like this? Can you thank God for his steadfast love in taking you through that whole process?

• [10-16] What is the essence of the suffering of these “prisoner” exiles? What does it look like to turn to the Lord and call upon him in a time of distress like this? What is the essence of God’s deliverance? Can you think of times in your own life when you’ve experienced something like this? Can you thank God for his steadfast love in taking you through that whole process?

• [17-22] What is the essence of the suffering of these “fool” exiles? What does it look like to turn to the Lord and call upon him in a time of distress like this? What is the essence of God’s deliverance? Can you think of times in your own life when you’ve experienced something like this? Can you thank God for his steadfast love in taking you through that whole process?

• [23-32] What is the essence of the suffering of these “shipping business” exiles? What does it look like to turn to the Lord and call upon him in a time of distress like this? What is the essence of God’s deliverance? Can you think of times in your own life when you’ve experienced something like this? Can you thank God for his steadfast love in taking you through that whole process?

• [33-42] Yahweh is not only the God who raises up, he is the God who brings low. He is capable of wondrous works including both making desolate and making fruitful. Are these the conflicting actions of a two-faced, moody, capricious God? Or can everything God does be the outworking of his steadfast love? Can you explain everything in the life of Jesus Christ in terms of God’s steadfast love? Can you always understand how everything in your life is an outworking of God’s steadfast love?