Psalm 107 walks us through four different kinds of people. Each of them ends up in a bad spot, and each one cries out to God. What’s amazing is how God responds every single time. No matter how far gone they are, He steps in and helps.
These four types are still around today, and chances are, you’ve either been one of them or you know someone who has.
Let’s take a closer look.
1. The Wanderer (Psalm 107:4–9)
“They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.”
Some people go through life with no direction. They’re not bad people, just lost. They try out new jobs, move around, test relationships, bounce from church to church. They’re searching, but nothing ever fills the hole in their heart.
Think of the young man who graduates high school and spends the next ten years trying to “find himself.” He jumps from one idea to the next, but still feels empty.
This kind of person is spiritually homeless. They’re tired, worn out, and just want rest. God says when they finally cry out, He hears them. He gives them a home. He fills their soul with goodness.
That’s mercy.
2. The Prisoner (Psalm 107:10–16)
“Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron; because they rebelled against the words of God…”
Others are in chains. Not always physical ones. These are people trapped by choices they made. Sin has consequences. The man who ignored God and cheated on his wife. The woman who spent years drinking and pushing everyone away. Now they live with regret. Their soul feels like a jail cell.
You’ve probably met someone who says, “It’s too late for me.” That’s how these people feel. Hopeless. Dark inside. But the Bible says even they can cry out to God, and He will break the chains.
3. The Fool (Psalm 107:17–22)
“Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.”
Some people bring pain on themselves. They ignored good advice, laughed at warning signs, and now they’re stuck. These are people who blow their money, break their bodies, and damage their families because of sin.
A teenager starts using drugs. A man loses his job after years of showing up late. A woman ends up in the hospital because of a relationship she knew was wrong. They suffer, and they know why.
But even then, when they cry out, God answers. He sends His Word and heals them. Not just their bodies, but their hearts too.
4. The Sailor in a Storm (Psalm 107:23–32)
“They that go down to the sea in ships… they reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.”
This one hits home for a lot of people. Life can throw a storm at you even when you’re trying to do everything right. These aren’t rebellious sinners. These are regular workers, parents, students, church members. One minute, they’re sailing along. The next, the storm hits.
A mom gets a bad phone call from the doctor. A dad loses his job with no warning. A family wrecks their car on the way to church. They’re not being punished. Life just gets hard sometimes.
The storm shakes everything. They can’t fix it. They can’t steer out of it. They’re scared. But then they cry out to God, and He calms the storm.
Sometimes He fixes the problem. Sometimes He brings peace to their heart. Either way, He’s the one who settles the sea.
These four people all come from different backgrounds. One is lost. One is guilty. One is hurting. One is overwhelmed.
But here’s what they have in common:
They cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and He heard them.
That’s the kind of God we serve.
Maybe today you feel like one of them. Or maybe someone you love does. You don’t have to explain it all to Him. Just cry out.
And watch Him work.
