Fools, in their rebellious ways, and through their iniquities, suffered affliction.Fools are afflicted because of their disobedience, and because of their iniquities.Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.Fools because of their transgression, And because of their iniquities, are afflicted.
4 sermons cite this verse
This may be the most important psalm that you never think about. There are other more famous psalms, Psalm 23, Psalm 51, that great cry of repentance from David when he's confronted, Psalm 1, blessed is the man, Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible, extolling the words of God. This psalm, you recognize some familiar phrases, but likely is not one of those psalms that you've studied in depth or have heard many, many sermons preached, and yet it is in this very psalm a microcosm of the entire human experience. Gregory of Nyssa, an early church father, said about this psalm, it contains a complete consummation and recapitulation of human salvation. And that's not an exaggeration. This psalm is the story of Israel's deliverance. It is the story of our salvation, and it is the story of what Christ has done for sinners. I want to start, I hope you have your Bibles open. I want you to notice before we go deeper, I want you to notice the overall structure sometimes we think about poetry as being that kind of art form that just wells up within the poets and we have a romantic kind of ideal that true art must be something that breaks all the rules and just kind of explodes out of the artist and yet i think most artists especially art that lasts would tell you that it's often quite the opposite, that the most amazing pieces of music follow certain rules. …
… Now look at the third group. Some became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of their iniquities. Now these people are sick. It's a little interesting. It's very interesting, actually. because these people, it says they're sick, they loathe all food, verse 18. And that means that they really are dying. They are wasting away physically. But it's as a result of foolishness, verse 17. These are more like people who've ruined their lives, ruined their bodies through overwork or addiction or something. And look what heals them. What they need is a healer. But what they're actually getting, in a sense, is a counselor. Because what heals them, look carefully, he sent forth his word. They get some kind of word, they get some kind of advice that heals them. They get some kind of loving, healing counselor. So the first group needs a father, the second group needs a king, the third group needs a loving, a nurse, a counselor, a person at the side. …
"Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities are afflicted. Their soul abhors all manner of meat, and they draw near unto the gates of death. Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble and He saves them out of their distresses. He sent His Word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare His works with rejoicing" Psalm 107:17-22. WHEN a person is very ill, one of the greatest kindnesses that you can show to him is to tell him how you felt under a similar affliction, to what physician you resorted, what remedies he prescribed, through what processes you passed, what were the symptoms connected with your recovery and how long you have been able to rejoice over the cure which has been worked in you. This kind of practical, experimental talk will be far more valuable to him than any doctor's opinions that you may read to him out of a book of medicine. Tell the sufferer what your experience has been and you will generally find that he will attach more importance to that than to any theory which you may propound to him, however well you may support that theory by argument! …
"Fools because of their transgression and because of their iniquities, are afflicted. Their soul abhors all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates ofdeath. Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and He saves them out of their distresses. He sent His Word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. Oh that men would praise the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare His works with rejoicing." Psalm 107:17-22. [Another Sermon by Mr. Spurgeon on verses 17-20 is #1824, Volume 31—THE HISTORY OF SUNDRY FOOLS.] IT is a very profitable thing to visit a hospital. The sight of others' sickness tends to make us grateful for our own health. And it is a great thing to be kept in a thankful frame of mind, for ingratitude is a spiritual disease, injurious to every power of the soul. A hospital inspection will also teach us compassion and that is of great service. Anything that softens the heart is valuable. Above all things, in these days we should strive against the petrifying influences which surround us. It is not easy for a man who has constantly enjoyed good health and prosperity, to sympathize with the poor and the suffering. Even our Great High Priest, who is full of compassion, learned it by carrying our sorrows in His own Person. To see the sufferings of the afflicted, in many cases, would be enough to move a stone. And if we visit a hospital and come back with a more tender heart, we shall have found it a sanatorium to ourselves. …