week of 10-20-10 3rd recorded Bible study

The passage I read was Psalm 107:1-9
You can find that passage here:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+107%3A1-9&version=NIV

My summary of the passage is this:
Verse 8 sums it up for me,
8 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for men,
My son summed it up like this:
Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. He helps people north, south, east, and west. He helps people that need water and takes them to a place where they can get it. And He fills people with good things.

As I reflect:
In reflecting, the first thing I noticed about the passage was that in verse two it says, “let the redeemed of the Lord say this – “ and then the psalmist continues in sharing thanks for God’s unfailing love by saying how the Lord delivered his children from their distress and led them to where they could settle. It talks about His wonderful deeds for men by satisfying their thirst and hunger with good things. What stood out to me here as well as many other places in the word is that this was specific to a genre of people. This was the thanks given by the “redeemed”… The saved. A friend of mine on facebook recently posted a reminder for the secular world to read the full verse before quoting out of context. I believe they have an excellent point. The specific verse they were speaking on was all things work together for the good….(for those who love God and are called according to his purpose). It’s true, far too many times the secular world would like to take the promises that are said only of the saved, and say those promises of themselves. But these are things that the unsaved don’t fully understand. Just as in this passage when thanks is given for redemption. How can the lost fully grasp what this means if they have yet to take hold of the saving grace of Jesus’ blood on the cross? How can a dying world thank God for being filled when they hunger and thirst when they don’t understand the context. For He fills us with good things because we hunger and thirst for Him. I think the secular artist of this age paint a good picture of what I’m trying to say. They stand on stage after writing songs that glorify pre-maritial sex, drugs, lust, having other gods (ie. Money, material possessions), and following after things in this world, and then they give “thanks” to God. I have to say that they don’t understand redemption because they haven’t been redeemed. When I thank God, it’s because I know what I have been saved from. I know that my every breath comes from Him. I know that if there is anything good in my life, it is because of Jesus. His Holy Spirit has provided every good characteristic in me as a bi-product of my experiences and seeking His wisdom. I thank God because I know where I was and where I was headed. I thank God because when I seek Him and I don’t give up, I find Him. He answers my prayer. He leads me to feed on every word that comes from his mouth.
My son said:
I think it means to thank God for his love and for all that He has provided us.

My response to the Lord:
Dearest Father in Heaven, I know what you have saved me from. You and you alone have pulled me from the depths of hell and redeemed me among men. You chose me, and by your mercy you forgave my sinful self. You lifted my head and led me by your spirit daily working sanctification into my life. Lord, you covered me in your son’s righteous blood… There is no sacrifice greater than that you sacrificed for me…. A sinner who had turned his back on all that you were. I am so thankful that you chased after me and didn’t let me go. I am thankful that you reached in and took my heart of stone and melted it. Thank you for removing what used to be me, and installing the upgrade that only you could give. May I function well as a part of your body, by the only means of showing my thankfulness to you – being a light into the dark. In Jesus name.
My son said:
Dear Lord, thank you for loving us. Thank you for giving us the good that we don’t deserve and please keep us from doing wrong and keep us clean.