I. God's Good Loyalty redeems, gathers, delivers, leads, satisfies and fills those who repentantly call for His help.

A. 1 Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! Gen 1:4 For His hesed/loyalty* endures forever. 2  Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy 3 gathered 4 They wandered in  wilderness 5 Their soul fainted in them.
B. 6 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them out of their distresses. 7  and He led them forth by the right way
C. 8 Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His hesed/goodness*, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! 9  For He satisfies the longing/rushing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness.       *[Hesed=covenantal loyalty/love]

Ex 34:6 the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in hesed and truth, 7 keeping hesed for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting...
Micah 3:4 Then they will cry to the LORD, but He will not hear them; He will even hide His face from them at that time, Because they have been evil in their deeds.  Pr 28:9 One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination.

II. God “helps” the Rebellious scoffers bottom out so He can free them from the consequences of their ignorance.

A. 10 Those who sat in darkness/shadow of death, bound in affliction and irons 11 because they rebelled against the words of God, and despised the counsel of the Most High 12 Therefore He brought down their heart with labor; They fell down, and there was none to help.
B. 13 Then they cried out Ex 2:23 Jud 3:9 2Ch 20:9  to the LORD in their trouble [rock and a hard place]. , and He saved them out of their distresses. 14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and broke their chains in pieces.
C. 15 Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His hesed/goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!
16 For He has broken the gates of bronze, and cut the bars of iron in two.   [See Jn 8:31-32 truth sets free]

Php 2:14 Do all things without complaining and disputing,  Php 4:11 I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:  1Tim 6:6

III. God saves Repentant fools from the consequences of their folly by sending His word to heal and deliver them.

A. 17  Fools, [those who choose wrong objectives] because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, were afflicted 18 Their soul abhorred all manner of food, and they drew near to the gates of death.
B. 19 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses
     20  He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions/pits.
C. 21 Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His hesed/goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!
22  Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare His works with rejoicing.

Heb 13:15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. 

IV. God humbles the Proud, yet delivers, calms, gladdens, and guides the humble who call to Him.

A. 23 Those who go down to the sea in ships, who do business on great waters, 24  They see the works of the LORD, and His wonders in the deep. 25 For He commands and raises the stormy wind, which lifts up the waves of the sea. 6  They mount up to the heavens...depths.  Their soul melts because of trouble. 27  They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end.
B. 28  Then they cry out to the LORD in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distresses. 29  He calms the storm, So that its waves are still. 30  Then they are glad because they are quiet; So He guides them to their desired haven.
C. 31  Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His hesed/goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!
32  Let them exalt Him also in the assembly of the people, and praise Him in the company of the elders.

Hab 3:18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation Php 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 

V. The Righteous & Wise rejoice that God can change/reverse ANY circumstance to bless, protect and preserve us

A. 33 He turns rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground; 34  A fruitful land into barrenness, For the wickedness of those who dwell in it. 35  He turns a wilderness into pools of water, and dry land into watersprings. 36 There He makes the hungry dwell, That they may establish a city for a dwelling place, 37  and sow fields and plant vineyards, That they may yield a fruitful harvest. 38  He also blesses them, and they multiply greatly; and He does not let their cattle decrease.
B. 39  When they are diminished and brought low through oppression, affliction and sorrow, 40  He pours contempt on princes, and causes them to wander in the wilderness where there is no way; 41  Yet He sets the poor on high, far from affliction, and makes their families like a flock. 42  The righteous see it and rejoice, and all iniquity stops its mouth.
C. 43  Whoever is wise will observe these things, and they will understand the hesed of the LORD. 

1Thess 5:18  in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.  Job 13:15  Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. 19:25 God provides; we must faithfully build and plant ,then He blesses our work, yet allows difficulties so we will dependently call upon Him.
Bad things happen so God can bless us. God loyally and lovingly lets us go thru sorrow and difficulties, but the righteous will rejoice.

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response:

1. Why do we tend to be ungrateful and bitter over what we don't have rather than thankful and content over what we do have? (satisfy)
2. Why are we more inclined to thank God when things go our way than when circumstances are not to our liking?
3. Why does God do more than just relieve our discomfort? Why do we just want temporary comfort? Why should we prioritize knowing God?
4. What helps you sincerely/honestly give thanks, be content, and rejoice even when your circumstances are “horrendous”?
5. Where would you be without God? How have/will you express your thankfulness so others can benefit and He will be glorified?