Psalms 107:10

Psalms 107:10 says, Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;  We can either live in the light of God's word with freedom from sin and death, or we will be bound in the darkness.  Verse eleven adds, Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:  The people who were imprisoned by the darkness were those who had rebelled against God.  Anytime people rebel against God, then they live in spiritual darkness.  Verse twelve states, Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.  Instead of living with the blessings of God, the people of Isreal were brought down to labor with no one to help them. When we turn away from God, we lose His protection and blessings spiritually, no matter what is happening in our life.  We should always obey God as followers of Christ, and then we will always have His protection and His blessings.  Verse thirteen adds, Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.  This was a cycle with the people of Isreal.  God would deliver them, they would obey Him for awhile and be a blessed and powerful nation, then they would turn away from Him, be defeated and downtrodden, then call out to Him again and He would deliver them once more.  As Christians, God has delivered us once and for all time, so we need to avoid times when we are not faithful to Him.  Verse fourteen continues, He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.  God had delivered them from the darkness of sin and the shadow of death, just as He has us today as followers of Christ.  Verse fifteen declares, Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!  This is what we as Christians should do every day.  We are to tell the world of the goodness of God as we praise His holy name.  Verse sixteen adds, For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.  Just as God had removed the physical restraints from the people of Israel then, He has removed the spiritual restraints from us today as followers of Christ.  Verse seventeen says, Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.  Fools, those who do not believe in God, are afflicted spiritually because of their sin.  Verse eighteen adds, Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death.  I believe that the meat referred to is the meat of God's word, which the lost of the world abhor, and this leads them to a spiritual death if they do not change and accept the salvation made available by Christ.  Verse nineteen continues, Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses.  If people quit being foolish and honestly cry out to God in their distress, He has already made  salvation available.  All anyone has to do to be saved is to put their faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse twenty concludes, He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.  God's word, though it wouldn't happen until later, was Jesus Christ coming to die for the sins of everyone. All we have to do is put our faith in Him as our personal Savior and Lord.