Long my imprisoned spirit lay fast bound in sin and nature’s night; Thine eye diffused a quickening ray—I woke, the dungeon flamed with light; My chains fell off, my heart was free, I rose went forth, and followed Thee. This stanza from Charles Wesley’s great hymn, “And Can It Be,” captures a conversion experience much like what the psalmist describes in Psalm 107. This song of thanks contains four clearly marked sections, each painting a picture of some deadly peril common to humanity, but from which God regularly delivers His people. In the first section, gratitude is expressed for His provision of homes for the homeless (v 1-9). Now in the second section, God is praised because He also provides freedom for the captives (v 10-16). Another reason the American Pilgrims identified with Psalm 107 is because many of their leaders had often been put in prison for dissenting from the established religion of their time. When small groups tried to escape the persecution by sailing across the English Channel to Holland or elsewhere, they were frequently arrested on that account too. Families were often separated, not knowing if or when they would see each other again. Not many of us can speak of being released from a literal prison, but all who are Christians can testify of having been delivered from the prison of sin. This prison is what Jesus had in mind when He quoted the prophet Isaiah and said that He came “to proclaim liberty to the captives.” Jesus did not set anyone free from a literal prison, as far as we know, but anyone who has ever believed in His name has been set free from the shackles of sin. Though we were slaves to sin, by His atoning death, we have been liberated forever. Like the captives of this psalm, we were guilty of rebellion against God (v 11), weighed down by shame and a sense of condemnation. It was God Himself who had justly chained us (v 12), but we cried out to Him, and He delivered us from our distress (v 13). Because Christ bore our judgment at the cross, God is willing and able to lead us out of spiritual darkness, rescuing us from death and breaking our spiritual bondage (v 14, 16). How can we not thank the LORD for this demonstration of His steadfast love and mercy! (v 15). To quote from another Wesley hymn (O For A Thousand Tongues): He breaks the power of cancelled sin, He sets the prisoners free; His blood can make the foulest clean, His blood availed for me. For further meditation: