Salmos 107

1 Alabad al SEÑOR, porque es bueno; porque para siempre es su misericordia

2 Díganlo los redimidos del SEÑOR, los que ha redimido del poder del enemigo

3 y los ha congregado de las tierras, del oriente y del occidente, del aquilón y del mar

4 Anduvieron perdidos por el desierto, por la soledad sin camino, sin hallar ciudad en dónde vivir

5 Hambrientos y sedientos, su alma desfallecía en ellos

6 Y clamaron al SEÑOR en su angustia, los libró de sus aflicciones

7 Los dirigió por camino derecho, para que vinieran a ciudad de habitación

8 Alaben al SEÑOR por su misericordia; y sus maravillas para con los hijos de Adán

9 Porque sació al alma menesterosa, y llenó de bien al alma hambrienta

10 Los que moraban en tinieblas y sombra de muerte aprisionados, en aflicción y en hierros

11 por cuanto fueron rebeldes a las palabras del SEÑOR, y aborrecieron el consejo del Altísimo

12 Por eso quebrantó él con trabajo sus corazones, cayeron y no hubo quién los ayudara

13 Luego que clamaron al SEÑOR en su angustia, los libró de sus aflicciones

14 Los sacó de las tinieblas, y de la sombra de muerte; y rompió sus prisiones

15 Alaben al SEÑOR por su misericordia, y sus maravillas para con los hijos de Adán

16 Porque quebrantó las puertas de bronce, y desmenuzó los cerrojos de hierro

17 Los locos, a causa del camino de su rebelión; y a causa de sus iniquidades fueron afligidos

18 su alma abominó toda vianda; y llegaron hasta las puertas de la muerte

19 Mas clamaron al SEÑOR en su angustia; y los salvó de sus aflicciones

20 Envió su palabra, y los curó, y los libró de sus sepulturas

21 Alaben al SEÑOR por su misericordia, y sus maravillas para con los hijos de Adán

22 Y ofrezcan sacrificios de alabanza, y publiquen sus obras con júbilo

23 Los que descienden al mar en navíos, y hacen obra en las muchas aguas

24 ellos han visto las obras del SEÑOR, y sus maravillas en el mar profundo

25 El dijo, e hizo saltar el viento de la tempestad, que levanta sus ondas

26 suben a los cielos, descienden a los abismos; sus almas se derriten con el mal

27 Tiemblan, y titubean como borrachos, y toda su ciencia es perdida

28 claman al SEÑOR en su angustia, y los libra de sus aflicciones

29 Hace parar la tempestad en sosiego, y sus ondas cesan

30 Se alegran luego porque se reposaron; y él los guía al término de su voluntad

31 Alaben al SEÑOR por su misericordia, y sus maravillas para con los hijos de Adán

32 Y ensálcenlo en la congregación del pueblo; y en la reunión de ancianos lo alaben

33 El puso los ríos en desierto, y los manaderos de las aguas en sed

34 la tierra fructífera en salados; por la maldad de los que la habitan

35 Vuelve el desierto en estanques de aguas, y la tierra desierta en manaderos de agua

36 Y aposenta allí hambrientos, y aderezan allí ciudad para habitación

37 y siembran campos, y plantan viñas; y rinden fruto de aumento

38 Y los bendice, y se multiplican en gran manera; y no disminuye sus bestias

39 Y después son menoscabados, y abatidos de tiranía; de males y congojas

40 El derrama menosprecio sobre los príncipes, y les hace andar errados, vagabundos, sin camino

41 Y levanta al pobre de la pobreza, y vuelve las familias como ovejas

42 Vean los rectos, y alégrense; y toda maldad cierre su boca

43 ¿Quién es sabio y guardará estas cosas, y entenderá las misericordias del SEÑOR

Salmos 107 Commentary

Chapter 107

God's providential care of the children of men in distresses, in banishment, and dispersion. (1-9) In captivity. (10-16) In sickness. (17-22) Danger at sea.(23-32) God's hand is to be seen by his own people. (33-43)

Verses 1-9 In these verses there is reference to the deliverance from Egypt, and perhaps that from Babylon: but the circumstances of travellers in those countries are also noted. It is scarcely possible to conceive the horrors suffered by the hapless traveller, when crossing the trackless sands, exposed to the burning rays of the sum. The words describe their case whom the Lord has redeemed from the bondage of Satan; who pass through the world as a dangerous and dreary wilderness, often ready to faint through troubles, fears, and temptations. Those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, after God, and communion with him, shall be filled with the goodness of his house, both in grace and glory.

Verses 10-16 This description of prisoners and captives intimates that they are desolate and sorrowful. In the eastern prisons the captives were and are treated with much severity. Afflicting providences must be improved as humbling providences; and we lose the benefit, if our hearts are unhumbled and unbroken under them. This is a shadow of the sinner's deliverance from a far worse confinement. The awakened sinner discovers his guilt and misery. Having struggled in vain for deliverance, he finds there is no help for him but in the mercy and grace of God. His sin is forgiven by a merciful God, and his pardon is accompanied by deliverance from the power of sin and Satan, and by the sanctifying and comforting influences of God the Holy Spirit.

Verses 17-22 If we knew no sin, we should know no sickness. Sinners are fools. They hurt their bodily health by intemperance, and endanger their lives by indulging their appetites. This their way is their folly. The weakness of the body is the effect of sickness. It is by the power and mercy of God that we are recovered from sickness, and it is our duty to be thankful. All Christ's miraculous cures were emblems of his healing diseases of the soul. It is also to be applied to the spiritual cures which the Spirit of grace works. He sends his word, and heals souls; convinces, converts them, makes them holy, and all by the word. Even in common cases of recovery from sickness, God in his providence speaks, and it is done; by his word and Spirit the soul is restored to health and holiness.

Verses 23-32 Let those who go to sea, consider and adore the Lord. Mariners have their business upon the tempestuous ocean, and there witness deliverances of which others cannot form an idea. How seasonable it is at such a time to pray! This may remind us of the terrors and distress of conscience many experience, and of those deep scenes of trouble which many pass through, in their Christian course. Yet, in answer to their cries, the Lord turns their storm into a calm, and causes their trials to end in gladness.

Verses 33-43 What surprising changes are often made in the affairs of men! Let the present desolate state of Judea, and of other countries, explain this. If we look abroad in the world, we see many greatly increase, whose beginning was small. We see many who have thus suddenly risen, as suddenly brought to nothing. Worldly wealth is uncertain; often those who are filled with it, ere they are aware, lose it again. God has many ways of making men poor. The righteous shall rejoice. It shall fully convince all those who deny the Divine Providence. When sinners see how justly God takes away the gifts they have abused, they will not have a word to say. It is of great use to us to be fully assured of God's goodness, and duly affected with it. It is our wisdom to mind our duty, and to refer our comfort to him. A truly wise person will treasure in his heart this delightful psalm. From it, he will fully understand the weakness and wretchedness of man, and the power and loving-kindness of God, not for our merit, but for his mercy's sake.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 107

This psalm, from its style, and from its connection with the preceding psalms, seems to have been written by David. The two foregoing psalms respect the children of Israel; this is generally thought to concern all mankind, and its view to assert a general providence which attends all, in whatsoever condition and circumstance; and to encourage men in their distresses to cry unto the Lord. According to Kimchi, Aben Ezra, and others, four sorts of persons are mentioned, travellers through a wilderness, prisoners, sick persons, and such who use the seas; to which some add a fifth, husbandmen; these are instanced in, not to the exclusion of others, but from them it may be concluded that whatsoever state or condition persons may be in, they are known and taken notice of by the Lord, and are relieved by him when they call upon him. Some restrain the whole to the Israelites, as the Targum, R. Obadiah, Arama, and others, where they make any application; and others apply the psalm to New Testament times; and indeed, though the literal sense should be attended unto and preserved, yet it seems to be applicable to spiritual persons and things. The title of it in the Syriac version is pretty remarkable,

``it is said concerning Joab and Abiah the sons of Samuel, who recited the commandments of the Lord. God gathered the Jews out of captivity, and brought them out from Babylon. Also the only begotten Son of God, Jesus Christ, gathered the Gentiles from the four corners of the world, by preaching to baptism.''