Chapter Book
Loading
Change Translation
Loading...
  • Recent Translations
  • All Translations

Psalms 107

Share

Settings

The LORD Delivers Men from Manifold Troubles.

1

BOOK 5

1 Oh 1 give thanks to the LORD, for 2 He is good, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
2 Let 3the redeemed of the LORD say so, Whom He has 4redeemed from the hand of the adversary
3 And 5gathered from the lands, From the east and from the west, From the north and from the south.
4 They 6wandered in the wilderness in a desert region; They did not find a way to an inhabited 7city.
5 They were hungry and thirsty; Their 8soul fainted within them.
6 Then they 9cried out to the LORD in their trouble; He delivered them out of their distresses.
7 He led them also by a 10straight way, To go to 11an inhabited city.
8 12Let them give thanks to the LORD for His lovingkindness, And for His wonders to the sons of men!
9 For He has 13satisfied the thirsty soul, And the 14hungry soul He has filled with what is good.
10 There were those who 15dwelt in darkness and in the shadow of death, 16Prisoners in misery and chains,
11 Because they had 17rebelled against the words of God And 18spurned the 19counsel of the Most High.
12 Therefore He humbled their heart with labor; They stumbled and there was 20none to help.
13 Then they 21cried out to the LORD in their trouble; He saved them out of their distresses.
14 He 22brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death And 23broke their bands apart.
15 24Let them give thanks to the LORD for His lovingkindness, And for His wonders to the sons of men!
16 For He has 25shattered gates of bronze And cut bars of iron asunder.
17 Fools, because of their rebellious way, And 26because of their iniquities, were afflicted.
18 Their 27soul abhorred all kinds of food, And they 28drew near to the 29gates of death.
19 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble; He saved them out of their distresses.
20 He 30sent His word and 31healed them, And 32delivered them from their destructions.
21 33Let them give thanks to the LORD for His lovingkindness, And for His wonders to the sons of men!
22 Let them also offer 34sacrifices of thanksgiving, And 35tell of His works with joyful singing.
23 Those who 36go down to the sea in ships, Who do business on great waters;
24 They have seen the works of the LORD, And His wonders in the deep.
25 For He 37spoke and raised up a 38stormy wind, Which 39lifted up the waves of the sea.
26 They rose up to the heavens, they went down to the depths; Their soul 40melted away in their misery.
27 They reeled and 41staggered like a drunken man, And were at their wits' end.
28 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, And He brought them out of their distresses.
29 He 42caused the storm to be still, So that the waves of the sea were hushed.
30 Then they were glad because they were quiet, So He guided them to their desired haven.
31 43Let them give thanks to the LORD for His lovingkindness, And for His 44wonders to the sons of men!
32 Let them 45extol Him also 46in the congregation of the people, And 47praise Him at the seat of the elders.
33 He 48changes rivers into a wilderness And springs of water into a thirsty ground;
34 A 49fruitful land into a 50salt waste, Because of the wickedness of those who dwell in it.
35 He 51changes a wilderness into a pool of water And a dry land into springs of water;
36 And there He makes the hungry to dwell, So that they may establish 52an inhabited city,
37 And sow fields and 53plant vineyards, And gather a fruitful harvest.
38 Also He blesses them and they 54multiply greatly, And He 55does not let their cattle decrease.
39 When they are 56diminished and 57bowed down Through oppression, misery and sorrow,
40 He 58pours contempt upon princes And 59makes them wander 60in a pathless * waste.
41 But He 61sets the needy securely on high away from affliction, And 62makes his families like a flock.
42 The 63upright see it and are glad; But all 64unrighteousness shuts its mouth.
43 Who is 65wise? Let him give heed to these things, And consider the 66lovingkindnesses of the LORD.
PREVIOUS Psalms 106 NEXT Psalms 108

Images for Psalms 107

Psalm 107:9
Psalm 107:8-9
Psalm 107:29

Psalms 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.

Taken from Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Concise)

Cross References 66

  • 1. 1 Chronicles 16:34; Psalms 106:1; Psalms 118:1; Psalms 136:1; Jeremiah 33:11
  • 2. 2 Chronicles 5:13; 2 Chronicles 7:3; Ezra 3:11; Psalms 100:5
  • 3. Isaiah 35:9, 10; Isaiah 62:12; Isaiah 63:4
  • 4. Psalms 78:42; Psalms 106:10
  • 5. Deuteronomy 30:3; Nehemiah 1:9; Psalms 106:47; Isaiah 11:12; Isaiah 43:5; Isaiah 56:8; Ezekiel 11:17; Ezekiel 20:34
  • 6. Numbers 14:33; Numbers 32:13; Deuteronomy 2:7; Deuteronomy 32:10; Joshua 5:6; Joshua 14:10
  • 7. Psalms 107:7, 36
  • 8. Psalms 77:3
  • 9. Psalms 50:15; Psalms 107:13, 19, 28
  • 10. Ezra 8:21; Psalms 5:8; Jeremiah 31:9
  • 11. Psalms 107:4, 36
  • 12. Ps 107:15, 21, 31
  • 13. Psalms 22:26; Psalms 34:10; Psalms 63:5; Psalms 103:5
  • 14. Psalms 146:7; Matthew 5:6; Luke 1:53
  • 15. Psalms 143:3; Isaiah 42:7; Micah 7:8; Luke 1:79
  • 16. Job 36:8; Psalms 102:20
  • 17. Psalms 78:40; Psalms 106:7; Lamentations 3:42
  • 18. Numbers 15:31; 2 Chronicles 36:16; Proverbs 1:25; Isaiah 5:24
  • 19. Psalms 73:24
  • 20. Psalms 22:11; Psalms 72:12
  • 21. Psalms 107:6
  • 22. Psalms 86:13; Psalms 107:10
  • 23. Psalms 116:16; Jeremiah 2:20; Jeremiah 30:8; Nahum 1:13; Luke 13:16; Acts 12:7
  • 24. Ps 107:8, 21, 31
  • 25. Isaiah 45:1, 2
  • 26. Isaiah 65:6, 7; Jeremiah 30:14, 15; Lamentations 3:39; Ezekiel 24:23
  • 27. Job 33:20; Psalms 102:4
  • 28. Job 33:22; Psalms 88:3
  • 29. Job 38:17; Psalms 9:13
  • 30. Psalms 147:15, 18; Matthew 8:8
  • 31. 2 Kings 20:5; Psalms 30:2; Psalms 103:3; Psalms 147:3
  • 32. Job 33:28, 30; Psalms 30:3; Psalms 49:15; Psalms 56:13; Psalms 103:4
  • 33. Ps 107:8, 15, 31
  • 34. Leviticus 7:12; Psalms 50:14; Psalms 116:17
  • 35. Psalms 9:11; Psalms 73:28; Psalms 118:17
  • 36. Isaiah 42:10; Jonah 1:3
  • 37. Psalms 105:31, 34
  • 38. Psalms 148:8; Jonah 1:4
  • 39. Psalms 93:3, 4
  • 40. Psalms 22:14; Psalms 119:28
  • 41. Job 12:25; Isaiah 24:20
  • 42. Psalms 65:7; Psalms 89:9; Matthew 8:26; Luke 8:24
  • 43. Ps 107:8, 15, 21
  • 44. Psalms 78:4; Psalms 111:4
  • 45. Psalms 34:3; Psalms 99:5; Isaiah 25:1
  • 46. Psalms 22:22, 25
  • 47. Psalms 35:18
  • 48. 1 Kings 17:1, 7; Psalms 74:15; Isaiah 42:15; Isaiah 50:2
  • 49. Genesis 13:10; Genesis 14:3; Genesis 19:24, 25; Deuteronomy 29:23
  • 50. Job 39:6; Jeremiah 17:6
  • 51. Psalms 105:41; Psalms 114:8; Isaiah 35:6, 7; Isaiah 41:18
  • 52. Psalms 107:4, 7
  • 53. 2 Kings 19:29; Isaiah 65:21; Amos 9:14
  • 54. Genesis 12:2; Genesis 17:20; Exodus 1:7; Deuteronomy 1:10
  • 55. Deuteronomy 7:14
  • 56. 2 Kings 10:32; Ezekiel 5:11; Ezekiel 29:15
  • 57. Psalms 38:6; Psalms 44:25; Psalms 57:6
  • 58. Job 12:21
  • 59. Job 12:24
  • 60. Deuteronomy 32:10
  • 61. 1 Samuel 2:8; Psalms 59:1; Psalms 113:7, 8
  • 62. Job 21:11; Psalms 78:52; Psalms 113:9
  • 63. Job 22:19; Psalms 52:6
  • 64. Job 5:16; Psalms 63:11; Romans 3:19
  • 65. Psalms 64:9; Jeremiah 9:12; Hosea 14:9
  • 66. Psalms 107:1

Footnotes 27

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.''

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Psalms 107 Commentaries

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California.  All rights reserved.