Psalms 107:1-11

1 Give thanks to ADONAI; for he is good, for his grace continues forever.

2 Let those redeemed by ADONAI say it, those he redeemed from the power of the foe.

3 He gathered them from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the sea.

4 They wandered in the desert, on paths through the wastes, without finding any inhabited city.

5 They were hungry and thirsty, their life was ebbing away.

6 In their trouble they cried to ADONAI, and he rescued them from their distress.

7 He led them by a direct path to a city where they could live.

8 Let them give thanks to ADONAI for his grace, for his wonders bestowed on humanity!

9 For he has satisfied the hungry, filled the starving with good.

10 Some lived in darkness, in death-dark gloom, bound in misery and iron chains,

11 because they defied God's word, scorned the counsel of the Most High.

Psalms 107:1-11 Meaning and Commentary

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.''