Psalms 107:25-35

25 (106-25) He said the word, and there arose a storm of wind: and the waves thereof were lifted up.

26 (106-26) They mount up to the heavens, and they go down to the depths: their soul pined away with evils.

27 (106-27) They were troubled, and reeled like a drunken man; and all their wisdom was swallowed up.

28 (106-28) And they cried to the Lord in their affliction: and he brought them out of their distresses.

29 (106-29) And he turned the storm into a breeze: and its waves were still.

30 (106-30) And they rejoiced because they were still: and he brought them to the haven which they wished for.

31 (106-31) Let the mercies of the Lord give glory to him, and his wonderful works to the children of men.

32 (106-32) And let them exalt him in the church of the people: and praise him in the chair of the ancients.

33 (106-33) He hath turned rivers into a wilderness: and the sources of waters into dry ground:

34 (106-34) A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.

35 (106-35) He hath turned a wilderness into pools of waters, and a dry land into water springs.

Psalms 107:25-35 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.''