Psalms 107

18. near unto--literally, "even to"
gates--or, "domains" ( Psalms 9:13 ).

20. sent his word--that is, put forth His power.
their destructions--that is, that which threatened them. To the chorus is added the mode of giving thanks, by a sacrifice and joyful singing ( Psalms 50:14 ).

23-32. Here are set forth the perils of seafaring, futility of man's, and efficiency of God's, help.
go . . . sea--alluding to the elevation of the land at the coast.

24. These see . . . deep--illustrated both by the storm He raises and the calm He makes with a word ( Psalms 33:9 ).

25. waves thereof--literally, "His waves" (God's, Psalms 42:7 ).

27. are . . . end--literally, "all their wisdom swallows up itself," destroys itself by vain and contradictory devices, such as despair induces.

29-32. He maketh . . . calm--or, "to stand to stillness," or "in quiet." Instead of acts of temple-worship, those of the synagogue are here described, where the people with the
assembly--or session of elders, convened for reading, singing, prayer, and teaching.

33-41. He turneth rivers into a wilderness, &c.--God's providence is illustriously displayed in His influence on two great elements of human prosperity, the earth's productiveness and the powers of government. He punishes the wicked by destroying the sources of fertility, or, in mercy, gives fruitfulness to deserts, which become the homes of a busy and successful agricultural population. By a permitted misrule and tyranny, this scene of prosperity is changed to one of adversity. He rules rulers, setting up one and putting down another.

40. wander . . . wilderness--reduced to misery ( Job 12:24 ).

42, 43. In this providential government, good men will rejoice, and the cavils of the wicked will be stopped ( Job 5:16 , Isaiah 52:15 ), and all who take right views will appreciate God's unfailing mercy and unbounded love.