Psalm 107:1-31

1 "Give thanks to the Lord, because he is good; ¹ his love is eternal!"

2 Repeat these words in praise to the Lord, all you whom he has saved. He has rescued you from your enemies

3 and has brought you back from foreign countries, from east and west, from north and south.

4 Some wandered in the trackless desert and could not find their way to a city to live in.

5 They were hungry and thirsty and had given up all hope.

6 Then in their trouble they called to the Lord, and he saved them from their distress.

7 He led them by a straight road to a city where they could live.

8 They must thank the Lord for his constant love, for the wonderful things he did for them.

9 He satisfies those who are thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.

10 Some were living in gloom and darkness, prisoners suffering in chains,

11 because they had rebelled against the commands of Almighty God and had rejected his instructions.

12 They were worn out from hard work; they would fall down, and no one would help.

13 Then in their trouble they called to the Lord, and he saved them from their distress.

14 He brought them out of their gloom and darkness and broke their chains in pieces.

15 They must thank the Lord for his constant love, for the wonderful things he did for them.

16 He breaks down doors of bronze and smashes iron bars.

17 Some were fools, suffering because of their sins and because of their evil;

18 they couldn't stand the sight of food and were close to death.

19 Then in their trouble they called to the Lord, and he saved them from their distress.

20 He healed them with his command and saved them from the grave.

21 They must thank the Lord for his constant love, for the wonderful things he did for them.

22 They must thank him with sacrifices, and with songs of joy must tell all that he has done.

23 Some sailed over the ocean in ships, earning their living on the seas.

24 They saw what the Lord can do, his wonderful acts on the seas.

25 He commanded, and a mighty wind began to blow and stirred up the waves.

26 The ships were lifted high in the air and plunged down into the depths. In such danger the sailors lost their courage;

27 they stumbled and staggered like drunks - all their skill was useless.

28 Then in their trouble they called to the Lord, and he saved them from their distress.

29 He calmed the raging storm, and the waves became quiet.

30 They were glad because of the calm, and he brought them safe to the port they wanted.

31 They must thank the Lord for his constant love, for the wonderful things he did for them.

Psalm 107:1-31 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.''

Cross References

• 1. 107.11 Chronicles 16.34;2 Chronicles 5.13; 7.3;Ezra 3.11;Psalms 100.5; 106.1; 118.1; 136.1;Jeremiah 33.11.

Footnotes

• [a] [Probable text] south; [Hebrew] the Mediterranean Sea [(meaning "west").]