Psaume 107

1 Louez l'Eternel, car il est bon, Car sa miséricorde dure à toujours!

2 Qu'ainsi disent les rachetés de l'Eternel, Ceux qu'il a délivrés de la main de l'ennemi,

3 Et qu'il a rassemblés de tous les pays, De l'orient et de l'occident, du nord et de la mer!

4 Ils erraient dans le désert, ils marchaient dans la solitude, Sans trouver une ville où ils pussent habiter.

5 Ils souffraient de la faim et de la soif; Leur âme était languissante.

6 Dans leur détresse, ils crièrent à l'Eternel, Et il les délivra de leurs angoisses;

7 Il les conduisit par le droit chemin, Pour qu'ils arrivassent dans une ville habitable.

8 Qu'ils louent l'Eternel pour sa bonté, Et pour ses merveilles en faveur des fils de l'homme!

9 Car il a satisfait l'âme altérée, Il a comblé de biens l'âme affamée.

10 Ceux qui avaient pour demeure les ténèbres et l'ombre de la mort Vivaient captifs dans la misère et dans les chaînes,

11 Parce qu'ils s'étaient révoltés contre les paroles de Dieu, Parce qu'ils avaient méprisé le conseil du Très-Haut.

12 Il humilia leur coeur par la souffrance; Ils succombèrent, et personne ne les secourut.

13 Dans leur détresse, ils crièrent à l'Eternel, Et il les délivra de leurs angoisses;

14 Il les fit sortir des ténèbres et de l'ombre de la mort, Et il rompit leurs liens.

15 Qu'ils louent l'Eternel pour sa bonté, Et pour ses merveilles en faveur des fils de l'homme!

16 Car il a brisé les portes d'airain, Il a rompu les verrous de fer.

17 Les insensés, par leur conduite coupable Et par leurs iniquités, s'étaient rendus malheureux.

18 Leur âme avait en horreur toute nourriture, Et ils touchaient aux portes de la mort.

19 Dans leur détresse, ils crièrent à l'Eternel, Et il les délivra de leurs angoisses;

20 Il envoya sa parole et les guérit, Il les fit échapper de la fosse.

21 Qu'ils louent l'Eternel pour sa bonté, Et pour ses merveilles en faveur des fils de l'homme!

22 Qu'ils offrent des sacrifices d'actions de grâces, Et qu'ils publient ses oeuvres avec des cris de joie!

23 Ceux qui étaient descendus sur la mer dans des navires, Et qui travaillaient sur les grandes eaux,

24 Ceux-là virent les oeuvres de l'Eternel Et ses merveilles au milieu de l'abîme.

25 Il dit, et il fit souffler la tempête, Qui souleva les flots de la mer.

26 Ils montaient vers les cieux, ils descendaient dans l'abîme; Leur âme était éperdue en face du danger;

27 Saisis de vertige, ils chancelaient comme un homme ivre, Et toute leur habileté était anéantie.

28 Dans leur détresse, ils crièrent à l'Eternel, Et il les délivra de leurs angoisses;

29 Il arrêta la tempête, ramena le calme, Et les ondes se turent.

30 Ils se réjouirent de ce qu'elles s'étaient apaisées, Et l'Eternel les conduisit au port désiré.

31 Qu'ils louent l'Eternel pour sa bonté, Et pour ses merveilles en faveur des fils de l'homme!

32 Qu'ils l'exaltent dans l'assemblée du peuple, Et qu'ils le célèbrent dans la réunion des anciens!

33 Il change les fleuves en désert, Et les sources d'eaux en terre desséchée,

34 Le pays fertile en pays salé, A cause de la méchanceté de ses habitants.

35 Il change le désert en étang, Et la terre aride en sources d'eaux,

36 Et il y établit ceux qui sont affamés. Ils fondent une ville pour l'habiter;

37 Ils ensemencent des champs, plantent des vignes, Et ils en recueillent les produits.

38 Il les bénit, et ils deviennent très nombreux, Et il ne diminue point leur bétail.

39 Sont-ils amoindris et humiliés Par l'oppression, le malheur et la souffrance;

40 Verse-t-il le mépris sur les grands, Les fait-il errer dans des déserts sans chemin,

41 Il relève l'indigent et le délivre de la misère, Il multiplie les familles comme des troupeaux.

42 Les hommes droits le voient et se réjouissent, Mais toute iniquité ferme la bouche.

43 Que celui qui est sage prenne garde à ces choses, Et qu'il soit attentif aux bontés de l'Eternel.

Psaume 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.

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.''