Psalms 107:32-42

32 Let them extol him in the assembly of the people and praise him in the leaders' council.

33 He turns rivers into desert, flowing springs into thirsty ground,

34 productive land into salt flats, because the people living there are so wicked.

35 But he also turns desert into pools of water, dry land into flowing springs;

36 there he gives the hungry a home, and they build a city to live in;

37 there they sow fields and plant vineyards, which yield an abundant harvest.

38 He blesses them, their numbers grow, and he doesn't let their livestock decrease.

39 When their numbers fall, and they grow weak, because of oppression, disaster and sorrow,

40 he pours contempt on princes and leaves them to wander in trackless wastes.

41 But the needy he raises up from their distress and increases their families like sheep.

42 When the upright see this, they rejoice; while the wicked are reduced to silence.

Psalms 107:32-42 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.''