Psalms 107

1 (106-1) Give glory to the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

2 (106-2) Let them say so that have been redeemed by the Lord, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy: and gathered out of the countries.

3 (106-3) From the rising and from the setting of the sun, from the north and from the sea.

4 (106-4) They wandered in a wilderness, in a place without water: they found not the way of a city for their habitation.

5 (106-5) They were hungry and thirsty: their soul fainted in them.

6 (106-6) And they cried to the Lord in their tribulation: and he delivered them out of their distresses.

7 (106-7) And he led them into the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.

8 (106-8) Let the mercies of the Lord give glory to him: and his wonderful works to the children of men.

9 (106-9) For he hath satisfied the empty soul, and hath filled the hungry soul with good things.

10 (106-10) Such as sat in darkness and in the shadow of death: bound in want and in iron.

11 (106-11) Because they had exasperated the words of God: and provoked the counsel of the most High:

12 (106-12) And their heart was humbled with labours: they were weakened, and there was none to help them.

13 (106-13) Then they cried to the Lord in their affliction: and he delivered them out of their distresses.

14 (106-14) And he brought them out of darkness, and the shadow of death; and broke their bonds in sunder.

15 (106-15) Let the mercies of the Lord give glory to him, and his wonderful works to the children of men.

16 (106-16) Because he hath broken gates of brass, and burst iron bars.

17 (106-17) He took them out of the way of their iniquity: for they were brought low for their injustices.

18 (106-18) Their soul abhorred all manner of meat: and they drew nigh even to the gates of death.

19 (106-19) And they cried to the Lord in their affliction: and he delivered them out of their distresses.

20 (106-20) He sent his word, and healed them: and delivered them from their destructions.

21 (106-21) Let the mercies of the Lord give glory to him: and his wonderful works to the children of men.

22 (106-22) And let them sacrifice the sacrifice of praise: and declare his works with joy.

23 (106-23) They that go down to the sea in ships, doing business in the great waters:

24 (106-24) These have seen the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep.

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.

36 (106-36) And hath placed there the hungry; and they made a city for their habitation.

37 (106-37) Anti they sowed fields, and planted vineyards: and they yielded fruit of birth.

38 (106-38) And he blessed them, and they were multiplied exceedingly: and their cattle he suffered not to decrease.

39 (106-39) Then they were brought to be few: and they were afflicted through the trouble of evils and sorrow.

40 (106-40) Contempt was poured forth upon their princes: and he caused them to wander where there was no passing, and out of the way.

41 (106-41) And he helped the poor out of poverty: and made him families like a flock of sheep.

42 (106-42) The just shall see, and shall rejoice, and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.

43 (106-43) Who is wise, and will keep these things; and will understand the mercies of the Lord?

Psalms 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.''