Salmi 107

1 Celebrate l’Eterno, perch’egli è buono, perché la sua benignità dura in eterno!

2 Così dicano i riscattati dall’Eterno, ch’egli ha riscattati dalla mano dell’avversario

3 e raccolti da tutti i paesi, dal levante e dal ponente, dal settentrione e dal mezzogiorno.

4 Essi andavano errando nel deserto per vie desolate; non trovavano città da abitare.

5 Affamati e assetati, l’anima veniva meno in loro.

6 Allora gridarono all’Eterno nella loro distretta, ed ei li trasse fuori dalle loro angosce.

7 Li condusse per la diritta via perché giungessero a una città da abitare.

8 Celebrino l’Eterno per la sua benignità, e per le sue maraviglie a pro dei figliuoli degli uomini!

9 Poich’egli ha saziato l’anima assetata, ed ha ricolmato di beni l’anima affamata.

10 Altri dimoravano in tenebre e in ombra di morte, prigionieri nell’afflizione e nei ferri,

11 perché s’erano ribellati alle parole di Dio e aveano sprezzato il consiglio dell’Altissimo;

12 ond’egli abbatté il cuor loro con affanno; essi caddero, e non ci fu alcuno che li soccorresse.

13 Allora gridarono all’Eterno nella loro distretta, e li salvò dalle loro angosce;

14 li trasse fuori dalle tenebre e dall’ombra di morte, e ruppe i loro legami.

15 Celebrino l’Eterno per la sua benignità, e per le sue maraviglie a pro dei figliuoli degli uomini!

16 Poich’egli ha rotte le porte di rame, e ha spezzato le sbarre di ferro.

17 Degli stolti erano afflitti per la loro condotta ribelle e per le loro iniquità.

18 L’anima loro abborriva ogni cibo, ed eran giunti fino alle porte della morte.

19 Allora gridarono all’Eterno nella loro distretta, e li salvò dalle loro angosce.

20 Mandò la sua parola e li guarì, e li scampò dalla fossa.

21 Celebrino l’Eterno per la sua benignità, e per le sue maraviglie a pro dei figliuoli degli uomini!

22 Offrano sacrifizi di lode, e raccontino le sue opere con giubilo!

23 Ecco quelli che scendon nel mare su navi, che trafficano sulle grandi acque;

24 essi veggono le opere dell’Eterno e le sue maraviglie nell’abisso.

25 Poich’egli comanda e fa levare il vento di tempesta, che solleva le onde del mare.

26 Salgono al cielo, scendono negli abissi; l’anima loro si strugge per l’angoscia.

27 Traballano e barcollano come un ubriaco, e tutta la loro saviezza vien meno.

28 Ma, gridando essi all’Eterno nella loro distretta, egli li trae fuori dalle loro angosce.

29 Egli muta la tempesta in quiete, e le onde si calmano.

30 Essi si rallegrano perché si sono calmate, ed ei li conduce al porto da loro desiderato.

31 Celebrino l’Eterno per la sua benignità, e per le sue maraviglie a pro dei figliuoli degli uomini!

32 Lo esaltino nell’assemblea del popolo, e lo lodino nel consiglio degli anziani!

33 Egli cambia i fiumi in deserto, e le fonti dell’acqua in luogo arido;

34 la terra fertile in pianura di sale, per la malvagità de’ suoi abitanti.

35 Egli cambia il deserto in uno stagno, e la terra arida in fonti d’acqua.

36 Egli fa quivi abitar gli affamati ed essi fondano una città da abitare.

37 Vi seminano campi e vi piantano vigne, e ne raccolgono frutti abbondanti.

38 Egli li benedice talché moltiplicano grandemente, ed egli non lascia scemare il loro bestiame.

39 Ma poi sono ridotti a pochi, umiliati per l’oppressione, per l’avversità e gli affanni.

40 Egli spande lo sprezzo sui principi, e li fa errare per deserti senza via;

41 ma innalza il povero traendolo dall’afflizione, e fa moltiplicar le famiglie a guisa di gregge.

42 Gli uomini retti lo vedono e si rallegrano, ed ogni iniquità ha la bocca chiusa.

43 Chi è savio osservi queste cose, e consideri la benignità dell’Eterno.

Salmi 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.''