This psalm is without a title, and its author is unknown. The occasion on which it was composed is not particularly designated, though from Psalms 107:2, it is probable that it was on a return from exile or captivity. There is nothing in the psalm to forbid the supposition that this was the return f... [ Continue Reading ]
O GIVE THANKS UNTO THE LORD, FOR HE IS GOOD - See the notes at Psalms 106:1. FOR HIS MERCY ENDURETH FOR EVER - He is unchanging in his mercy. It is an attribute of his very nature. He is constantly manifesting it. The word rendered “mercy” here, however - חסד _chesed_ - is more general in its signi... [ Continue Reading ]
LET THE REDEEMED OF THE LORD SAY SO - They are especially qualified to say so; they have special occasion to say so; they can and will appreciate this trait in his character. The word rendered “redeemed” here - from גאל _gā'al_ - means “delivered, rescued,” without reference to any price paid for t... [ Continue Reading ]
AND GATHERED THEM OUT OF THE LANDS - The countries where they were scattered. In the times of the captivity the people were not all taken to one place, or did not all abide in one place. In the long exile - of seventy years - in Babylon, they would naturally be much scattered in the different provin... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY WANDERED IN THE WILDERNESS - On their return from Babylon; or, when God was conducting them again to their own land. The word “wilderness” in the Scriptures means a desolate, barren, uninhabited region, usually destitute of trees, of springs, and of water-courses. It does not denote, as it does... [ Continue Reading ]
HUNGRY AND THIRSTY - As they would be, when wandering in such a desert. A more literal and expressive rendering would be, “Hungry - also thirsty.” THEIR SOUL FAINTED IN THEM - The word used here - עטף _‛__âṭaph_ - means properly to cover, to clothe, as with a garment, Psalms 73:6; or a field with... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THEY CRIED UNTO THE LORD IN THEIR TROUBLE - The language in this verse is repeated in this psalm in Psalms 107:13, Psalms 107:19, Psalms 107:28 - as if this were the main subject of the psalm, that when the people of God in different circumstances, or under various forms of trouble, call upon G... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE LED THEM FORTH BY THE RIGHT WAY - A literal version, if the term necessary to express it might be allowable, would be,” He wayed them in a straight way;” he made a way for them, and that was a straight way. He conducted them in the most direct path to the land to which they were going. THAT... [ Continue Reading ]
OH THAT MEN WOULD PRAISE THE LORD FOR HIS GOODNESS - More literally, “Let such - or, let these - praise the Lord for his goodness,” the word “men” having been supplied by our translators. Yet it is not improper to suppose that a wider range is intended than would be denoted if it were confined to th... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HE SATISFIETH THE LONGING SOUL - This does not mean - what is indeed true in itself - that God has made provision for the “soul” of man, and satisfies it when it longs or pants for its needed supply, but the reference is to the creatures of God - the living things that he has made; and the idea... [ Continue Reading ]
SUCH AS SIT IN DARKNESS - The reference in these verses Psalms 107:10 is evidently to the children of Israel, when in Babylon; and the design is, to show the goodness of God to them in their trouble, and the occasion which they had for praising him on that account. To “sit in darkness” is significan... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE THEY REBELLED AGAINST THE WORDS OF GOD - The commands of God. They did not keep his commandments. Their captivity was produced by national disobedience. See the notes at Daniel 9:5. AND CONTEMNED THE COUNSEL - They despised the instructions of God. The law of God, at the same time that it “... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE HE BROUGHT DOWN THEIR HEART - Their pride; their self-sufficiency; their self-complacency. They thought that they could do without God; they relied on their own resources, and were self-satisfied; but God showed them that all this was vain, and humbled them, as he often does the proud, in... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THEY CRIED UNTO THE LORD IN THEIR TROUBLE - Compare Daniel 9. This is repeated in the psalm in Psalms 107:6, Psalms 107:13, Psalms 107:19, Psalms 107:28 - in all the divisions of the psalm except the last. See the notes at Psalms 107:6.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE BROUGHT THEM OUT OF DARKNESS AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH - From their captivity; from calamity which seemed to be as gloomy as the shadow of death. AND BRAKE THEIR BANDS IN SUNDER - Delivered them from their bondage, as if the bands of a prisoner or captive were suddenly broken.... [ Continue Reading ]
OH THAT MEN WOULD PRAISE ... - See the notes at Psalms 107:8. The idea here is that the things just referred to “should” call forth expressions of gratitude to God. The immediate reference is to those who had partaken of these proofs of the divine goodness, but still the language is so general as to... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HE HATH BROKEN THE GATES OF BRASS - The immediate “reason” here given for praising the Lord is that he had “broken the gates of brass,” continuing the thought from Psalms 107:10. In the previous part of the psalm, in giving a reason for praising the Lord, the fact that he feeds the hungry was se... [ Continue Reading ]
FOOLS, BECAUSE OF THEIR TRANSGRESSION - Wicked people, considered as fools, because they “are” transgressors. Compare Psalms 14:1, note; Psalms 73:3, note; Psalms 75:4, note. The immediate allusion here, probably, is to the Jews, who had been so wicked and so supremely foolish in violating the comma... [ Continue Reading ]
THEIR SOUL ABHORRETH ALL MANNER OF MEAT - All food; all that is to be eaten. The word rendered “abhorreth” is a word which is used with reference to anything that is abominable or loathsome; that from which we turn away with disgust. The language is expressive of sickness, when we loathe all food.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THEY CRY UNTO THE LORD... - See Psalms 107:6, note; Psalms 107:13, note. The meaning here is, that if the “sick” cry to the Lord, he hears them, and delivers them. This cannot mean that it “always” occurs, but it occurs “so often” as to show that God can and does interpose to save; “so often” a... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SENT HIS WORD, AND HEALED THEM - He did it by a word; it was necessary for him merely to give a command, and the disease left them. So it was in the life of the Saviour, who often healed the sick by a “word” Matthew 8:8; Luke 7:7; and so now restoration from disease often seems to be accomplished... [ Continue Reading ]
OH THAT MEN... - See the notes at Psalms 107:8. Who can help joining in this wish, that those who have been restored from sickness, who have been raised up from the borders of the grave, “would” praise God for it! Who can help wishing that they had the feelings of Hezekiah when he was saved from the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND LET THEM SACRIFICE - As in the cases before Psalms 107:9, Psalms 107:16, this is connected with the preceding part of the psalm, or is a “continuation” of the thought which had been interrupted by the prayer, “Oh that men would praise the Lord.” The particular idea here is, that they who have be... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY THAT GO DOWN TO THE SEA IN SHIPS - The scene here changes again. From those that wander in the desert - from those who are in prison - from those who are sick - the eye of the psalmist turns to those who encounter the perils of the ocean, and he finds there occasion for praise to God. The phras... [ Continue Reading ]
THESE SEE THE WORKS OF THE LORD - They - sailors - have a special opportunity to see the works of God. They see manifestations of his power which are not seen on the land. They see things which seem to come “directly” from God; which are “immediately” produced by him - not as the things which occur... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HE COMMANDETH - Hebrew, “he says;” that is, He speaks the word, and it is done. The mere expression of his will raises up the storm, and throws the sea into commotion. AND RAISETH THE STORMY WIND - Margin, as in Hebrew, “Maketh to stand.” The “stormy wind” is literally, the wind of the tempest.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY MOUNT UP TO THE HEAVEN - The mariners. That it refers to the seamen, and not to the waves, is apparent from the close of the verse: “their soul is melted.” THEY GO DOWN AGAIN TO THE DEPTHS - The word here is different from that used in Psalms 107:24, and rendered “deep,” but the idea is essent... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY REEL TO AND FRO - The word used here - חגג _châgag_ - means to dance as in a circle; then, to reel, or be giddy as drunkards are. AND STAGGER ... - This word means to move to and fro; to waver; to vacillate; and it is then applied to a man who cannot walk steadily - a drunkard. So the vessel,... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THEY CRY UNTO THE LORD IN THEIR TROUBLE ... - See Psalms 107:6, Psalms 107:13, Psalms 107:19. Sailors pray. If they do not pray elsewhere, they often do in a storm, when in danger of being wrecked and lost. A storm at sea brings hundreds on their knees who never prayed before - for they feel th... [ Continue Reading ]
HE MAKETH THE STORM A CALM - God does this, and God only can do it. The fact, therefore, that Jesus did it Matthew 8:26, proves that he was divine. There can be no more striking proof of divine power than the ability to calm the raging waves of the ocean by a word. This is literally, “He places the... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN ARE THEY GLAD BECAUSE THEY BE QUIET - Because the storm subsides, and they have the feeling of safety from danger. SO HE BRINGETH THEM - Rather, “And he guides them.” UNTO THEIR DESIRED HAVEN - The word translated “haven” occurs nowhere else. By some it is rendered “shore,” but the word “haven... [ Continue Reading ]
OH THAT MEN... - See Psalms 107:8, note; Psalms 107:15, note; Psalms 107:21, note. Assuredly they who are thus delivered from the dangers of the sea should praise the Lord; they who have seen the wonders of God on the great ocean should “never” forget God.... [ Continue Reading ]
LET THEM EXALT HIM ALSO - Let them lift up his name on high; let them make it conspicuous. The word means “to lift up,” and is applied to praise because we thus, as it were, “lift up” God, or make him conspicuous. IN THE CONGREGATION OF THE PEOPLE - Not merely in private, but in public. As his doin... [ Continue Reading ]
HE TURNETH RIVERS INTO A WILDERNESS - He makes great changes in the earth; he shows that he has absolute dominion over it. See the notes at Isaiah 44:26. On the word “wilderness,” see the notes at Psalms 107:4. The point here is, that God had such control over nature that he could make the bed of a... [ Continue Reading ]
A FRUITFUL LAND - Hebrew, A land of fruit. That is, a land that would produce abundance. The word “fruit” here is not used in the limited sense in which we now employ it, but means any productions of the earth. INTO BARRENNESS - Margin, as in Hebrew, “saltness.” The word is used to denote a barren... [ Continue Reading ]
HE TURNETH THE WILDERNESS INTO A STANDING WATER - A pool; a lake. See the notes at Isaiah 35:6. AND DRY GROUND INTO WATER-SPRINGS - Not merely watering it with rain from heaven, but causing gushing fountains to break forth, and to flow continually, diffusing fertility and beauty everywhere.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THERE HE MAKETH THE HUNGRY TO DWELL - Those who were in want; those who would have perished. It is not necessary to refer this to any particular case. It is a general statement, pertaining to changes which God makes upon the earth, as great as if he “should” thus convert a desert into a fruitful... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SOW THE FIELDS, AND PLANT VINEYARDS - Cultivate the earth. The culture of the vine was an important feature in agriculture in Palestine, and hence, it is made so prominent here. WHICH MAY YIELD FRUITS OF INCREASE - The fruits which the earth produces.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE BLESSETH THEM ALSO - In the manner immediately specified. SO THAT THEY ARE MULTIPLIED GREATLY - This was regarded as one of the highest blessings which God could confer, and hence, it was so often promised by him to the patriarchs, as a proof of his favor, that their seed should be as the stars... [ Continue Reading ]
AGAIN, THEY ARE MINISHED ... - literally, “And they are made to decrease.” That is - all is in the hand of God. He rules and directs all things. If there is prosperity, it comes from him; if there are reverses, they occur under his hand. People are not always prosperous. There are changes, misfortun... [ Continue Reading ]
HE POURETH CONTEMPT UPON PRINCES - He treats them as if they were common people; he pays no regard in his providence to their station and rank. They are subjected to the same needs as others; they meet with reverses like others; they become captives like others; they sicken and die like others; they... [ Continue Reading ]
YET SETTETH HE THE POOR ON HIGH FROM AFFLICTION - Margin, “after.” The sense is not materially different. The idea is, that while he thus humbles princes, bringing them down from their lofty position, he has respect to the poor in their condition of suffering and trial, and raises them from that dep... [ Continue Reading ]
THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL SEE IT, AND REJOICE - Shall see all these changes; shall see in their own case the proofs of the divine favor. They shall thus have occasion for praise. AND ALL INIQUITY SHALL STOP HER MOUTH - The wicked shall be silenced; they shall be dumb. The righteous shall find, in these v... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOSO IS WISE - All who are truly wise. That is, all who have a proper understanding of things, or who are disposed to look at them aright. AND WILL OBSERVE THESE THINGS - Will attentively consider them; will reason upon them correctly; will draw just conclusions from them; will allow them to produ... [ Continue Reading ]