Bible Commentaries
Psalms 107

Verses 1-3

1. A call to thanksgiving and testimony 107:1-3

God’s people should thank Him because He is good and His loyal love endures forever. Those whom He has redeemed should be especially grateful for His liberating work for them and should publicly testify to His salvation. In view of Psalms 107:3, this psalm may date from the postexilic period of Israel’s history (cf. Psalms 107:10-16).

Verses 1-43

Psalms 107

An unknown writer sought to motivate the Lord’s redeemed people to praise Him by reviewing some of His mighty acts.

Verses 4-9

It is not possible to identify the specific occasion, during the wilderness wanderings, that the writer referred to here. The people were hungry and thirsty and cried out to Yahweh in their distress (cf. Matthew 14:13-21; Matthew 15:32-39). He delivered them and led them on safely to their destination. Consequently, His people should thank Him for His loyal love and for His wonder-inspiring works for them. Yahweh provided the basic necessities of life for His people.

Verses 4-32

2. Specific instances of deliverance 107:4-32

The writer cited four times when the Israelites cried out to God for deliverance and He saved them (Psalms 107:6; Psalms 107:13; Psalms 107:19; Psalms 107:28; cf. Judges 2:18; Joel 2:32; Acts 2:21; Romans 10:13). These situations were answers to the prayer Solomon prayed at the dedication of the temple (cf. 1 Kings 8:46-53). At the end of each section, the psalmist reminded the redeemed to thank God with the same refrain (Psalms 107:8; Psalms 107:15; Psalms 107:21; Psalms 107:31). The Gospels record Jesus producing the same kinds of deliverance during His earthly ministry.

Verses 10-16

Second, the Lord delivered his captive people when they cried out to Him (cf. Matthew 8:28-34; Luke 1:79; Luke 4:18-19). God had set them free. He provided freedom for those held in captivity because of their sins. This is another clue that this psalm dates from after the Babylonian captivity. Perhaps this stanza inspired Charles Wesley to write "And Can It Be That I Should Gain?"

"Long my imprisoned spirit lay

Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;

Thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray,

I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;

My chains fell off, my heart was free,

I rose, went forth, and followed Thee."

Verses 17-22

Third, when God’s people were sick because of their sins and they cried out to Him, He restored them to health (cf. Matthew 9:1-8). The reference to God’s Word having a part in their healing (Psalms 107:20) shows that spiritual nourishment plays a vital part in physical restoration (cf. Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 4:4; James 5:14-16). Such salvation should move God’s people to make sacrifices to express their gratitude and to tell other people about the Lord’s goodness.

Verses 23-32

Fourth, God delivered sailors when they cried out to Him in storms. He calmed the seas and brought them safely to their ports (cf. Matthew 8:23-27; Luke 8:22-25). This, too, demands public praise from those who were rescued.

"The thank offering of the Psalms appears to be one pledged by the worshiper during or after some zero hour of his life. On the basis of Psalms 107 the rabbis spoke of four occasions when the thank offering was appropriate: safe return from a voyage (Psalms 107:23-32), safe return from a desert journey (Psalms 107:4-9), recovery from illness (Psalms 107:17-22), and release from prison (Psalms 107:10-16)." [Note: Ibid., p. 154. See also Jacob Milgrom, Leviticus 1-16, p. 219.]

Verses 33-38

God controls nature so that it becomes His instrument of cursing or blessing His people. The repetition of the phrase "an inhabited city" (Psalms 107:36, cf. Psalms 107:4; Psalms 107:7) is a unique feature of this psalm. It may refer to the captives returning to Jerusalem-their long anticipated destination-in the three returns from Babylon that the Old Testament records.

Verses 33-43

3. The providence of God 107:33-43

The following verses contain a second major reason for praising God, namely: His providential governing of the world.

Verses 39-43

The Lord also controls the experiences of people. He humbles the proud, but He also exalts the humble. The godly observe this and rejoice, but the unrighteous keep silent. A wise person will reflect on these matters and meditate on God’s loyal love (hesed).

"The conclusion to this psalm transforms the hymn of thanksgiving and praise to a wisdom psalm." [Note: VanGemeren, p. 688.]

This whole psalm exalts the loyal love of God (Psalms 107:1; Psalms 107:8; Psalms 107:15; Psalms 107:21; Psalms 107:31). It teaches God’s people to observe God’s loyalty to them when He saves them after they call on Him. He does this providentially by controlling the forces of nature and by arranging the circumstances of their lives. The proper godly response to this grace is to give thanks to Him and to tell others about His wonderful works.