Bible Commentaries
Psalms 107

Verses 1-43

BOOK IV

Psalms 107

A Psalm of Gratitude

Scripture v. 1-43:

This psalm of gratitude seems to have been written after Israel’s return from Babylonian captivity, when God had redeemed them from among the Gentiles in four parts of the earth. God still gathers, redeems men for salvation and service.

Verse 1 calls for thanks to the Lord for his existing goodness and mercy, that roll on, continue forever, without ceasing, 1 Chronicles 16:8; Psalms 25:8; Deuteronomy 4:31.

Verse 2 appeals "Let the redeemed of the Lord (Israel’s regathered remnant) say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy," in Babylon, Isaiah 12:4; Psalms 31:5; 1 Samuel 17:37. The Jews restored to their land are the "ransomed of the Lord," Isaiah 62:12; Isaiah 63:4; Isaiah 35:10; Isaiah 59:20; Romans 11:26.

Verse 3 adds that He "gathered (assembled) them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south," all parts of the Babylonian empire where they may have been sold, carried away as slaves, or servants of the Gentiles in Babylonian captivity. This also seems to allude to the greater gathering of them, from their present worldwide dispersion, at the end of this age, Deuteronomy 30:3; Luke 21:24; Acts 15:16-17.

Verses 4, 5 tell of their solitary wilderness wandering, with no city to reside in, when in hunger and thirst their soul fainted, yet He safely led on. Genesis 47:9; Numbers 14:33; Deuteronomy 28:48; Numbers 21:4; Exodus 2:23.

Verses 6,7 recount that in this trouble and distress they cried to the Lord and He did deliver them, as He ever does to the faith-crying soul, Exodus 14:30; Psalms 40:13; Psalms 145:18-19; Romans 10:13; It is added that He led them forth by the right way His leadings are never wrong that they might go to a "city of habitation," one that God has prepared for His own, Hebrews 11:10; Deuteronomy 8:2; Isaiah 26:7; John 14:13; 1 Corinthians 2:9; 2 Corinthians 5:1; Ezra 8:21; Isaiah 63:12.

Verse 8 exclaims "O that men would praise the Lord for (both) his goodness and his wonderful works to (toward) the children of men!" In redemption they are liberated from slaves’ dark bondage to a new city of peace, Hebrews 11:10. For such He should be continually praised, Psalms 9:11; Psalms 25:8; Philippians 4:4.

Verse 9 reasons, "He satisfieth (continually) the longing (yearning) soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness," the longings of His people for peace and provisions, Isaiah 29:8; Isaiah 55:13; Psalms 108:5; Psalms 104:13; Psalms 104:16; Matthew 11:28-29; Mark 5:6; Luke 1:53.

Verse 10-12 relate that those who "rebelled against the word of God," were caused to sit, bound in affliction and iron, in darkness and the "shadow of death," because they had treated with contempt .the counsel of the most High God, for which they were so often judged, chastened, through enemy oppression, Job 36:8; La 3:42; 1 Samuel 2:5; Psalms 73:24; Psalms 119:24; Isaiah 5:19; Jeremiah 44:16; Luke 7:30; Acts 20:27; Isaiah 63:5.

Verse 13 adds "Then (in their oppression) they cried to the Lord, from their trouble and anxieties," and He heard or responded to their cries, Exodus 2:23; Psalms 27:1; Psalms 145:18-19.

Verse 14 continues "He brought them out (rescued them) of the shadow of death and brake (severed ) their bands in sunder," setting them free, even as Christ makes the penitent believer free, John 8:32; John 8:36; Deuteronomy 33:29; Job 5:19; Isaiah 42:7.

Verse 15 exclaims again the refrain that men should praise the Lord for His goodness and wonderful works toward "the children of men," v. 8; Philippians 4:4.

Verse 16 reaffirms that He has broken the gates of brass and cut the bars of iron in sunder, liberating, setting the captives free, Isaiah 45:2; Luke 4:16-18.

Verse 17 asserts that fools are afflicted (punished) because of their willful transgressions and responsible inquiries, for which they are accountably judged by an holy law principle, Psalms 53:1; Leviticus 26:16; Job 15:31; Deuteronomy 28:67; Proverbs 13:15.

Verse 18 declares that the souls of the sinfully stupid abhor all manner of meat (food); and thus draw near the gates of death. But they are no more fools or stupid than sinners who refuse the bread and water of life, for their dying souls, 1 Samuel 1:7; Leviticus 26:17; Ecclesiastes 5:17.

Verse 19 states that "Then (in throes of death) they cry to the Lord in their (starvation) trouble, and he saves (delivers) them out of and away from their distress," Through His Divine compassion as expressed Exodus 2:23; Exodus 3:7; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4.

Verse 20 asserts that "He sent his word and healed them and delivered them from their (just) destruction, "Matthew 8:8; Psalms 41:4; Exodus 14:30. See also La 4:20; Isaiah 38:10; Psalms 103:4.

Verse 21 resounds the refrain, a third time, that men might give praise and glory to God for: 1) His goodness, and 2) His wondrous works toward the children of men, in redemption and their daily care, v.8,15; La 3:22,23; Psalms 9:11; Psalms 25:8; Romans 11:33.

Verse 22 calls the redeemed to sacrifice the sacrifice of Thanksgiving, and to declare and to witness (tell of His works) with rejoicing, continually, Psalms 116:17; Deuteronomy 8:10; Colossians 1:12; 1 Chronicles 16:8; Hebrews 13:15.

Verses 23, 24’ assert that the mariners (shipmen) who go down to the sea in ships, and do business in great waters, upon the high seas, see the works of the Lord and His wonders in the deep, where ever they sail or anchor, 1 Kings 9:27; Isaiah 42:10; Psalms 8:3; Isaiah 51:10. However tempest tossed the sea may be, God is in it; Even so He watches over His own, Daniel 7:2; Mark 4:37-39.

Verses 25, 26 declare that He directs the stormy winds that stir up waves toward heaven, causes them to go down in rhythm, Jonah 1:4; So that their soul is melted because of trouble, the storm tossed souls of the oppressed of Israel among the heathen. Only He can remove or calm the billows, Psalms 148:8; Jonah 1:11; Psalms 22:14; Isaiah 13:7; Nahum 2:10; Exodus 6:9.

Verse 27, 28 relate that "they reel and stagger, to and fro," like a drunkard, at their wit’s end, with their wisdom used up; Then in desperation, they cry to the Lord and He brings them out of their distress, their depressing problems of every kind. If a storm at sea will not drive one to prayer, he is hopeless, Jonah 1:14.

Verses 29, 30 certify that the Lord of the winds and waters cause the storm to become a calm, so that the waves are cowed, or stilled like a pet dog. Then are the mariners made glad, because the waves are quiet, and so He brings them to their desired haven, or landing, Psalms 65:7; Isaiah 50:2; Jonah 1:15; Matthew 8:26; See also Matthew 8:26; Psalms 79:9.

Verse 31 relates the fourth refrain of this Psalms 107:8; Psalms 107:15; Psalms 107:21, calling on men to glorify, praise, or extol the Lord for His self-existing goodness and for His wondrous, gracious works among men, Psalms 9:11; Psalms 25:8; Psalms 150:1; Psalms 150:6.

Verse 32 exhorts that men exalt the Lord in the congregation of the people and in the assembly (public gathering) of the elders, the leaders of Israel, God’s chosen and elect, Psalms 29:2; Psalms 145:5; Exodus 3:16; Ezra 3:1; Ezra 1:5.

Verses 33-36 declare that God turns rivers into a wilderness and the spring waters into dry ground; sending it to bless the earth, make it fruitful, 1 Kings 17:1; and contrariwise because of wickedness He turns fruitful places into barrenness for those who reside there, sending famine and want, Leviticus 26:26; Deuteronomy 29:23 explains how He sent it to Sodom and Gommorrah, Isaiah 13:19.
Verses 35,36 add that He turns the wilderness into a standing water (overflows it) and dry ground into water springs, so that He causes the hungry to dwell or reside there, that they may construct a city for habitation, as related Isaiah 35:1; resuming the desired sentiment expressed v.4,5,7; Hebrews 11; Hebrews 10; Acts 17:26.

Verse 37 Indicates that He also makes His people to sow fields and plant vineyards that may yield fruits of increase to sustain them, Psalms 65:9-12; Genesis 26:12.

Verse 38 declares that it is by God’s blessings (unmerited) that temporal prosperity comes bountifully upon men, to cause their families and cattle to be in health and increase, as set forth, Genesis 24:35; Joshua 1:8; Psalms 144:13; Genesis 15:5; Deuteronomy 7:14.

Verse 40 certifies that the Lord also pours out Divine contempt upon pride-filled rulers causing them to be driven into rugged ways of wilderness wanderings, as Israel had been, Psalms 2:4; Job 12:24; Genesis 19:11; Job 9:13.

Verse 41 relates that in contrast He sets (elevates) the poor the afflicted Jews on high, from affliction, and makes them to have large families like a flock, a blessing in old age, Psalms 68:6; Psalms 75:7; Psalms 91:14; Job 5:15.

Verse 42 asserts that the righteous (Israel) should see (recognize) this prosperity as Divinely sent and rejoice, Isaiah 51:1; Isaiah 26:2. "And all iniquity shall stop her mouth," alludes to the heathen powers of Babylon, Edom, and the Philistines who had derided, insulted once prostrate Judah, Zechariah 1:15; Obadiah 1:11-15.

Verse 43 concludes that those who are wise and would ob­serve these things, would understand, grasp, or comprehend the loving-kindness of the Lord, having their happiness increased thereby, Hosea 6:3; Matthew 13:12. See also Jeremiah 9:12; Jeremiah 9:24; Daniel 12:10; Deuteronomy 4:6; Psalms 17:7.