1.
O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
The first Psalm of Book V. This book contains fifteen by David, one by Solomon (Psalms 127 ), and the rest anonymous (probably by Hezekiah, see App-67 ), certainly not later than his day. See notes on passages supposed to prove a later date.
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
mercy = lovingkindness, or grace; as in Psalms 107:43 .
2.
Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;
redeemed. Hebrew. ga'al, to redeem by purchase. See notes on Exodus 6:6 , and compare Exodus 13:13 .
hand. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for the power exercised by it.
enemy = adversary, or straitnesses.
3.
And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.
gathered. This is the subject of this last book. Gathered by His Word; and according to His Word. See the Structure, p. 826, and note, p. 827.
the lands, &c. Figure of speech Topographia ( App-6 ), for emphasis. The Psalm looks forward to the final ingathering of Israel.
south = sea: i.e. the Red Sea.
4.
They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.
a solitary way = a trackless waste.
city to dwell in = city of habitation, as in Psalms 107:7 .
5.
Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.
soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .
trouble = strait.
6.
Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.
7.
And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.
He led them forth. When this is the case, the way is always "right".
the right way. Because it is His way: not the shortest, or most direct, or most pleasant; but it is the way of Grace and Favour. It is the way of Trial (Deuteronomy 8:2-4 ); the way of Safety; the way of Divine Provision and Miraculous Supplies; and it ends "right".
8.
Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
goodness = lovingkindness, or grace; same word as "mercy" in Psalms 107:1 .
children = sons.
men. Hebrew. 'adam, App-14 .
9.
For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.
filleth the hungry soul. Quoted in Luke 1:53 .
10.
Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;
affliction = oppression.
11.
Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:
rebelled. This marks the subject of 4-9.
words = sayings, utterances.
GOD. Hebrew El. App-4 .
contemned = despised.
the MOST HIGH. Hebrew. 'Elyon. App-4 .
12.
Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.
none to help = no sign of a helper.
13.
Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.
14.
He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.
15.
Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
16.
For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.
17.
Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.
Fools = the Perverse, depending on their own wisdom, which is foolishness with God (1 Corinthians 1:20-25 ). Compare Proverbs 1:7 ; Proverbs 12:15 ; Proverbs 14:3 , Proverbs 14:9 ; Proverbs 15:5 ; Proverbs 27:22 .
transgression. Hebrew. pasha'. App-44 .
iniquities. Hebrew. 'avah. App-44 . Not the same word as in Psalms 107:42 .
are afflicted = bring affliction on themselves.
18.
Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death.
19.
Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses.
20.
He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
He sent His Word = He sendeth. This is the key-note to the whole book. All blessing is bound up in this. Note the prophetic reference to Christ, the Living Word (John 1:1 , John 1:2 , John 1:14 and contrast with the written Word (Psalms 119 ). See the Structure, p. 826.
sent =sendeth.
healed = healeth.
delivered =delivereth.
destructions = graves. Hebrew shahath. Occurs only here andLam 4:20. The Divine Deliverer was "taken in their pits", and He alone can deliver from the grave.
21.
Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
22.
And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.
23.
They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;
They that go down, &c. In the Heb, text, verses: Psalms 107:23-28 are marked by "inverted Nuns " (i.e. the letter Nun ( N ), inverted). There are nine altogether. There are two in Numbers 10:35 , Numbers 10:36 (see note there), and seven in this Psalm. Psalms 107:23-28 each have one; also Psalms 107:40 . These inverted letters are used as our "brackets" are, to indicate that, in the opinion of the Sopherim, the verses so marked should be transposed. But this is only an opinion, arrived at from not seeing the Structure of the Psalm, which, when examined, leaves nothing "inexplicable", as the transition from Psalms 107:38 to Psalms 107:39 is said to be.
24.
These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.
works. Some codices, with two early printed editions, read "work" (singular)
25.
For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
wind. Hebrew. ruach. App-9 .
26.
They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
27.
They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end.
man. Hebrew ' ish . App-14 .
are at their wit's end. Hebrew all their wisdom swallows itself.
28.
Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
29.
He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
30.
Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
bringeth = guideth: or, will gently guide.
31.
Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
32.
Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.
congregation = assembly, or convocation.
assembly = session, or seated company.
33.
He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground;
34.
A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.
wickedness. Hebrew. ra'a' . App-44 .
35.
He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings.
And. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ) in verses: Psalms 107:35-38 , emphasizing each item which goes to make up the fulness of blessing.
36.
And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation;
37.
And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase.
38.
He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease.
suffereth not, &c. Figure of speech Tapeinosis ( App-6 ) = will abundantly multiply.
39.
Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow.
Again, &c. So far from the transition from Psalms 107:38-39 being "inexplicable", or Psalms 107:40 being an "interpolation", the perfection of the repetition of the subject ("judgment") is shown by the Structure above.
40.
He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way.
in the wilderness, where there is no way = a pathless waste.
wilderness. Hebrew. tohu. Rendered "without form" in Genesis 1:2 , describing what "the world that then was" had become by the disruption.
41.
Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock.
the poor = a needy one. Hebrew. 'ebyon. See note on Proverbs 6:11 .
from = after.
42.
The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.
iniquity. Hebrew. 'aval. App-44 . Not the same word as in Psalms 107:17 .
43.
Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.
lovingkindness = lovingkindnesses (plural) Same word as "mercy", in Psalms 107:1 .