1.
O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
1, 2. This call for thankful
praise is the burden or chorus (compare Psalms 107:8;
Psalms 107:15, &c.).
2.
Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;
2. redeemed of the Lord—(compare
Isaiah 35:9; Isaiah 35:10).
say—that is, that His
mercy, &c.
hand of—or, "power
of enemy."
3.
And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.
3. gathered—alluding to the
dispersion of captives throughout the Babylonian empire.
from the south—literally,
"the sea," or, Red Sea (), which was on the south.
4.
They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.
4-7. A graphic picture is given
of the sufferings of those who from distant lands returned to
Jerusalem; or,
city of habitation—may
mean the land of Palestine.
5.
Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.
5. fainted—was overwhelmed
(Psalms 61:3; Psalms 77:3).
6.
Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.
4-7. A graphic picture is given
of the sufferings of those who from distant lands returned to
Jerusalem; or,
city of habitation—may
mean the land of Palestine.
7.
And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.
8.
Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
8, 9. To the chorus is added, as
a reason for praise, an example of the extreme distress from which
they had been delivered—extreme hunger, the severest privation of a
journey in the desert.
9.
For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.
10.
Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;
10-16. Their sufferings were for
their rebellion against () the words, or purposes, or promises, of God for their
benefit. When humbled they cry to God, who delivers them from
bondage, described as a dark dungeon with doors and bars of metal, in
which they are bound in iron—that is, chains and fetters.
shadow of death—darkness
with danger (Psalms 23:4).
11.
Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:
12.
Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.
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.
16. broken—literally,
"shivered" (Isaiah 45:2).
17.
Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.
17-22. Whether the same or not,
this exigency illustrates that dispensation of God according to which
sin brings its own punishment.
are afflicted—literally,
"afflict themselves," that is, bring on disease, denoted by
loathing of food, and drawing
18.
Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death.
18. near unto—literally, "even
to"
gates—or, "domains"
(Psalms 9:13).
19.
Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses.
17-22. Whether the same or not,
this exigency illustrates that dispensation of God according to which
sin brings its own punishment.
are afflicted—literally,
"afflict themselves," that is, bring on disease, denoted by
loathing of food, and drawing
20.
He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
20. sent his word—that is, put
forth His power.
their destructions—that
is, that which threatened them. To the chorus is added the mode of
giving thanks, by a sacrifice and joyful singing ().
21.
Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
17-22. Whether the same or not,
this exigency illustrates that dispensation of God according to which
sin brings its own punishment.
are afflicted—literally,
"afflict themselves," that is, bring on disease, denoted by
loathing of food, and drawing
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;
23-32. Here are set forth the
perils of seafaring, futility of man's, and efficiency of God's,
help.
go . . . sea—alluding
to the elevation of the land at the coast.
24.
These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.
24. These see . . . deep—illustrated
both by the storm He raises and the calm He makes with a word ().
25.
For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
25. waves thereof—literally,
"His waves" (God's, ).
26.
They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
23-32. Here are set forth the
perils of seafaring, futility of man's, and efficiency of God's,
help.
go . . . sea—alluding
to the elevation of the land at the coast.
27.
They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end.
27. are . . . end—literally,
"all their wisdom swallows up itself," destroys itself by
vain and contradictory devices, such as despair induces.
28.
Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
23-32. Here are set forth the
perils of seafaring, futility of man's, and efficiency of God's,
help.
go . . . sea—alluding
to the elevation of the land at the coast.
29.
He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
29-32. He maketh . . . calm—or,
"to stand to stillness," or "in quiet." Instead
of acts of temple-worship, those of the synagogue are here described,
where the people with the
assembly—or session of
elders, convened for reading, singing, prayer, and teaching.
30.
Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
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.
33.
He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground;
33-41. He turneth rivers into a
wilderness, &c.—God's providence is illustriously displayed
in His influence on two great elements of human prosperity, the
earth's productiveness and the powers of government. He punishes the
wicked by destroying the sources of fertility, or, in mercy, gives
fruitfulness to deserts, which become the homes of a busy and
successful agricultural population. By a permitted misrule and
tyranny, this scene of prosperity is changed to one of adversity. He
rules rulers, setting up one and putting down another.
34.
A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.
35.
He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings.
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.
39.
Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow.
40.
He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way.
40. wander . . . wilderness—reduced
to misery (Job 12:24).
41.
Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock.
33-41. He turneth rivers into a
wilderness, &c.—God's providence is illustriously displayed
in His influence on two great elements of human prosperity, the
earth's productiveness and the powers of government. He punishes the
wicked by destroying the sources of fertility, or, in mercy, gives
fruitfulness to deserts, which become the homes of a busy and
successful agricultural population. By a permitted misrule and
tyranny, this scene of prosperity is changed to one of adversity. He
rules rulers, setting up one and putting down another.
42.
The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.
42, 43. In this providential
government, good men will rejoice, and the cavils of the wicked will
be stopped (Job 5:16; Isaiah 52:15),
and all who take right views will appreciate God's unfailing mercy
and unbounded love.
43.
Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.