Psalms 107:1

O give thanks unto the Lord,.... As all men should do, at all times and for all things; the psalm begins as the former does, and gives the same reasons for thanksgiving.

O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Psalms 107 THE The most of the Psalms have a peculiar respect unto the church or people of God, or to some eminent members thereof; but there are some few Psalms which have a more general respect to all nations, of which number this is one; wherein the psalmist discourseth of the merciful providence of God towards all mankind, and of his readiness to help them in all their distresses, some few particular instances whereof he mentioneth, and leaveth the rest to be understood, there being the same reason of all. But withal he takes notice also of God’ s judgments upon wicked persons and people. And by this representation of God’ s mercies and judgments, he invites all nations to an acknowledgment of the true God, to praise him for his favours, and to tremble at his judgments, which is their just duty and reasonable service. An exhortation to the redeemed to praise and celebrate the Lord, and to observe his manifold providences, ; to strangers and captives, ; to sick, and sea-men, ; and to all others, commending them that carefully observe this, . This whole verse occurs also ; only there the address is made to the Israelites, and here to all mankind.

Psalms 107:1 O give thanks unto the LORD, for [he is] good: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.Ver. 1. O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good] He is good, and doeth good, Psalms 119:68, not to his Israel only, as is set forth in the two foregoing psalms, but to all mankind, which is Divini ingenii cura, as one saith, whatever atheists and epicures say to the contrary, denying a Divine providence: witness that profane distich of theirs: Nempe nihil positum est, et sors incerta vagatur, Fertque refertque vices, et habent mortalia casum. For his mercy endureth for ever] Notwithstanding men’ s many and mighty provocations.

(1) For this doxology see Note, Psalms 106:1.

PSALM CVII A thanksgiving of the people for deliverance from difficulties and dangers; their state compared to a journey through a frightful wilderness, 1-9; to confinement in a dreary dungeon, 10-16; to a dangerous malady, 17-22; to a tempest at sea, 23-32. The psalmist calls on men to praise God for the merciful dispensations of his providence, in giving rain and fruitful seasons, after affliction by drought and famine, 33-38; for supporting the poor in affliction, and bringing down the oppressors, 39-41. The use which the righteous should make of these providences, 42; and the advantage to be derived from a due consideration of God's merciful providence, 43. NOTES ON PSALM CVII This Psalm has no title, either in the Hebrew, or any of the Versions; the word "Hallelujah," which is prefixed to some of the latter, is no title, but was most probably borrowed from the conclusion of the preceding Psalm. The author is unknown; but it was probably like Psalms cv. and cvi., made and sung at the dedication of the second temple. The three Psalms seem to be on the same subject. In them the author has comprised the marvellous acts of the Lord towards his people; the transgressions of this people against God; the captivities and miseries they endured in consequence; and finally God's merciful kindness to them in their restoration from captivity, and re-establishment in their own land. This Psalm seems to have been sung in parts: the Psalms 107:8, 15, 21, and 31, with the 6, 13, 19, and 28, forming what may be called the burden of the song. In singing of which the whole chorus joined. We may easily perceive that the Psalm must have been sung in alternate parts, having a double burden, or intercalary verse often recurring, and another immediately following, giving a reason for the former. See the Psalms 107:8 and 9, the 15 and 16, the 21 and 22, the 31 and 32, and the 42 and 43, which may be reckoned under the same denomination. Dr. Lowth, in his 29th prelection, has made some excellent remarks on this Psalm. "It is observable," says he, "that after each of the intercalary verses one is added, expressive of deliverance or praise. I would farther observe, that if the Psalm be supposed to be made with a view to the alternate response of one side of the choir to the other, then it may be considered as if it were written exactly after the method of the ancient pastorals, where, be the subject of their verse what it will, each swain endeavours to excel the other; and one may perceive their thoughts and expressions gradually to arise upon each other; and hence a manifest beauty may be discovered in this Divine pastoral. We will suppose, then, that the author composed it for the use of his brethren the Jews, when, in the joy of their hearts, they were assembled after their return from captivity.

1–3. An invitation to the returned exiles to join in grateful confession of Jehovah’s lovingkindness.

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.

1. Give thanks unto the Lord—This verse is a favourite formula of praise, (Psalms 106:1; Psalms 108:1; Psalms 136:1,) and strikingly similar to that which Jeremiah predicted should be used at the