Psalms 107

The Psalmist exhorteth and exciteth to the praising and celebrating of the LORD, all those that are delivered from their adversaries, all that were straying and wandering strangers, captives or prisoners, sick, all suffering people, and finally all sorts of men, by reason of the changeable condition of every land, and person, through Gods all-disposing providence, commending them, which carefully observe this.

1. Praise the LORD, for he is good, for his kindness is into Eternity.

2. Let the redeemed [Or, delivered, viz. Out of various perils and troubles, as followeth] of the LORD, say (thus,) [viz. That the LORD is good, etc. V.1.] whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the adversaries.

3. And whom he hath gathered out of the Countries, from the East, and from the West, from the North, and from the sea; [viz. From the red sea, which lieth South from the land of Canaan. Otherwise, this expression usually signifieth the West, viz. Toward the Mediterranean, or Midland Sea, lying westward from the Land of Canaan, Jos.23.4.]

4. Which wandered in the Desert, in away of the wilderness, [Heb. In wilderness, or solitude of the way. Of this wilderness, see Deut.8.15. Jer.22.6.] which found no City, for habitation; [Otherwise, no inhabitable City. Heb. No city of habitation.]

5. They were hungry and thirty, their soul was overwhelmed within them. [viz. For the anxious fear, distress and straights they were in, Psalms 102:1.]

6. Yet a crying to the LORD in the straight which they had, [Others, in their straight] he rescued them out of their anxieties.

7. And he guided them upon a right way: for to go to a city for habitation [Hebr. Of habitation, as above, verse 4.]

8. Let them [This verse is repeated again below v.15.and 31.] praise before the LORD his kindness, [or by, with the LORD, that is, as well privately in the hearts, (knowing that God is one that knoweth and searcheth hearts and reins) as publicly before Gods Congregation] and his marvellous works before the children of men. [i.e. So that men my hear and see it.]

9. For that he did satisfay the thirsty soul, [Hebr. The desiring (or desirous soul: desirous, viz. Of drink to quench the thirst, as Jer.29.8. See the Annot. Job 39:1.] and filled the hungry soul with good. [See Psalms 65:5. Luke 1:53. see likewise the Annot. Job 18.on v.12.]

10. Those which sate in the darkness and shadow of death, [i.e. in very thick darkness which is full of horror and affrightment, or such darkness as is under ground where the dead lie buried. See Psalms 23:4.] bound with oppression and iron: [i.e. fettered or manacled with iron, and grievously oppressed. See Job 36:8.6.]

11. For that they were rebellious against Gods Commandments] and had unworthily rejected the counsel of the most high.

12. Wherefore he, [The Lord namely] had humbled them the heart with heaviness: they stumbled, and there was no helper.

13. Yet [As above v.6.] crying to the LORD in the straight which they had: he delivered them out of their anxieties.

14. He led them forth out of the darkness and shadow of death: [i.e. out of their distress and anxious condition] and he brake their bonds.

15. Let them [As above v.8.] praise before the LORD his kindness, and his marvellous works before their children of men.

16. For that he broke the copper doors: [Whereby they were shut up in their imprisonments. See Isai.45.2. and those doors he is said to break, by delivering those that are in straight and misery] and cut in pieces the iron bars. [in the same sence, or, to the same purpose.]

17. The sorts [i.e. the ill-advised or ill-conceited: or those which do not fear God, then which there is no greater folly, as on the contrary, the greatest wisdom is to fear God. See Job 5.on v.2.] are plagued for the way of their transgression, and for their iniquities.

18. Their soul loanched all food: [By the soul understand the appetite or stomach here, as Job 33:20.] and they were come unto the gates of death. [i.e. they were in apparent danger of death. See Job 33:22. Psalms 9:14.]

19. Yet crying to the LORD in the straights which they had: he saved them out of their anxieties. [See above verse 6.]

20. He sent forth his word [i.e. his command, that they should be restored to health again, or recover] and healed them, [See Deut.32.39. Job 39:19.24. Hos.6.1. See an example in Hizkia, 2 King.20.1,4 5,7.] and pluck them forth out of their holes. [or, corruptions, that is to say, He did in a manner raise them from the dead again; and preserved them in danger or peril of death. See Psalms 7:16. Job 33:24,28,30.]

21. Let them praise before the LORD his kindness, and his marvellous works before the children of men. [As above, v.8.]

22. And offer praise-offerings, and relate his works with shouting.

23. Those which descend to Sea in ships, [viz. Deep into the waves of the Sea; or which descend from the shore, go down, go off] negotiating (or trafficking, trading) upon great waters. (or upon many waters.)

24. They see the works of the LORD, and his marvellous works in the deep. [See Job 41:22].

25. When he speaketh, he maketh a storm-wind to arise which raiseth the waves thereof, [viz. Of the sea. See Job 26, the annot.on v.12.]

26. They mount up towards heaven, [This and the next verse containeth a description of the dangers, and jeopardies which men are in at Sea, when stormy winds and temptest arise] they go down into the abysses; [i.e. to the bottom of the Sea; Sea Psalm 42.on v.8.] their soul doth melt [i.e. their heart, or courage faileth them, and they are as much dismayed and afraid, as if they were to die instantly, or every moment] for anxiety. [Heb. From or, of evil.]

27. They dance and stagger like a drunken man, and all their wisdom is swallowed up. [i.e. they know not how to steer, what course or counsel to take, to get out of their straights.]

28. Yet crying to the LORD in the straight which they had; he led them forth out of their anxieties.]

29. He maketh the storm to stand still, [Heb. He putteth the storm in quiet (or) silence: that is, he changeth the storm into a calm. See Job 26.on v.12.] so that their waves [i.e. the waves which they, the Seafaring people, were so much afraid of fearing to perish or to drowned by them. See Jon.1.15. Matth.8.26. Mark 4:37.] be silent, [or, hold their peace.]

30. Then they are glad, because they are silenced [Or, quieted; the water or waves namely] and that he hath led (conducted) them to the haven of their desire.

31. Let them praise befor the LORD his kindness, and his marvellous works before the children of men.

32. And exalt him in the congregation of the people and celebrate him in the sitting (or session) of the Eldest, [i.e. in the places, or courts where the ancient, that is, the Senators, Governors ad Magistrates of the people are assembled.]

33. He [The LORD, namely] putteth the rivers to a Desert; [that is, he changeth or turneth fruitful water Countries into dry and barren Deserts] and issues of waters into a thirty (land). [by issues of water, he understandeth moist and fertile soils. The meaning of this verse is, that God by his Divine Power, Providence and Government doth often bring wonderful changes about in the world, when he doth purpose to punish or bless a land or Country, to the end that his glory and power may appear as well in punishing, as in blessing.]

34. The fruitful land into a salt (ground) [Hebr. To saltness; i.e. to barrenness or unfruitfulness. So likewise Job 39:6. Jerem.17.6. For saltness causeth barrenness: See Deut.29.33. Jud.9.45. and that which is here, doth evidently appear in jury land, which of old times was a fruitful land indeed, but is very barren, dry and bare now] for the malice sake of them that dwell therein.

35. He putteth the desert to a water-pool; [i.e. the dry and barren ground he maketh moist, and thereby fruitful] and the dry Land to issues of water; [as above verse 33.]

36. And he maketh the hungry, [See above v.9.] to dwell there, [namely, in that land, which from a barren one, he turned into a fruitful land] and they rear up a City for habitation: [Heb. A city of habitation.]

37. And sow grounds, and plant vineyards, which bring forth incoming fruit of income, or revenue; that is, fruit yearly coming in. Or they viz. The husbandmen give or yield fruitful revenues.]

38. And he blesseth them, so that they multiply much, and their cattle doth not diminish. [Understand withal, but it doth much increase in number.]

39. Afterward, they do diminish, and are brought untheir sinning again against him, God brings an alteration again in the land, wherein they inhabited] through oppression, evil, [mischief, all manner of misery,] and sorrow.

40. He poureth out, [The LORD namely. See Job 12:21.24.] over the Princes, [or over the chiefest and most eminent persons of the land, namely, when they provoke him to punish them] and maketh them to wander in wastness (desolation) where there is no way.

41. But he bringeth the needy out of oppression into an high retrait [i.e. into a high place where he is out of danger to be trod upon, or surprised] and maketh the families as flocks. [i.e. he blesseth them to become many generations, or he doth multiply them.]

42. The upright see it, and rejoice; but all unrighteousness stoppeth her mouth, [i.e. all unrighteous or wicked ones, as Job 24:20. So pride is put for proud persons, Psalms 36:12. and malice for malicious. The meaning here is, that the wicked seeing this, they are put to silence thereby, not daring to open their mouths any more against the providence of God, as they were wont to do formerly. See Job 5:16.]

43. Who is wise? Let him observe these (things): [Or, who is wise, and doth observe, etc. As if he said, Alasse, how few are there that are so wise. So Jerem.9.12. Hosea.14.10.] and let them understandingly mark the kindnesses of the LORD, [or, so shall (men) understand the kindnesses of the LORD.]