1 The psalmist exhorts the redeemed in praising God to observe his manifold providence
4 Over travellers
10 Over captives
17 Over sick men
23 Over seamen
33 And in divers varieties of life.

A.M. 3468, B.C. 536. The author of this Psalm is unknown; but it was evidently written to commemorate the return of the Jews from the Babylonian captivity; and it may easily be perceived that it must have been sung in alternate parts, having a double burden, or two intercalary verses often recurring. Bp. Lowth considers it as written 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 rise upon each other. No doubt, he adds, the composition of this Psalm is admirable throughout; and the descriptive part of it adds at least its share of beauty to the whole; but what is most to be admired is its conciseness, and withal the expressiveness of the diction, which strikes the imagination with illimitable elegance. The weary and bewildered traveller--the miserable captive in the dungeon--the sick and dying man--the seaman foundering in a storm--are described in so affecting a manner, that they far exceed any thing of the kind, though never so much laboured.

give Ps 106:1 118:1 136:1 1Ch 16:34,41 2Ch 5:13 7:3,6 20:21

good Ps 119:68 Mt 19:17

for his mercy Ps 103:17 Lu 1:50

2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;

let the Ps 31:5 130:8 Ex 15:16 De 15:15 Isa 35:9 43:1 44:22 Lu 1:68 24:21 Ga 3:13 Tit 2:14 1Pe 1:18,19

from Ps 106:10 De 7:8 Jer 15:21 31:11 Mic 4:10 Lu 1:74

3 And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.

gathered Ps 106:47 Isa 11:11-16 43:5,6 49:12 Jer 29:14 31:8,10 Eze 36:24 39:27 Re 5:9

south. Heb. sea

4 They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.

wandered Ps 107:40 Ge 21:14-16 Nu 14:33 De 8:15 32:10 Job 12:24 Eze 34:6,12 Heb 11:38 Re 12:6

they found. This is the first similitude; in which the Israelites in captivity are compared to travellers in a dreary, uninhabited, and barren desert, spent with hunger and thirst, as well as by the fatigues of the journey.

5 Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.

Jud 15:18,19 1Sa 30:11,12 Isa 44:12 Jer 14:18 La 2:19 Mr 8:2,3

6 Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.

then Ps 107:13,19,28 50:15 91:15 Isa 41:17,18 Jer 29:12-14 Ho 5:15 Heb 4:15,16

he delivered 2Co 1:8-10 12:8-10 2Ti 3:11

7 And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.

he led Ps 77:20 78:52 136:16 Ezr 8:21-23 Isa 30:21 35:8-10 48:17 49:8-11 63:13,14 Jer 6:16 31:9 2Pe 2:15,21

that they Ps 107:4,36 Ne 11:3 Jer 31:24,38 33:10-13 Heb 11:9,10,16 12:22 Re 21:2-4,10-27

8 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

o that men Ps 107:15,21,31 81:13-16 De 5:29 32:29 Isa 48:18

praise Ps 34:3 92:1,2 147:1 Isa 63:7

his wonderful Ps 40:5 78:4 111:4 Da 4:2,3 6:27

9 For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.

Ps 34:10 132:15 146:7 Isa 55:1-3 Jer 31:14,25 Mt 5:6 Lu 1:53 Re 7:16,17

10 Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;

such. Here begins the second comparison; in which the state of the captives in Babylon is illustrated by that of prisoners in a dreary dungeon.

as sit Job 3:5 Isa 9:2 Mt 4:16 22:13 Lu 1:79

bound Ps 105:18 Ex 2:23,24 2Ch 33:11 Job 36:8,9 La 3:6,7 Ro 6:20,21

11 Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:

because Ps 68:6,18 106:43 Isa 63:10,11 La 3:39-42 5:15-17

contemned Ps 73:24 113:7-9 119:24 2Ch 25:15,16 33:10 Pr 1:25,30,31 1Sa 2:5-8 Isa 5:19 Jer 44:16 Lu 7:30 16:14 Ac 20:27 Ro 1:28

12 Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.

he brought Ex 2:23 5:18,19 Jud 10:16-18 16:21,30 Ne 9:37 Isa 51:19,20,23 52:5 La 5:5,6 Lu 15:14-17

and there Ps 18:40,41 22:11 142:4 2Ki 6:26,27,33 Job 9:13 Isa 63:5

13 Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.

Ps 107:6,19,28 18:6 116:3-6 Ex 3:7,8 Jer 4:3 6:6-10 10:10 2Ch 33:12,13,18,19 Jer 31:18-20

14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.

brought Ps 107:10 68:6 Job 3:5 10:21,22 15:22,30 19:8 33:30 42:10-12 Isa 42:16 49:9 60:1-3 Eph 5:8 1Pe 2:9

brake Ps 102:20 105:19,20 116:16 146:7 Job 36:8 Isa 61:1 Jer 52:31-34 Zec 9:11,12 Ac 5:19,25 12:7-10 16:26

15 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Ps 107:8,21,31 116:17-19

16 For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.

Jud 16:3 Isa 45:1,2 Mic 2:13

17 Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.

fools. This is the third comparison; the captives being compared to persons in a dangerous malady, as the consequences of their own sins. Ps 14:1 92:6 Pr 1:22 7:7,22

because Ps 38:1-8 Nu 11:33,34 12:10-13 21:5-9 Isa 57:17,18 Jer 2:19 La 3:39

18 Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death.

abhorreth Job 33:19-22

and they Ps 9:13 88:3 Isa 38:10

19 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses.

Ps 107:6,13,28 30:8-12 34:4-6 78:34,35 116:4-8 Jer 33:3

20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

he sent Ps 147:15,19 2Ki 20:4,5 Mt 8:8

healed Ps 30:2,3 103:3,4 147:3 Nu 21:8,9 Job 33:23-26

delivered Ps 49:15 56:13 Job 33:28-30

21 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Ps 107:8,15,31 66:5 2Ch 32:25 Lu 17:18

22 And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.

sacrifice Ps 50:14 116:12,17 Le 7:12 Heb 13:15 1Pe 2:5,9

declare Ps 9:11 73:28 105:1,2 118:17 Isa 12:4

rejoicing. Heb. singing

23 They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;

they. This is the fourth comparison; their captivity was as dangerous and alarming as a dreadful tempest at sea; with a most natural and striking description of which we are here presented.

go down Ps 48:7 Eze 27:26 Ac 27:9 Re 18:17

24 These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.

his wonders Ps 95:5 104:24-27 Job 38:8-11

25 For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.

he commandeth Ps 135:7 148:8 Jon 1:4

raiseth. Heb. maketh to stand
lifteth Ps 93:3 Mt 8:24 Joh 6:18

26 They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.

their soul Ps 22:14 119:28 2Sa 17:10 Isa 13:7 Na 2:10

27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit's end.

stagger Job 12:24 Isa 19:14 29:9

are at their wit's end. Heb. all their wisdom is swallowed up Job 37:20 Isa 19:3 Ac 27:15-20

28 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.

Ps 107:6,13,19 Jon 1:5,6,14 Mt 8:25 Ac 27:23-25

29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.

Ps 65:7 89:9 Jon 1:15 Mt 8:26 Mr 4:39-41 Lu 8:23-25

30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.

he bringeth Joh 6:21

31 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

oh that men Ps 107:8,15,21 103:2 105:1 Ho 2:8 Jon 1:16 2:9 Mic 6:4,5 Ro 1:20,21 2Ti 3:2 Heb 13:15

his wonderful Ps 71:17 72:18,19 77:11,14 105:2 Re 15:3

32 Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.

exalt Ps 18:46 46:10 99:5,9 Ex 15:2 Isa 12:4 25:1

in the congregation Ps 22:22,25 40:9,10 66:16 111:1 119:46 Ac 4:8-12

33 He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground;

turneth 1Ki 17:1-7 Isa 13:19-21 19:5-10 34:9,10 42:15 44:27 50:2 Eze 30:12 Joe 1:20 Na 1:4 Zep 2:9,13

water-springs 1Ki 18:5 Jer 14:3 Am 4:7,8

34 A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.

a fruitful Ge 13:10,13 19:25 De 29:23-28 Isa 32:13-15

barrenness. Heb. saltness Ge 14:3 Eze 47:11

35 He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings.

turneth Ps 114:8 Nu 21:16-18 2Ki 3:16-20 Isa 35:6,7 41:17-19 44:3-5 Eze 47:6-12

36 And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation;

there he Ps 146:7 Lu 1:52

a city Ps 107:7 Ac 17:26

37 And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase.

sow Isa 37:30 Jer 29:5 31:5 Eze 28:26 Am 9:13-15

which may Ps 65:9-13 Ge 26:12 Joe 1:10-12 Hag 1:5,6,10,11 2:16-19 Zec 8:1 9:1 10:1 11:1 12:1 Ac 14:17 1Co 3:7 2Co 9:10

38 He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease.

he blesseth Ps 128:1-6 Ge 1:28 9:1 12:2 17:16,20 Ex 1:7 De 28:4,11 30:9 Jer 30:19 Eze 37:26

suffereth Ps 144:13,14 Ge 30:43 31:9 Ex 9:3-7 12:38 De 7:14 Pr 10:22

39 Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow.

again. The incidents detailed in these verses, which frequently occur, and mark the superintendence of a benign Providence, and the hand of a just God, appear to be brought forward to illustrate the return of the Israelites from captivity, and the punishment of their oppressors the Babylonians. Wherefore, at last, as in a common chorus, they conclude with exhorting each other to a serious consideration of these things, and to make a proper return to the Almighty.

they are Ps 30:6,7 Ge 45:11 Ru 1:20,21 1Sa 2:5-7 2Ki 4:8 8:3 Job 1:10-17

oppression Ex 1:13,14 2:23,24 Jud 6:3-6 2Ki 10:32 13:7,22 14:26 2Ch 15:5,6 Jer 51:33,34

40 He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way.

poureth Job 12:21,24 Isa 23:8,9

contempt Ps 78:66 Ex 8:3,17,24 Jos 10:24-26 Jud 1:6,7 4:21 1Sa 5:9 6:4 1Ki 21:19 2Ki 9:35-37 Da 4:33 5:5,6,18-30 Ac 12:23 Re 19:18

causeth Ps 107:4 Job 12:24 Jer 13:15-18

wilderness. or, void place

41 Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock.

setteth Ps 113:7,8 Ru 4:14-17 1Sa 2:8 Es 8:15-17 Job 5:11 8:7 11:15-19 42:10-12 Jer 52:31-34 Jas 5:11

from. or, after.
maketh Ps 78:52 128:6 Ge 23:5-7 48:11 1Sa 2:21 Job 21:11 42:16 Pr 17:6 Isa 49:20-22

42 The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.

righteous Ps 52:6 58:10,11 Job 22:19 Isa 66:10,11,14

iniquity Ps 63:11 112:10 Ex 11:7 Job 5:15,16 Pr 10:11 Ro 3:19

43 Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.

is wise Ps 28:5 64:9 Isa 5:12 Jer 9:12 Da 10:12 Ho 14:9

they shall understand Ps 50:23 Jer 9:24 Eph 3:18,19