Psalms 107
PATto triumph in thy praise. And therefore we humbly hope still in the same great mercies; and beseech thee, O most mighty Lord; who hast been wont to do our nation good, to deliver us, how unworthy soever, from all our present enemies; and to restore such of us as are fallen into their hands unto their own country, that they may join with us in giving thanks to thy incomparable goodness, and setting forth thy praises with the greatest joy and triumph, saying, The fifth book of Psalms (which consists most of praises and thanksgivings) begins here;* with an exhortation to those whom God (according to the prayer foregoing, cvi. 47.) had delivered from pagan servitude, to acknowledge that singular benefit with their hearty thanksgivings; and thence to take occasion to magnify his merciful providence over all other men, not only of that, but of all nations, where they addressed themselves unto him in their distresses. For instance, travellers in the desert, who have lost their way, prisoners, sick people, mariners, husbandmen, even whole countries, the Psalmist shews, arc made strangely prosperous, if they have a regard to God; and, on tho other side, fall into great misery, if they neglect him. It had been endless to enumerate all other cases; but by these any man may understand, if he please (as he observes in the conclusion), how good the Lord is, and ready to help those who fly unto him for succour, whatever their condition be. The author of the Psalm is unknown; but if I have guessed aright, atthe; connexion of this with the foregoing Psalm, it is most probable it was composed by David: who having, in the hundred and fifth, put them in mind (as Theodoret observes) of the promises made to the patriarchs, and of the blessings bestowed on their posterity; and, in the hundred and sixth, of their horrid ingratitude for such benefits, and the punishments, for that cause, inflicted upon them: declares in this Psalm the inexplicable kindness of God, in their freedom from slavery; and in his careful providence, as I said, over all mankind: which might give them the greater encouragement to hope in him, if they served him faithfully, who had taken them for his peculiar people. dejected and helpless, that they saw no human means whereby they should bo delivered.
Psalms 107:1
\J GIVE thanks unto the Lord, for he is good; for his mercy endarethfor ever. O make your grateful acknowledgments to the great Lord of the world; of whose goodness you and your forefathers have had such along experience, thatyou may conclude his loving-kindness will extend itself to all succeeding ages. ■
Psalms 107:2
Let the redeemed of the Lord say sq, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy. Let them especially call upon one another to give thanks unto his goodness, whom the Lord hath graciously redeemed from a sad captivity; into which they were reduced by their prevailing enemies:
Psalms 107:3
And gathered them oat of the lands, from the east, and from the icest,from the north, and from the south.) And hath brought them back to their own country again; from all the lands, on every side, into which they were dispersed.
Psalms 107:4
They wandered in the tvilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in. And they also, who, travelling through vast wildernesses and sandy deserts, lost their way, and could find no tract to lead them to a city inhabited:
Psalms 107:5
Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. But, in this perplexity, wandered up and down so long, that all their provision spent, and they were ready to die with hunger and thirst:’ f -… x
Psalms 107:6
Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses. Yet then, recommending themselves to the Lord, and earnestly im-r ploring his help in this miserable strait, he mercifully delivered -them out of it, and freed them from all their anxieties:’ •
Psalms 107:7
And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation. Directing them, when they were in a maze, into the right path again; which brought them to a place inhabited, where they found relief for their necessities. *
Psalms 107:8
Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! Oh that such men would never forget to make their thankful acknowledgments to the Lord for this singular kindness; but every where proclaim his wonderful works!
Psalms 107:9
For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness. Who thus seasonably preserved them from starving, by providing, in this languishing condition, drink to quench their thirst, and plenty of good things to satisfy their hungry appetite.
Psalms 107:10
Such as sit in darkness, and in the shadotv of death, being bound in affliction and iron. They also who have no other dwelling but a dark prison, nay,, a horrible’ dungeon; where, to add to their affliction, they are loaded with iron manacles or fetters;
Psalms 107:11
Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsehof the Most High. As a just punishment for the crimes they had rebelliously committed against the express commands of God, and the plain dictates and frequent checks of their own consciences; which were the voice of the Most High, giving them wholesome -counsel, though they contemned and despised it:
Psalms 107:12
Therefore he brought down their heart with labour: they fell dmvn, and there was none to help. And.thereby provoked him to throw them into that miserable condition, to humble their proud hearts by the hardship of a tedious and painful imprisonment; in which they lay so
Psalms 107:13
Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, s and he saved them out of their distresses. Yet, they then making their addresses to tho Lord, and earnestly beseeching him to take pity upon their wretched estate, ho was pleased mercifully to hear their prayers, and free them from those miserable straits:
Psalms 107:14
He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder. Bringing them out of their sad confinement in that dismal dungeon, and setting their hands and feet at liberty, from the chains wherewith they were bound.
Psalms 107:15
Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!. Oh that such men would never forget to make their thankful acknowledgments to the Lord for his singular kindness; but every where proclaim his wonderful works! -
Psalms 107:16
For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder. Who, when their case was desperate, removed the greatest obstacles; and made even brazen gates, and iron bars, give way to their escape.
Psalms 107:17
Foob, because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted. In like manner we see others, who, forgetting God, and sottishly giving themselves up to all kind of debauchery, in an irregular way of living, falling into grievous diseases:
Psalms 107:18
Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death. Which not only quite take away their appetite, but make them nauseate all manner of food, which they formerly abused; and thereby lay them so low, that they are at the very brink of the gTave:
Psalms 107:19
Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, he saveth them out of their distresses. Yet even these men, when they make their addresses unto the Lord, and, in the weak estate into which they have brought themselves, pray earnestly to him, are wont to find relief from him, when no medicines whatsoever will avail them.
Psalms 107:20
He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction. He orders their recovery, when all the prescriptions of physicians prove ineffectual: nay, when they are left for dead, raises them up to life and health again.
Psalms 107:21
Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!. Oh that these men would be so grateful to the Lord, as never to forget his singular kindness to them; but every where proclaim such wonderful works as these!
Psalms 107:22
And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing. And not content themselves with the sacrifice of beasts (which in their sickness they were apt to vow unto him), but offer those far more acceptable sacrifices of a grateful heart: acknowledging his goodness, and telling every body they meet withal, in such a manner as may express how much they are affected with it, what great things the Lord hath done for them.
Psalms 107:23
They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters. Who shews no less kindness to those that have occasion to be much upon the sea; to fish, or to traffic upon tho main ocean.
Psalms 107:24
These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep. Where they behold remarkable acts of Divine Providence, in the wonderful alterations which he makes in that vast collection of waters.
Psalms 107:25
For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. For when they arc smooth and still, a sudden tempest arises by his command: which puts them into such a rage, that they are turned into swelling waves and billows.
Psalms 107:26
They mount up to heaven, they go down again to the deptlis; their soul is melted because of trouble. On which the ships are sometimes mounted up as high as if they would touch the clouds; and then sink down as low as if they would be buried in the bottom of tho sea; to tho great astonishment of the passengers, who are ready to die with fear.
Psalms 107:27
Tliey reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wifs end. For they are so tossed and whirled about, that, as they are not able to stand upon the decks, so the most skilful mariners do not know which way to steer, or what course to take, to save themselves from perishing,
Psalms 107:28
Tlien they cry unto tJie Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. And yet, when, in the midst of this great strait, they make their addresses to the Lord, with earnest prayers for his protection, he is graciously pleased to hear their cry, and to free them from that anguish of mind which sorely oppresses them.
Psalms 107:29
He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. For he silences the blustering wind, and makes so great a calm, that the swelling waves lie quiet and still.
Psalms 107:30
Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haveu. Which happy change turns their fear into joy; when they see not only the storm appeased, but gentle gales arising to carry them directly to the port for which they are bound.
Psalms 107:31
Oh that men woidd praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men f. Oh that they who are thus unexpectedly preserved, would never forget to make their thankful acknowledgments to the Lord for this singular kindness, but every where proclaim what wonders he hath done for them!
Psalms 107:32
Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders. Let them magnify his power and goodness in the greatest assemblies of the people, especially in his temple: let them praise him in the supreme court of the kingdom; that the judges and governors may be excited to make him their trust and confidence.
Psalms 107:33
He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and thexvater-springs into dry ground. Who turns well-watered countries into a mere wilderness, and makes moist and fertile soils become dry and barren ground:
Psalms 107:34
A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein. Where none of those fruits will grow, which before it plentifully yielded; because of the ill disposition of the inhabitants, who produce nothing but all manner of vice and wickedness.
Psalms 107:35
He turneth the wilderness into a standing-water, and dry ground into water-springs. And, on the other side, he turns a barren desert (for nono of these things come by
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the Lord-. let the great Lord of all the world, who hath been so gracious unto Israel, as to choose them for his own peculiar people, be most heartily blessed and praised: let all generations bless him, as long as the world shall last, •and unto all eternity: and let all his people concur in these desires, and wish it maybe so; let them all praise the Lord, and desire he may be ever praised.; PART V.