The Book of Psalms Paraphrased, Book 5 · Psalm 107
PSALM CVII.
ARGUMENT.
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 magnifie his mercifull Providence over all other men, not onelyonly of that but of all Nations, when they addreſſed themſelves unto Him in their diſtreſſes. For inſtance, Travellers in the deſart who have loſt their way, Priſoners, Sick people, Mariners, Husbandmen, even whole Countries the Pſalmiſt ſhews are made ſtrangely proſperous, if they have a regard to God; and on the 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, whatſoever their condition be.
The Authour of the Pſalm is unknown; but if I have gueſſed aright at the connexion of this with the foregoing Pſalm, it is moſt probable it was compoſed by David: who having in the CV. 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 CVI. 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 carefull Providence, as I ſaid, over all mankind: which might give them the greater incouragement to hope in Him, if they ſerved Him faithfully, who had taken them for his peculiar people.
1. O Give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
1. O Make your gratefull acknowledgments to the great Lord of the world; of whoſe Goodneſs you and your Forefathers have had ſuch long experience, that you may conclude his loving kindneſs will extend it ſelf to all ſucceeding ages.
2. Let the redeemed of the LORD ſay ſo, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy:
2. 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:
3. And gathered them out of the lands, from the eaſt and from the weſt, from the north and from the ſouth.
3. And hath brought them back to their own Country again; from all the Lands, on every ſide, into which they were diſperſed.
4. They wandred in the wilderneſs in a ſolitary way, they found no city to dwell in.
4. And they alſo, who, travelling through vaſt wilderneſſes and ſandy deſarts, loſt their way, and could find no tract to lead them to a City inhabited;
5. Hungry and thirſty, their ſoul fainted in them.
5. But, in this perplexity, wandred up and down ſo long, that all their Proviſion was ſpent, and they were ready to dye with hunger and thirſt:
6. Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their diſtreſſes.
6. Yet then recommending themſelves to the Lord, and earneſtly imploring his help in this miſerable ſtrait; He mercifully delivered them out of it, and freed them from all their anxieties:
7. And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.
7. 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.
8. Oh that men would praiſe the LORD for his goodneſs, and for his wonderfull works to the children of men!
8. O that ſuch men would never forget to make their thankfull acknowledgments to the Lord, for this ſingular kindneſs; but every where proclaim his wonderfull works.
9. For he ſatisfieth the longing ſoul, and filleth the hungry ſoul with goodneſs.
9. Who thus ſeaſonably preſerved them from ſtarving, by providing, in this languiſhing condition, drink to quench their thirſt, and plenty of good things to ſatisfie their hungry appetite.
10. Such as ſit in darkneſs, and in the ſhadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron:
10. 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;
11. Becauſe they rebelled againſt the words of God, and contemned the counſel of the moſt High:
11. 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 wholſome counſel; though they contemned and deſpiſed it:
12. Therefore he brought down their heart with labour, they fell down, and there was none to help.
12. And thereby provoked Him to throw them into that miſerable condition, to humble their proud hearts by the hardſhip of a tedious and painfull impriſonment; in which they lay ſo dejected and helpleſs, that they ſaw no humane means whereby they ſhould be delivered.
13. Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he ſaved them out of their diſtreſſes.
13. Yet they then making their addreſſes to the Lord, and earneſtly beſeeching Him to take pity upon their wretched eſtate; He was pleaſed mercifully to hear their prayers, and free them from thoſe miſerable ſtraits:
14. He brought them out of darkneſs, and the ſhadow of dea…h, and brake their bands in ſunder.
14. Bringing them out of their ſad confinement in that diſmall dungeon; and ſetting their hands and feet at liberty, from the chains wherewith they were bound.
15. Oh that men would praiſe the LORD for his goodneſs, and for his wonderfull works to the children of men!
15. O that ſuch men would never forget to make their thankfull acknowledgments to the Lord, for his ſingular kindneſs; but every where proclaim his wonderfull works:
16. For he hath broken the gates of braſs, and cut the bars of iron in ſunder.
16. Who when their caſe was deſperate, removed the greateſt obſtacles; and made even braſen gates, and iron bars give way to their eſcape.
17. Fools becauſe of their tranſgreſſion, and becauſe of their iniquities, are afflicted.
17. 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, fall into grievous diſeaſes:
18. Their ſoul abhorreth all manner of meat, and they draw near unto the gates of death.
18. Which not onelyonly 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 grave:
19. Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, he ſaveth them out of their diſtreſſes.
19. 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.
20. He ſent his word and healed them, and delivered them from their deſtruction.
20. 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.
21. Oh that men would praiſe the LORD for his goodneſs, and for his wonderfull works to the children of men!
21. O that theſe men would be ſo gratefull to the Lord, as never to forget his ſingular kindneſs to them; but every where proclaim ſuch wonderfull works as theſe.
22. And let them ſacrifice the ſacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.
22. And not content themſelves with the Sacrifices of beaſts (which in their ſickneſs they were apt to vow unto Him) but offer thoſe far more acceptable ſacrifices of a gratefull heart: acknowledging his Goodneſs, and telling every body they meet withall, in ſuch a manner as may expreſs how much they are affected with it, what great things the Lord hath done for them.
23. They that go down to the ſea in ſhips, that doe buſineſs in great waters:
23. Who ſhews no leſs kindneſs to thoſe that have occaſion to be much upon the Sea; to fiſh, or to traffique, upon the main Ocean.
24. Theſe ſee the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.
24. Where they behold remarkable acts of Divine Providence; in the wonderfull alterations which He makes in that vaſt collection of waters.
25. For he commandeth, and raiſeth the ſtormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
25. For when they are 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.
26. They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths, their ſoul is melted becauſe of trouble.
26. 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 the Sea: to the great aſtoniſhment of the paſſengers, who are ready to die with fear.
27. They reel to and fro, and ſtagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits end.
27. For they are ſo toſſed and whirled about, that as they are not able to ſtand upon the decks; ſo the moſt skilfull Mariners do not know which way to ſteer; or what courſe to take, to ſave themſelves from periſhing.
28. Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their diſtreſſes.
28. 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.
29. He maketh the ſtorm a calm, ſo that the waves thereof are ſtill.
29. For He ſilences the bluſtring wind, and makes ſo great a calm; that the ſwelling waves lie quiet and ſtill.
30. Then are they glad becauſe they be quiet; ſo he bringeth them unto their deſired haven.
30. Which happy change turns their fear into joy; when they ſee, not onelyonly the ſtorm appeaſed but, gentle gales ariſing to carry them directly to the port, for which they are bound.
31. Oh that men would praiſe the LORD for his goodneſs, and for his wonderfull works to the children of men!
31. O that they who are thus unexpectedly preſerved, would never forget to make their thankfull acknowledgments to the Lord, for this ſingular kindneſs! But every where proclaim what wonders He hath done for them.
32. Let them exalt him alſo in the congregation of the people, and praiſe him in the aſſembly of the elders.
32. Let them magnifie 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 Governours may be excited, to make Him their truſt and confidence.
33. He turneth rivers into a wilderneſs, and the water-ſprings into dry ground:
33. Who turns well watered Countries into a mere wilderneſs, and makes moiſt and fertil ſoils become dry and barren ground:
34. A fruitfull land into barrenneſs, for the wickedneſs of them that dwell therein.
34. 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.
35. He turneth the wilderneſs into a ſtanding water, and dry ground into water-ſprings,
35. And on the other ſide He turns a barren deſart (for none of theſe things come by chance) into rich and fruitfull paſtures: and ſends ſuch plenty of water into dry and ſandy grounds;
36. And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation;
36. That there they, who lived wretchedly before, find a comfortable habitation: and are invited to build Towns and Cities in thoſe formerly deſolate places.
37. And ſow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increaſe.
37. Where they ſow all manner of grain, and plant vineyards: which recompenſe their pains, with a plentifull harveſt and a joyfull vintage.
38. He bleſſeth them alſo, ſo that they are multiplied greatly, and ſuffereth not their cattel to decreaſe.
38. His bleſſing alſo makes the inhabitants fruitfull, as well as their ground: they grow exceeding populous, together with their flocks and their herds; which by the increaſe of people are not diminiſhed.
39. Again they are miniſhed and brought low through oppreſſion, affliction, and ſorrow.
39. But when they prove ungratefull to Him, He quite alters the courſe of his Providence; and on a ſudden ſends ſome grievous peſtilence, which leſſens their numbers: or lays them low by tyrannical oppreſſours, (into whoſe hands He delivers them) by dearth, and other calamities, which make them pine away in grief and ſorrow.
40. He poureth contempt upon princes, and cauſeth them to wander in the wilderneſs, where there is no way.
40. Their Princes and the moſt eminent perſons in their Country, are not able to preſerve themſelves from contempt and ſcorn: To which they are ſo openly expoſed, that they who had troops of followers and attendants, are utterly deſerted; and forced to walk in ſolitary places to hide their ſhame; without any means, that they can ſee, to recover their thrones out of which they are diſgracefully thrown.
41. Yet ſetteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock.
41. Which he beſtows upon ſome poor deſpicable perſon, whom, from a low condition, He raiſes to the higheſt dignity; and gives him a very numerous iſtue, to maintain and continue the honour He hath conferred on him.
42. The righteous ſhall ſee it, and rejoice; and all iniquity ſhall ſtop her mouth.
42. Which is a great incouragement to the righteous; who herein behold with joy the wiſe and juſt providence of Almighty God: But gives the wicked (who under thoſe bad Princes were inſolent, and full of proud boaſts) ſuch a rebuke; that they hang down their heads, and are confour dedly put to ſilence.
43. Whoſo is wiſe, and will obſerve thoſe things, even they ſhall underſtand the loving kindneſs of the LORD.
43. And therefore, whoſoever will be truly wiſe, ought to mark and ponder ſuch paſſages as theſe in the Divine Government: that they may make others, who are leſs conſiderate, underſtand how very kind and gracious the Lord is; to thoſe who ſtudy to pleaſe Him, and to obtain his favour by dutifull obedience and humble ſubmiſſion to Him.