Annotations Upon the Books of Poetry, Psalms · Psalm 107 – Psalm 108
PSALM CVII.
Verſ. 2. LEt the redeemed of the Lord ſay ſo, &c.] The drift of this Pſalm is, to ſet forth Gods praiſe, in regard of his wonderfull providences towards all mankind; and firſt, by ſhewing how miraculouſly he preſerves them in the ſeverall ſtreights whereinto they often fall. And accordingly the Pſalmiſt doth in the firſt place relate, how miraculouſly the Lord doth often deliver poor pilgrims and travellers, when looſing their way, or wandring up and down in ſtrange countreys, and in deſart places, they fall into great dangers. For that theſe are the redeemed of the Lord, whom here he invites to praiſe the Lord, is evident in the following deſcription of their miſeries verſ. 4, 5. where he ſpeaks of their wandring up and down in wilderneſſes, hungry and thirſty, &c. to wit, ſuch as travelling into forreign parts for merchandiſe, or any other occaſions, or being baniſhed, or otherwiſe driven by force out of their own countreys, do looſe themſelves in deſolate wilderneſſes, and ſo are in danger to fall, or do fall into the hands of robbers, or other enemies that ſurprize them, and make ſlaves of them, and yet are afterwards by the mighty power of God delivered from all theſe miſeries: for with reference to their falling into the hands of ſuch enemies is the laſt clauſe added, Let the redeemed of the Lord ſay ſo, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy.
Verſ. 3. And gathered them out of the lands, from the Eaſt, and from the weſt, from the North, and from the South.] In the Hebrew it is, and from the ſea: whereby though uſually in the Scripture the west is intended, and that becauſe the mediterranean ſea lay on the weſt of Judea; yet here by the ſea the South is meant, and that becauſe both the red ſea and the great Ocean lay Southward of Judea. But that which is chiefly obſervable for the underſtanding of theſe words is, 1. that the Lord is ſaid to have gathered theſe loſt pilgrims or travellers, that are here ſtirred up to praiſe his name, becauſe he fetcheth them in from their baniſhment, their wandrings or captivity, to their own countrey, or ſome place of abode, or ſome place where they may be furniſhed with things neceſſary for them: and 2. that it is ſaid that he gathered them out of the lands, from the Eaſt, and from the weſt, &c. to imply, that God doth this in all quarters of the world: that we might not think that he ſpeaks only of the deſarts of Judea, he ſhews, that by the ſpeciall providence of God, men are delivered often out of theſe ſtreights all the world over.
Verſ. 4. They wandred in the wilderneſſe in a ſolitary way, &c.] That is, having loſt their way (which they might eaſily doe in thoſe ſandy deſarts, where the winds do uſually blow the ſands over the waies where men have gone) they wandered up & down, not knowing which way to goe: they found no city to dwell in; that is, no place where they might make their abode; or no place inhabited by men, amongſt whom they might find any direction or refreſhing.
Verſ. 5. Hungry and thirſty, &c.] To wit, becauſe, having ſpent their proviſion, by reaſon of their long wandring up & down after they had loſt their way, no new ſupply in thoſe ſolitary deſarts was to be had, no not ſo much as of water to quench their thirſt, which in thoſe hot places muſt needs be great: their ſoul fainted in them; that is, they were continually ready to faint, not only through weakneſſe and wearineſſe, but alſo through grief and anguiſh of ſpirit.
Verſ. 6. Then they cried unto the Lord, &c.] This is meant not only of the faithfull people of God, (for the Pſalmiſt ſpeaks here of the providences of God towards all mankind) but of all men in generall, who being in great ſtreights, are wont by the very inſtinct of nature to cry unto God for help: yea and God often hears the cries of ſuch men, both for the clearer diſcovery of his own goodneſſe, and the fuller conviction of their ſpirits.
Verſ. 9. For he ſatisfyeth the longing ſoul, &c.] That is, he ſatisfyeth the thirſty with drink, which they longed for: and filleth the hungry ſoul with goodneſſe; that is, with good food, ſee the Note Pſal. 103.5. And thus theſe two clauſes have clear reference to that verſ. 5. hungry and thirſty, &c.
Verſ. 10. Such as ſit in darkneſſe, &c.] This is the ſecond inſtance which the Pſalmiſt gives of Gods wonderful deliverances, namely, of his delivering thoſe that are in priſon & bondage. Such as ſit in darkneſſe, that is, in dark priſons & dungeons; ſee the Note Pſal. 88.7: being bound in affliction and iron; that is, with iron fetters or chains, which did ſorely afflict them, Pſal. 105.18; or, being bound not only with iron chains, but alſo with the cords of penury, and all manner of afflictions, out of which they can no more free themſelves, then they can ſhake off their fetters; ſee Job 36.8.
Verſ. 11. Becauſe they rebelled againſt the words of the Lord, and contemned the counſell of the moſt High.] That is, either the word written, or at leaſt the law of nature written in all mens hearts: ſee the Note above verſ. 6.
Verſ. 12. Therefore he brought down their heart with labour, &c.] That is, he humbled their proud hearts with ſore afflictions & hard bondage; ſee the Note Pſal. 90.10: they fell down; that is, before their enemies, and ſo became captives; or they fell into thraldome, or lay in great diſtreſſe; or, they were dejected in ſpirit: and there was none to help; that is, to comfort or deliver them.
Verſ. 17. Fools, becauſe of their tranſgreſsion, and becauſe of their iniquities, are afflicted.] To wit, with ſickneſſe, as is clear in the following verſes. And this is the third inſtance here given of Gods miraculous deliverances of men.
Verſ. 23. They that go down to the ſea in ships, &c.] The ground of this expreſſion is, either becauſe the banks of the ſea are higher then the waters that beat upon them; or becauſe of the low land which is by the ſea ſide, whether men muſt goe down from the higher parts of the land, when they intend to go to ſea: that do buſineſs in great waters; to wit, either merchants that trade by ſea, Rev. 18.17; or rather marriners & fiſhermen. And this is the fourth & laſt inſtance of Gods miraculous deliverances of men.
Verſ. 24. Theſe ſee the works of the Lord, & his wonders in the deep.] Though the ſea be full of wonders, yet this is doubtleſſe principally meant of thoſe wonders related in the following verſe, to wit, how ſuddenly God raiſeth tempeſts of incredible violence, what mighty mountains of waters there will be then raiſed in the ſea, and how calm the Lord makes all as ſuddenly again.
Verſ. 27. They reel to & fro, &c.] To wit, through the ſwimming of their heads, which is indeed uſuall with men that are ſea-ſick in a ſtorm; or rather the rolling of the ſhips this way & that, & their being driven about ſometimes one way & ſometimes another, according as the winds blow, the ſea-men having no power to order their ſhips: and are at their wits end; that is, their art and skill fails them, and they know not what courſe to take.
Verſ. 32. Let them exalt him alſo in the congregation of the people, & praiſe him in the aſſembly of the elders.] That is, in the moſt publick aſſemblies, as thoſe uſually are where the magiſtrates meet. But withall the elders may be particularly mentioned, not only becauſe ſuch wiſe men were beſt able to judge of theſe wonderfull works of God; but alſo becauſe there was moſt need, that the rulers of the people ſhould learn to ſtand in awe of the mighty power of God.
Verſ. 33. He turneth rivers into a wilderneſſe, &c.] In the following verſes the Pſalmiſt ſets forth the providence of God, by ſhewing the ſtrange and unexpected changes which he often makes in the world; as firſt here his making fruitfull places barren, and barren places exceeding fruitfull.
Verſ. 34. A fruitfull land into barrenneſſe, &c.] In the Hebrew it is, into ſaltneſſe, for which ſee the Notes Deut. 29.23. and Judg. 9.45.
Verſ. 36. And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, &c.] To wit, either becauſe thoſe that were very poorly provided for there before, & in a manner famiſhed, do after this live there very comfortably, & in great abundance; or elſe becauſe poor people, being forced from their native countries by war, oppreſſion or penury, do remove thither, invited by the fruitfulneſs of the place, that they may prepare a city for habitation.
Verſ. 38. He bleſſeth them alſo, ſo that they are multiplyed greatly, &c.] This is the ſecond great change here mentioned, which God often makes in the world, to wit, that he mightily encreaſeth & advanceth the inhabitants of cities & kingdomes, & then diminiſheth & brings them low again. As for the next clauſe, & ſuffereth not their cattel to decreaſe, the contrary is thereby implied, to wit, that he doth exceedingly encreaſe them.
Verſ. 40. He poureth contempt upon princes, & cauſeth them to wander in the wilderneſse, &c.] See the Notes Job 12.21, 24. And this is the third great change which God often makes in the world, to wit, that he pulls down thoſe that are on high, and raiſeth thoſe that are in a low condition.
Verſ. 41. Yet ſetteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock.] That is, exceeding numerous. It may alſo imply, that God would guide and protect them, as a ſhepheard doth his flock, as in oppoſition to that which was before ſaid of princes, that he cauſeth them to wander in the wilderneſſe, &c.
Verſ. 42. The righteous shall ſee it, and rejoyce, &c.] As ſeeing hereby that it ſhall be well with them; ſee the Note Job 22.19: and all iniquity shall ſtop her mouth; ſee the Notes Job 5.16. and Pſal. 63.11.
PSALM CVIII.
Verſ. 1. O God, my heart is fixed, &c.] The ſeven firſt verſes of this Pſalm we had before almoſt word for word Pſalm 57.7, &c. and the reſt of this Pſalm we had before Pſal. 60.5. for which therefore ſee the Notes in both thoſe Pſalms.