Psalms 107
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1Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever. 2Let the redeemed by Yahweh say so, whom he has redeemed from the hand of the adversary, 3And gathered out of the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south. 4They wandered in the wilderness in a desert way. They found no city to live in. 5Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. 6Then they cried to Yahweh in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses, 7he led them also by a straight way, that they might go to a city to live in. 8Let them praise Yahweh for his loving kindness, for his wonderful deeds to the children of men! 9For he satisfies the longing soul. He fills the hungry soul with good. 10Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron, 11because they rebelled against the words of God, and condemned the counsel of the Most High. 12Therefore he brought down their heart with labor. They fell down, and there was no one to help. 13Then they cried to Yahweh in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses. 14He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and broke away their chains. 15Let them praise Yahweh for his loving kindness, for his wonderful deeds to the children of men! 16For he has broken the gates of brass, and cut through bars of iron. 17Fools are afflicted because of their disobedience, and because of their iniquities. 18Their soul abhors all kinds of food. They draw near to the gates of death. 19Then they cry to Yahweh in their trouble, he saves them out of their distresses. 20He sends his word, and heals them, and delivers them from their graves. 21Let them praise Yahweh for his loving kindness, for his wonderful deeds to the children of men! 22Let them offer the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his deeds with singing. 23Those who go down to the sea in ships, who do business in great waters; 24These see Yahweh’s deeds, and his wonders in the deep. 25For he commands, and raises the stormy wind, which lifts up its waves. 26They mount up to the sky; they go down again to the depths. Their soul melts away because of trouble. 27They reel back and forth, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end. 28Then they cry to Yahweh in their trouble, and he brings them out of their distress. 29He makes the storm a calm, so that its waves are still. 30Then they are glad because it is calm, so he brings them to their desired haven. 31Let them praise Yahweh for his loving kindness, for his wonderful deeds for the children of men! 32Let them exalt him also in the assembly of the people, and praise him in the seat of the elders. 33He turns rivers into a desert, water springs into a thirsty ground, 34and a fruitful land into a salt waste, for the wickedness of those who dwell in it. 35He turns a desert into a pool of water, and a dry land into water springs. 36There he makes the hungry live, that they may prepare a city to live in, 37sow fields, plant vineyards, and reap the fruits of increase. 38He blesses them also, so that they are multiplied greatly. He doesn’t allow their livestock to decrease. 39Again, they are diminished and bowed down through oppression, trouble, and sorrow. 40He pours contempt on princes, and causes them to wander in a trackless waste. 41Yet he lifts the needy out of their affliction, and increases their families like a flock. 42The upright will see it, and be glad. All the wicked will shut their mouths. 43Whoever is wise will pay attention to these things. They will consider the loving kindnesses of Yahweh.
World English Bible (public domain)
“"Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress."”
Psalms 107:6
Summary
Psalms 107 is a song of thanksgiving and a call to worship, celebrating God's steadfast love and deliverance from various distresses. The chapter begins by urging the redeemed to proclaim God’s goodness and His enduring love. It recounts four scenarios where God rescues distressed people: wanderers in deserts, prisoners in chains, the sick and suffering, and sailors caught in storms. Each section follows a pattern where the distressed cried out to the Lord, and He delivered them from their troubles. The psalm highlights God’s power to reverse fortunes and His care for the needy, encouraging praise and thanksgiving. The chapter concludes with a reminder to wise people to consider God's great love and deeds, urging reflection on His interventions.
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Chapter outline
How Psalms 107 unfolds
Psalm 107:1–3 Call to Thanksgiving
The psalm opens with an invitation to give thanks to Yahweh for His goodness and enduring love, specifically for the redemption He offers.
Psalm 107:4–9 Deliverance from Wilderness
It describes those who wandered in the wilderness, highlighting their desperation and God's provision in leading them to a city where they could dwell.
Psalm 107:10–15 Rescue from Darkness and Chains
This section depicts prisoners in darkness due to their rebellion, illustrating how God responds to their cries and frees them from their bondage.
Psalm 107:16–20 Healing and Deliverance from Death
Fools suffering from their iniquities cry out to God, who heals them and rescues them from the brink of death.
Psalm 107:21–30 Calm after the Storm
The psalm shifts to sailors caught in storms, emphasizing God's power over creation as He calms the seas and brings them to safety.
Psalm 107:31–42 Praise for God's Goodness
The psalm encourages praise for God's loving kindness, illustrating His justice and care for the needy amidst societal troubles.
Psalm 107:43 Wisdom in Reflection
The chapter concludes by urging the wise to reflect on the loving kindnesses of Yahweh, emphasizing the importance of recognizing His works.
Key verses
Psalms 107:6Psalms 107:6 captures the essence of the chapter by illustrating the pattern of distress and divine deliverance.
Main themes in Psalms 107
God's Steadfast Love
God's steadfast love is emphasized from the start, particularly in verses 1 and 8, where the psalmist calls for gratitude and recognition of His goodness. The repeated invitation to give thanks reflects God's unwavering faithfulness toward those who find themselves in distressing situations. This theme underscores the psalm's movement toward a collective acknowledgment of God's enduring mercy, inviting all to celebrate His compassionate nature.
Deliverance
Deliverance is a central theme in Psalm 107, illustrated through various scenarios such as the wanderers and the prisoners in verses 4-15. Each instance highlights God's immediate responsiveness to human suffering, reinforcing His role as a savior who intervenes in times of trouble. The cumulative effect of these narratives encourages a communal recognition of God's saving actions, prompting the faithful to share their experiences of His deliverance.
Praise and Thanksgiving
Praise and thanksgiving are woven throughout Psalm 107, with calls to worship appearing at key intervals, such as in verses 15 and 31. This theme develops as the psalm recounts God's mighty deeds, inviting a communal response of gratitude from those who have experienced His intervention. The emphasis on thanksgiving serves to highlight the appropriate human response to divine action, fostering a spirit of appreciation and recognition of God's ongoing presence.
Divine Intervention
Divine intervention is illustrated through God’s active involvement in the lives of the distressed, seen in multiple examples across the psalm. Each narrative section depicts a specific crisis followed by God’s rescue, illustrating His sovereignty. This theme culminates in an invitation to reflect on His deeds, reinforcing His ongoing presence.
Cross-references
Passages that echo Psalms 107
- Isaiah 44Both passages highlight God's redeeming power and His ability to restore and save His people from distress.
- Matthew 5This connects through the theme of God's care for the needy, emphasizing the blessedness of those who rely on Him.
- Psalm 147Echoes of praise for God's provision and healing link both psalms as they celebrate His loving kindness.
- Psalm 50This psalm connects through themes of gratitude and the importance of proper worship and offering to God.
- Matthew 8Both passages illustrate Jesus' authority over nature, paralleling God's command over the storm in Psalm 107.
- Psalm 103This psalm develops themes of healing and forgiveness, resonating with the deliverance depicted in Psalm 107.
Study questions
Questions for studying Psalms 107
- What does the psalm encourage the redeemed to do in verse 2?
- How does God respond to the cries of those in trouble throughout the psalm?
- What imagery is used to describe the wanderers in verses 4-5?
- What are the consequences of rebellion mentioned in verses 10-12?
- How does the psalm illustrate God's power over nature in verses 25-29?
- What types of people does God lift from affliction in verses 41-42?
- What is the significance of wisdom in verse 43, and who is it directed towards?
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