Psalm 107
Psalm 107 celebrates God's steadfast love and deliverance. It recounts various situations where people found themselves in trouble—lost, imprisoned, sick, or caught in storms—only to be rescued by God when they cried out to Him. This psalm invites everyone who has experienced God's deliverance to give thanks and recognize His power and mercy in every situation.
Psalm 107:1-3 (NKJV)
1 Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.
2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy,
3 And gathered out of the lands, From the east and from the west, From the north and from the south.
The psalm opens with a call for thanksgiving, emphasizing God's enduring mercy. It invites those who have been redeemed from various dangers—rescued from their enemies and gathered from distant lands—to praise the Lord. This reflects God’s faithfulness in bringing His people back from exile and rescuing them from all corners of the earth.
Psalm 107:4-9 (NKJV)
4 They wandered in the wilderness in a desolate way; They found no city to dwell in.
5 Hungry and thirsty, Their soul fainted in them.
6 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, And He delivered them out of their distresses.
7 And He led them forth by the right way, That they might go to a city for a dwelling place.
8 Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
9 For He satisfies the longing soul, And fills the hungry soul with goodness.
This section reflects the experience of those wandering through life’s wilderness. Lost, hungry, and desperate, they cry out to God, who hears and delivers them, leading them to a place of safety and satisfaction. The psalm emphasizes God’s care for the weary and invites people to thank Him for His goodness and provision.
Psalm 107:10-16 (NKJV)
10 Those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, Bound in affliction and irons—
11 Because they rebelled against the words of God, And despised the counsel of the Most High,
12 Therefore He brought down their heart with labor; They fell down, and there was none to help.
13 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, And He saved them out of their distresses.
14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, And broke their chains in pieces.
15 Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
16 For He has broken the gates of bronze, And cut the bars of iron in two.
This section highlights those who found themselves imprisoned and in deep affliction because of their rebellion against God. Yet, when they cried out, God responded mercifully, breaking their chains and leading them out of darkness. It emphasizes God’s power to deliver even the most desperate and imprisoned souls.
Psalm 107:17-22 (NKJV)
17 Fools, because of their transgression, And because of their iniquities, were afflicted.
18 Their soul abhorred all manner of food, And they drew near to the gates of death.
19 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, And He saved them out of their distresses.
20 He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions.
21 Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
22 Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, And declare His works with rejoicing.
Here, the psalm describes those suffering because of their sins. They experienced affliction so severe that they were on the verge of death. Yet God, in His mercy, responded to their cry, sent His word to heal them, and delivered them from their troubles. This passage calls for thanksgiving and joyful declaration of God’s works.
Psalm 107:23-32 (NKJV)
23 Those who go down to the sea in ships, Who do business on great waters,
24 They see the works of the Lord, And His wonders in the deep.
25 For He commands and raises the stormy wind, Which lifts up the waves of the sea.
26 They mount up to the heavens, They go down again to the depths; Their soul melts because of trouble.
27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, And are at their wits’ end.
28 Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble, And He brings them out of their distresses.
29 He calms the storm, So that its waves are still.
30 Then they are glad because they are quiet; So He guides them to their desired haven.
31 Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
32 Let them exalt Him also in the assembly of the people, And praise Him in the company of the elders.
This section describes the experiences of sailors caught in storms at sea. When overwhelmed by the waves and in distress, they call upon God, who calms the storm and brings them safely to shore. This passage emphasizes God's control over creation and His willingness to deliver those in peril.
Psalm 107:33-38 (NKJV)
33 He turns rivers into a wilderness, And the watersprings into dry ground;
34 A fruitful land into barrenness, For the wickedness of those who dwell in it.
35 He turns a wilderness into pools of water, And dry land into watersprings.
36 There He makes the hungry dwell, That they may establish a city for a dwelling place,
37 And sow fields and plant vineyards, That they may yield a fruitful harvest.
38 He also blesses them, and they multiply greatly; And He does not let their cattle decrease.
These verses highlight God’s power to transform environments based on human behavior. He can turn fruitful lands into deserts as a consequence of wickedness, and dry places into sources of water to bless the righteous. God’s care extends to the hungry and those in need, enabling them to prosper.
Psalm 107:39-43 (NKJV)
39 When they are diminished and brought low Through oppression, affliction, and sorrow,
40 He pours contempt on princes, And causes them to wander in the wilderness where there is no way;
41 Yet He sets the poor on high, far from affliction, And makes their families like a flock.
42 The righteous see it and rejoice, And all iniquity stops its mouth.
43 Whoever is wise will observe these things, And they will understand the lovingkindness of the Lord.
The concluding verses show how God humbles the proud and lifts the humble. Oppressors may be brought low, but the poor and needy are elevated and blessed. The righteous witness God's justice and rejoice, while evil is silenced. The psalm ends with a call for wisdom, urging people to reflect on God's lovingkindness in all circumstances.