1 O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;
3 And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.
4 They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.
5 Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.
6 Then they cried unto 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 of habitation.
8 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
9 For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.
10 Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;
11 Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:
12 Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.
13 Then they cried unto 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 brake their bands in sunder.
15 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
16 For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.
17 Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.
18 Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death.
19 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses.
20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
21 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
22 And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.
23 They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;
24 These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.
25 For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
26 They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit's end.
28 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
31 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
32 Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.
33 He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground;
34 A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.
35 He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings.
36 And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation;
37 And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase.
38 He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease.
39 Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow.
40 He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way.
41 Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock.
42 The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.
43 Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.
Psalm 107, from the King James Version of the Holy Bible, is a song of thanksgiving and praise to God for His enduring mercy and His wondrous works for the children of men. It is an acknowledgement of God's goodness and benevolent acts towards humanity, especially His acts of deliverance in times of distress. This Psalm is a vivid depiction of the human condition in its various states of desperation and the divine intervention that brings about redemption and restoration.
The Psalm begins with a call to give thanks to the Lord, for He is good and His mercy endures forever. It invites those whom the Lord has redeemed from the hand of the enemy to share their testimonies. This call to give thanks is not only a command, but also an invitation to remember and acknowledge the goodness and mercy of God. The act of giving thanks is portrayed as a communal activity, binding together those who have experienced God's mercy in their lives.
The Psalm then proceeds to illustrate God's deliverance in various scenarios of human distress. It speaks of those who wandered in the wilderness, hungry and thirsty, who cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them. It speaks of those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, bound in affliction and iron, who cried out to the Lord, and He saved them. It speaks of those who were fools due to their transgressions, who were brought low by their iniquities, who cried out to the Lord in their distress, and He healed them. It speaks of those who went out to the sea in ships, who were at the mercy of the stormy waves, who cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distress.
The recurring theme throughout this Psalm is that of redemption and restoration. It is a testament to the power of prayer and the faithfulness of God in answering the cries of the distressed. It is a reminder that no matter how dire the situation, God is always ready to save, to heal, to redeem, and to restore. The Psalmist emphasizes that God's interventions are not just acts of deliverance, but transformations that lead to a state of wellbeing and prosperity.
Psalm 107 not only celebrates the divine interventions in times of trouble, but also the mighty works of God in nature and in human life. It speaks of God turning rivers into a wilderness and water springs into dry ground as a punishment for the wickedness of those who dwell there. Conversely, it speaks of God turning a wilderness into pools of water and a dry land into water springs for the benefit of the needy. It speaks of God blessing them, making them fruitful and increasing their cattle. These transformations are a testament to God's sovereign power over nature and His ability to change circumstances according to His will.
The Psalm concludes with a call to consider the lovingkindness of the Lord. It invites the reader to observe and reflect on the merciful acts of God, to see the wisdom in His ways, and to understand His benevolence. It calls for the wise to pay attention to these deeds of the Lord and to ponder the loving deeds of God. This is not just an invitation to passive observation, but an exhortation to active contemplation and understanding.
In essence, Psalm 107 is a Psalm of hope and assurance. It assures us that God hears our cries in times of distress and is ready to deliver us. It gives us hope that no matter how desperate our situation, God's mercy endures forever. It is an assurance that God is not just a God of judgement, but also a God of mercy and love. It is a call to trust in God's goodness and to give thanks for His enduring mercy.
In conclusion, Psalm 107 is a powerful testament to the enduring mercy of God and His mighty works. It is a call to give thanks, to remember, and to consider the lovingkindness of the Lord. It is a reminder of God's power to deliver, to redeem, and to restore. It is a song of hope and assurance for all who are in distress, assuring them of God's unfailing love and mercy. It is a Psalm that speaks to the human condition in all its desperation and points to the divine intervention that brings about redemption and restoration. It is a Psalm that celebrates the goodness and mercy of God and invites us to do the same.
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