O give thanks unto the LORD, for [he is] good: for his mercy [endureth] for ever. Ver. 1. _O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good_] He is good, and doeth good, Psalms 119:68, not to his Israel only, as is set forth in the two foregoing psalms, but to all mankind, which is _Divini ingenii cura,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let the redeemed of the LORD say [so], whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;_ Ver. 2. _Let the redeemed of the Lord_] Four sorts of whom are afterwards instanced: 1. exiles; 2. prisoners; 3. sick persons; 4. seamen. These and the like must praise him in a special manner for their deliv... [ Continue Reading ]
And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south. Ver. 3. _And gathered them out of the lands_] He beginneth with wayfaring men and exiles, because, according to Tyrtaeus, _Non exul curae dicitur esse Deo._ And from the south] Heb. from the s... [ Continue Reading ]
They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in. Ver. 4. _They wandered in the wilderness, &c._] This is a sad case, _Mendicum patria amissa laribusque vagari._ Pλαγχθοσυνης ουκ εστι κακωτερον αλλο βροτοισι . And yet this is the case of all God's redeemed ones wh... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them._ Ver. 5. _Hungry and thirsty, &c._] The Lord's exiles meet many times with the like exigents in the wilderness of this wicked world; but let them be content, and say, We are well for the present, and it will be better with us hereafter (Melancthon).... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, [and] he delivered them out of their distresses._ Ver. 6. _Then they cried unto the Lord_] Though under a wrong name, it may be, as of Jupiter, Mercury, &c.; and, in an uncertain way, as Hecuba did with her, _O Iupiter quicquid es sive caelum hoc, si... [ Continue Reading ]
And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation. Ver. 7. _And he led them forth by the right way_] Better than that Dea Vibilia among the Romans, of whom they fancied that she set them right when out of the way at any time; or Minerva among the Athenians, who, the... [ Continue Reading ]
Oh that [men] would praise the LORD [for] his goodness, and [for] his wonderful works to the children of men! Ver. 8. _Oh that men would praise the Lord, &c._] Heb. that they would confess it to the Lord, both in secret and in society. This is all the rent that God requireth; he is content that we... [ Continue Reading ]
For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness. Ver. 9. _For he satisfieth the longing soul, &c._] This as a recapitulation of the first part, Psalms 107:5,7, and setteth forth the reason why the redeemed should praise God out of the sweet experience they have had of... [ Continue Reading ]
Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, [being] bound in affliction and iron; Ver. 10. _Such as sit in darkness, &c._] Here come in the second sort of God's redeemed or rescued ones, viz. captives and prisoners, whose dark and doleful condition is in this verse described. _ And in the... [ Continue Reading ]
Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High: Ver. 11. _Because they rebelled against the words of God_] Sin is at the bottom of all men's miseries, as the procreant cause thereof; for God afflicteth not willingly, nor grieveth the children of men, Lame... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and [there was] none to help. Ver. 12. _Therefore he brought down their heart_] That proud piece of flesh, _Quod erat elatum et verba Dei contempsit,_ saith Kimchi, which had stouted it out with God, and thought to have carried it a... [ Continue Reading ]
Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, [and] he saved them out of their distresses. Ver. 13. _Then they cried unto the Lord_] See Psalms 107:6 . _ And he saved them, &c._] This is comfort to the greatest sinners; if they can but find a praying heart, God will find a pitying heart, and reb... [ Continue Reading ]
He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder. Ver. 14. _He brought them out of darkness_] He sent his mandamus _a_, as Psalms 44:4, and that did the deed, as Acts 5:19; Acts 12:7 . _ a_ Originally applied generically to a number of ancient writs, letters... [ Continue Reading ]
Oh that [men] would praise the LORD [for] his goodness, and [for] his wonderful works to the children of men! Ver. 15. _Oh that men, &c._] See Psalms 107:8 .... [ Continue Reading ]
For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder. Ver. 16. _For he hath broken the gates of brass_] If Samson could do so, how much more the Almighty, whom nothing can withstand! Nature may be stopped in her course, as when the fire burned not. Men may not be able to do as... [ Continue Reading ]
Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted. Ver. 17. _Fools because of their transgression_] _Propter viam defectionis sum,_ by means of their defection, their departing away from the living God, through an evil heart of unbelief, Hebrews 3:12 . _ And beca... [ Continue Reading ]
Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death. Ver. 18. _Their soul abhorreth_] That is, their stomach loatheth it as unsavoury, though it be never so dainty: an appetite to our meat is an inconconceivable mercy, and, as we say, a sign of health. _ And they dr... [ Continue Reading ]
Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, [and] he saveth them out of their distresses. Ver. 19. _Then they cry, &c._] _Quando medicus et medicinae non prosunt,_ saith Kimchi, when physicians have done their utmost. See Psalms 107:6 .... [ Continue Reading ]
He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered [them] from their destructions. Ver. 20. _He sent his word, and healed them_] He commanded deliverance, and it was done; unless there he an allusion to the essential Word, who was afterwards to take flesh, and to heal the diseased. _ And delivered t... [ Continue Reading ]
Oh that [men] would praise the LORD [for] his goodness, and [for] his wonderful works to the children of men! Ver. 21. _Oh that men, &c._] See Psalms 107:8 . _ And for his wonderful works_] Men are _misericordiis et miraculis obsesse,_ and it were no hard matter to find a miracle in most of our me... [ Continue Reading ]
And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing. Ver. 22. _And let them sacrifice, &c._] If they have escaped sickness, let them offer a passover; and if they have recovered, a thankoffering. Heathens in this case praised their Esculapius; Papists their S... [ Continue Reading ]
They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; Ver. 23. _They that go down to the sea in ships_] Here we have a fourth specimen or instance of God's gracious and wise dispensations towards men, in their trading or trafficking by sea. These are said to go down to sea, becau... [ Continue Reading ]
_These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep._ Ver. 24. _These see the works of the Lord, &c._] In sea monsters, as whales and whirlpools, and sudden change of weather, and the like, not a few; ebbs and flows, pearls, islands, &c. These are just wonders, and may fully convince the... [ Continue Reading ]
For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. Ver. 25. _For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, &c._] Of this Seneca, though a heathen, could say, _Inter caetera providentiae divinae opera hoc quoque dignum est admiratione, &c., _ Among other works of t... [ Continue Reading ]
They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble. Ver. 26. _They mount up to the heaven, they go down, &c._] An elegant hypotyposis or description of a storm at sea; like whereunto is that in Virgil, _ Tollimur in coelum curvato gurgite, et iid... [ Continue Reading ]
_They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end._ Ver. 27. _They reel to and fro, &c._] _Natant nautae, et vacillant cerebro et pedibus._ And are at their wit's end] All their skill and strength faileth them at once; they can do no more for their lives. Heb. All t... [ Continue Reading ]
Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. Ver. 28. _Then they cry unto the Lord_] "Then," if ever: hence that speech of one, _Qui nescit orare, discat navigare,_ He who cannot pray, let him go to sea, and there he will learn. See Psalms 107:6 .... [ Continue Reading ]
He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Ver. 29. _He maketh the storm a calm_] "He," that is, God Almighty, whose the sea is, and he made it, Psalms 95:5; not the Pagans Neptune, or the papagans' St Nicholas. _ So that the waves thereof are still_] If, therefore, the volup... [ Continue Reading ]
Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven. Ver. 30. _Then are they glad because they be quiet_] All is hushed on the sudden, as Matthew 8:26, both their fears and the sea's outrages being quickly reduced to a peaceable period. _ So he bringeth them to t... [ Continue Reading ]
Oh that [men] would praise the LORD [for] his goodness, and [for] his wonderful works to the children of men! Ver. 31. _Oh that men would, &c._] See Psalms 107:8 .... [ Continue Reading ]
Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders. Ver. 32. _Let them exalt him also in the congregation, &c._] _i.e._ In all public meetings, ecclesiastical and civil.... [ Continue Reading ]
He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground; Ver. 33. _He turneth rivers into a wilderness_] Hitherto the psalmist hath set forth God's good providence in delivering men from several deaths and dangers; now he declareth the same in his just and powerful transmutations... [ Continue Reading ]
A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein. Ver. 34. _A fruitful land into barrenness_] Heb. saltness. See Luk 14:34-35 Deu 29:23 Judges 9:45. Salt breedeth barrenness, by eating up the fat and moisture of the earth. Some think the psalmist here alludeth to Sodom... [ Continue Reading ]
He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings. Ver. 35. _He turneth the wilderness, &c._] Some places, again, God (to show his power and providence) of sterile maketh to become fertile; Polonia, for instance, and other northern countries. Germany and France were... [ Continue Reading ]
And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation; Ver. 36. _And there he maketh the hungry to dwell_] As our English, and other plantations in America, where sundry poor people get fair estates. _ That they may prepare a city_] The building of cities is of God,... [ Continue Reading ]
And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase. Ver. 37. _And sow the fields, and plant vineyards_] These are noble employments, such as the ancient patriarchs were much in, and the most honourable among the Romans, as Coriolanus, Marcus Curius, Cato Major, &c. Our fore... [ Continue Reading ]
He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease. Ver. 38. _He blesseth them also, &c._] See Pro 10:12 Psa 127:1 James 4:15. They are out that rest in natural causes.... [ Continue Reading ]
Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow. Ver. 39. _Again, they are minished_] _Minorati sunt._ This also is of the Lord, who hath treasuries of plagues, and cannot be exhausted.... [ Continue Reading ]
He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, [where there is] no way. Ver. 40. _He poureth contempt, &c._] See Job 12:21; Job 12:24, _See Trapp on "_ Job 12:21 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Job 12:24 _"_ _Poena tyrannorum est contemptus, exilium, nex,_ saith Genebrard. All... [ Continue Reading ]
Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh [him] families like a flock. Ver. 41. _Yet setteth he the poor_] The godly poor, as he did David. _ And maketh him families like a flock_] Of sheep, which multiply exceedingly in a short time.... [ Continue Reading ]
The righteous shall see [it], and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth. Ver. 42. _The righteous shall see it, and rejoice_] It shall cheer them up to see that the reins of government are in God's hand; and to behold such love in such providence. _ And all iniquity shall stop her mouth_]... [ Continue Reading ]
Whoso [is] wise, and will observe these [things], even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD. Ver. 43. _Whoso is wise_] Heb. Who is wise? _q.d._ not many. _Exclamatio querulatoria_ (Piscat.). _Rari quippe boni._ None but those that observe providences, and lay up experiences; which,... [ Continue Reading ]