Psalms 107
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Psalms 107
[Psalms 107:1] O GIVE THANKS UNTO THE LORD, FOR HE IS GOOD: FOR HIS MERCY ENDURETH FOR EVER.
God is always good. HE is always there. The problem is in us that we do not always manage to reach out.
[Psalms 107:2] LET THE REDEEMED OF THE LORD SAY SO, WHOM HE HATH REDEEMED FROM THE HAND OF THE ENEMY;
God redeems us. HE redeems HIS people.
[Psalms 107:3] AND GATHERED THEM OUT OF THE LANDS, FROM THE EAST, AND FROM THE WEST, FROM THE NORTH, AND FROM THE SOUTH.
This applies to all Israel but especially to Judah in the Latter Times.
Seforno: This refers to the Ingathering of the Exiles.
[Psalms 107:4] THEY WANDERED IN THE WILDERNESS IN A SOLITARY WAY; THEY FOUND NO CITY TO DWELL IN.
Here the Psalmist uses the Wandering on the Wilderness of the Israelites when they came out of Egypt as a Protoype for their later Period of Exile.
[Psalms 107:5] HUNGRY AND THIRSTY, THEIR SOUL FAINTED IN THEM.
[Psalms 107:6] THEN THEY CRIED UNTO THE LORD IN THEIR TROUBLE, AND HE DELIVERED THEM OUT OF THEIR DISTRESSES.
[Psalms 107:7] AND HE LED THEM FORTH BY THE RIGHT WAY, THAT THEY MIGHT GO TO A CITY OF HABITATION.
This is also an allegory and applicable to both Judah and the Ten Tribes. In their Time of Exile there will periods of tribulation and religious uncertainty. Israel will be uncertain which way to turn but will cry out to the Almighty. God will hear HIS people and direct them on the right path.
[Psalms 107:8] OH THAT MEN WOULD PRAISE THE LORD FOR HIS GOODNESS, AND FOR HIS WONDERFUL WORKS TO THE CHILDREN OF MEN!
<<OH THAT MEN WOULD PRAISE. Hebrew "yodu" i.e. Let them make acknowledgment. Let people know the greatness and goodness of the Almighty and his works and make them known to others. A lot of religious groups including Jews, Fundamentalist, and Mainstream Christians in their publications include features concerning the wonders and intricacies of nature etc. This is correct. This is what should be done. We should be aware of what the Creator has done in so far as we are allowed to know and we should pass this knowledge on to others.
[Psalms 107:9] FOR HE SATISFIETH THE LONGING SOUL, AND FILLETH THE HUNGRY SOUL WITH GOODNESS.
People who are called by the Almighty sometimes face afflictions and spiritual cravings that only God can cure. This can become a source of blessing for ourselves and others and we should endeavor to make it so. It happens that some people for all kinds of reasons stop caring about themselves. This is wrong but even if it happens one should keep going for the sake of others and for the sake of the Almighty.
Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav is quoted as saying, "If you believe you can damage, believe also that you can repair".
Alternately, "If you think you can do harm know also that you can do good".
[Psalms 107:10] SUCH AS SIT IN DARKNESS AND IN THE SHADOW OF DEATH, BEING BOUND IN AFFLICTION AND IRON;
[Psalms 107:11] BECAUSE THEY REBELLED AGAINST THE WORDS OF GOD, AND CONTEMNED THE COUNSEL OF THE MOST HIGH:
[Psalms 107:12] THEREFORE HE BROUGHT DOWN THEIR HEART WITH LABOUR; THEY FELL DOWN, AND THERE WAS NONE TO HELP.
[Psalms 107:13] THEN THEY CRIED UNTO THE LORD IN THEIR TROUBLE, AND HE SAVED THEM OUT OF THEIR DISTRESSES.
This scenario describes both a physical and a moral reality. Because of our deeds and attitudes we may find ourselves in a circumstantial prison, or physically sick..
[Psalms 107:14] HE BROUGHT THEM OUT OF DARKNESS AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH, AND BRAKE THEIR BANDS IN SUNDER.
We do not like to dwell on sickness and disaster and giving advice to others because no-one really knows until they have been there and even then it is nmot the same for any two individuals. The psalmist is speaking here both as an individual and as a representative of the whole group. David suffered much in his life only a little of which is hinted at in the Bible. He projected his own experiences on to what Divine Inspiration had revealed to him in some way what was destined to occur to the people of Israel with whom he identified.
[Psalms 107:15] OH THAT MEN WOULD PRAISE THE LORD FOR HIS GOODNESS, AND FOR HIS WONDERFUL WORKS TO THE CHILDREN OF MEN!
[Psalms 107:16] FOR HE HATH BROKEN THE GATES OF BRASS, AND CUT THE BARS OF IRON IN SUNDER.
[Psalms 107:17] FOOLS BECAUSE OF THEIR TRANSGRESSION, AND BECAUSE OF THEIR INIQUITIES, ARE AFFLICTED.
[Psalms 107:18] THEIR SOUL ABHORRETH ALL MANNER OF MEAT; AND THEY DRAW NEAR UNTO THE GATES OF DEATH.
[Psalms 107:19] THEN THEY CRY UNTO THE LORD IN THEIR TROUBLE, AND HE SAVETH THEM OUT OF THEIR DISTRESSES.
[Psalms 107:20] HE SENT HIS WORD, AND HEALED THEM, AND DELIVERED THEM FROM THEIR DESTRUCTIONS.
[Psalms 107:21] OH THAT MEN WOULD PRAISE THE LORD FOR HIS GOODNESS, AND FOR HIS WONDERFUL WORKS TO THE CHILDREN OF MEN!
God is always healing people, always listening tot heir prayers nad pleasefor mercy. Every time anything happens to us or threatens to happen subconsciously we call to HIM and HE listens. HE helps us by virtue of some little kindness we may have done or will do, or because of some good our forebears or children may have done or do, or for no reason at all other than HE bring merciful to us.
[Psalms 107:22] AND LET THEM SACRIFICE THE SACRIFICES OF THANKSGIVING, AND DECLARE HIS WORKS WITH REJOICING.
[Psalms 107:23] THEY THAT GO DOWN TO THE SEA IN SHIPS, THAT DO BUSINESS IN GREAT WATERS;
[Psalms 107:24] THESE SEE THE WORKS OF THE LORD, AND HIS WONDERS IN THE DEEP.
[Psalms 107:25] FOR HE COMMANDETH, AND RAISETH THE STORMY WIND, WHICH LIFTETH UP THE WAVES THEREOF.
[Psalms 107:26] THEY MOUNT UP TO THE HEAVEN, THEY GO DOWN AGAIN TO THE DEPTHS: THEIR SOUL IS MELTED BECAUSE OF TROUBLE.
A lot of us had ancestors who were seafarers. Some of us have been to sea. We have all probably at some time or other seen films in which raging sea tempests were depicted.
The Sages said that most sailors were "men of kindness". This is apparently because sailors (especially in the past when ships were less reliable than they are today) were constantly faced with danger and frequently had to come face to face with the raging Ocean lifting their boat up, almost turning it over, and then throwing it down again.
[Psalms 107:27] THEY REEL TO AND FRO, AND STAGGER LIKE A DRUNKEN MAN, AND ARE AT THEIR WIT'S END.
[Psalms 107:28] THEN THEY CRY UNTO THE LORD IN THEIR TROUBLE, AND HE BRINGETH THEM OUT OF THEIR DISTRESSES.
[Psalms 107:29] HE MAKETH THE STORM A CALM, SO THAT THE WAVES THEREOF ARE STILL.
[Psalms 107:30] THEN ARE THEY GLAD BECAUSE THEY BE QUIET; SO HE BRINGETH THEM UNTO THEIR DESIRED HAVEN.
This depiction is a reality as well as being a parable for many of us of tempestuous times in our lives where but for the grace of God we would be dead, or in gaol, or sick, or who knows what but God helped us and we came through or hope to yet do so.
[Psalms 107:31] OH THAT MEN WOULD PRAISE THE LORD FOR HIS GOODNESS, AND FOR HIS WONDERFUL WORKS TO THE CHILDREN OF MEN!
[Psalms 107:32] LET THEM EXALT HIM ALSO IN THE CONGREGATION OF THE PEOPLE, AND PRAISE HIM IN THE ASSEMBLY OF THE ELDERS.
Our governmental bodies, publical meetings, etc, should also be assemblies where the Almighty is glorified and HIS goodness acknowledged.
[Psalms 107:33] HE TURNETH RIVERS INTO A WILDERNESS, AND THE WATERSPRINGS INTO DRY GROUND;
[Psalms 107:34] A FRUITFUL LAND INTO BARRENNESS, FOR THE WICKEDNESS OF THEM THAT DWELL THEREIN.
Due to the wicked just the opposite can also happen. We sometimes seems to have taken for taking a good run of luck and converting it into a disaster. These days our environment is being poisoned due to our progress. This may well be often exaggerated and exploited by do-gooders with an agenda who work to the detriment of the common man who needs to work and support his family with honor. There may be no easy solution to the environmental crisis but with good will and determination we should believe that solutions can be found. It does not have to be all bad.
If we believe in God and strife to do HIS will we may still make mistakes but chances are that there will be less of them and even our blunders may yet bear blessed fruit.
[Psalms 107:35] HE TURNETH THE WILDERNESS INTO A STANDING WATER, AND DRY GROUND INTO WATERSPRINGS.
David goes back and forth. He relates how due to the wicked, rivers become desert, springs of water dry up. After that he goes on to relate how the desert becomes a freshwater lake and springs gushing water emerge from the dry ground. The Land of Israel was once quite fertile. So was much of the Middle East. Climate changes occurred and the land became desolate. Things have began to improve but it is still a case of doing what is possible with a paucity of input. The bible indicates that additional climate changes will take place. The Land will be healed and enable to support large numbers of people. This healing will be largely through the miraculous intervention of the Almighty. Neveryhless there are indications that at the beginning the healing will be due to the conscious application of human willpower and corrective industry from Israelites.
[Psalms 107:36] AND THERE HE MAKETH THE HUNGRY TO DWELL, THAT THEY MAY PREPARE A CITY FOR HABITATION;
[Psalms 107:37] AND SOW THE FIELDS, AND PLANT VINEYARDS, WHICH MAY YIELD FRUITS OF INCREASE.
[Psalms 107:38] HE BLESSETH THEM ALSO, SO THAT THEY ARE MULTIPLIED GREATLY; AND SUFFERETH NOT THEIR CATTLE TO DECREASE.
[Psalms 107:39] AGAIN, THEY ARE MINISHED AND BROUGHT LOW THROUGH OPPRESSION, AFFLICTION, AND SORROW.
[Psalms 107:40] HE POURETH CONTEMPT UPON PRINCES, AND CAUSETH THEM TO WANDER IN THE WILDERNESS, WHERE THERE IS NO WAY.
[Psalms 107:41] YET SETTETH HE THE POOR ON HIGH FROM AFFLICTION, AND MAKETH HIM FAMILIES LIKE A FLOCK.
[Psalms 107:42] THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL SEE IT, AND REJOICE: AND ALL INIQUITY SHALL STOP HER MOUTH.
[Psalms 107:43] WHOSO IS WISE, AND WILL OBSERVE THESE THINGS, EVEN THEY SHALL UNDERSTAND THE LOVINGKINDNESS OF THE LORD.
This whole Psalm forms a repetitive pattern. We are oppressed we call to God and He helps us. The Land is blessed but men sinned and it is destroyed through ecological disasters. Again we pray or the Almighty gratuitously has mercy on us and the Land is healed again. This happens several times over, each time with minor variations but according to a set pattern. What is being described may be taken as reflecting the history and future of the Israelite Peoples. We may also at the same time take it as reflecting aspects of our lifes and family experiences.
God is good.
God is available to us and will help us but we cannot deceive HIM as we may be able to do to others and to ourselves. HE will not be shortchanged.
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