Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Psalms
Book: Psalms
Chapter: 107
Overview:
God's providential care of the children of men in distresses,
in banishment, and
Dispersion.
(1-9) In
Captivity.
(10-16) In
sickness.
(17-22) Danger at
Sea.
(23-32) God's
Hand is to be seen
By his own people.
(33-43)
1-9 In these verses there is reference to the deliverance from
Egypt, and perhaps that from
Babylon: but the circumstances of
travellers in those countries are also noted. It is scarcely
possible to conceive the horrors suffered
By the hapless
traveller, when crossing the trackless sands, exposed to the
burning rays of the sum. The words describe their case whom the
Lord has redeemed from the
Bondage of
Satan; who pass through
the world as a dangerous and dreary
Wilderness, often ready to
faint through troubles, fears, and temptations. Those who hunger
and thirst after
Righteousness, after
God, and
Communion with
him, shall be filled with the
Goodness of his
House, both in
Grace and
Glory.
10-16 This description of prisoners and captives intimates that
they are desolate and sorrowful. In the eastern prisons the
captives were and are treated with much severity. Afflicting
providences must be improved as humbling providences; and we
lose the benefit, if our hearts are unhumbled and unbroken under
them. This is a
Shadow of the sinner's deliverance from a far
worse confinement. The awakened sinner discovers his guilt and
misery. Having struggled in vain for deliverance, he finds there
is
No help for him but in the
Mercy and
Grace of
God. His
Sin is
forgiven
By a merciful
God, and his
Pardon is accompanied
By
deliverance from the power of
Sin and
Satan, and
By the
sanctifying and comforting influences of
God the Holy
Spirit.
17-22 If we knew
No Sin, we should know
No sickness. Sinners
are fools. They hurt their bodily health
By intemperance, and
endanger their lives
By indulging their appetites. This their
way is their folly. The weakness of the body is the effect of
sickness. It is
By the power and
Mercy of
God that we are
recovered from sickness, and it is our duty to be thankful. All
Christ's miraculous cures were emblems of his healing diseases
of the soul. It is also to be applied to the spiritual cures
which the
Spirit of
Grace Works. He sends his
Word, and heals
souls; convinces, converts them, makes them holy, and all
By the
Word. Even in common cases of recovery from sickness,
God in his
Providence speaks, and it is done;
By his
Word and
Spirit the
soul is restored to health and
Holiness.
23-32 Let those who go to
Sea, consider and
Adore the
Lord.
Mariners have their business upon the tempestuous ocean, and
there
Witness deliverances of which others cannot form an idea.
How seasonable it is at such a time to pray! This may remind us
of the terrors and distress of
Conscience many experience, and
of those
Deep scenes of trouble which many pass through, in
their
Christian course. Yet, in answer to their cries, the
Lord
turns their storm into a calm, and causes their trials to
End in
gladness.
33-43 What surprising changes are often made in the affairs of
men! Let the present desolate state of
Judea, and of other
countries, explain this. If we look abroad in the world, we see
many greatly increase, whose beginning was small. We see many
who have thus suddenly risen, as suddenly brought to nothing.
Worldly wealth is uncertain; often those who are filled with it,
ere they are aware, lose it again.
God has many ways of making
men
Poor. The righteous shall rejoice. It shall fully convince
all those who deny the Divine
Providence. When sinners see how
justly
God takes away the
Gifts they have abused, they will not
have a
Word to say. It is of great use to us to be fully assured
of
God's
Goodness, and duly affected with it. It is our
Wisdom
to mind our duty, and to refer our comfort to him. A truly
Wise
person will treasure in his
Heart this delightful psalm. From
it, he will fully understand the weakness and wretchedness of
Man, and the power and loving-kindness of
God, not for our
merit, but for his
Mercy's sake.
- We may usefully select passages from different
Psalms, as
here, Ps 57; 60, to help our devotions, and enliven our
gratitude. When the
Heart is firm in
Faith and
Love, the tongue,
being employed in grateful praises, is our
Glory. Every
Gift of
the
Lord honours and profits the possessor, as it is employed in
God's service and to his
Glory. Believers may pray with assured
Faith and
Hope, for all the blessings of
Salvation; which are
secured to them
By the
Faithful promise and
Covenant of
God.
Then let them expect from him help in every trouble, and victory
in every conflict. Whatever we do, whatever we gain,
God must
have all the
Glory.
Lord, visit all our souls with this
Salvation, with this favour which thou bearest to thy
Chosen
people.