O give thanks unto the Lord ,.... As all men should do, at all times and for all things; the psalm begins as the former does, and gives the same reasons for thanksgiving. For he is good ; and does good, and is the author of all good. For his mercy endureth for ever ; and men in every age are partakers of it. read more
O give thanks - Here is a duty prescribed; and the reasons of it are immediately laid down. He is good. This is his nature. His mercy endureth for ever. This is the stream that flows from the fountain of his goodness. read more
Verse 1 1Praise Jehovah. We have already explained this verse, for it formed the commencement of the preceding psalm. And it appears that it was not only frequently used among the Jews, but also so incorporated with other psalms, that when one part of the chorus on the one side was singing a portion of the psalm, the other part of the chorus on the opposite side in its turn, after each succeeding verse, responded, Praise Jehovah, because he is good, etc The penman of this psalm, whoever he was,... read more
O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good (comp. Psalms 106:1 ; Psalms 118:1 ; Psalms 136:1 ). For his mercy endureth forever (see the comment on Psalms 106:1 ). read more
Deliverance and indebtedness. We can never measure what we owe to God for his daily loving-kindness. Indeed, it is only the wise who observe and take account of the Divine source of all human blessings, that at all understand how great is our debt of gratitude ( Psalms 107:43 ). But we are too apt to overlook God's goodness to us even in the more striking events of life. How often in the course of our life are we cast upon the kindness of the Divine Redeemer! I. THE MANIFOLDNESS ... read more
Formally, the psalm falls into seven divisions: read more
Wherefore men should praise the Lord. Such is the theme of this glorious psalm. "It contains the thanksgiving of exiles ( Psalms 107:3 ) apparently not yet returned to Jerusalem, but already escaped from the thraldom of Babylon." Note— I. ITS GENERAL LESSONS . 1. It tells of present earthly troubles . They were such as the returning exiles had met with, for Babylon was not the alone place of exile. There had been weary wanderings in the barren, waterless, and burning... read more
God's watchful care. "Whatever the circumstances under which the psalm was written, there can be no doubt as to the great lesson which it inculcates"—that God watches over men, and his ear is open to their prayers. Look at some illustrations. I. GOD HAD ANSWERED THE CRY OF THE JEWS IN EXILE , AND RESTORED THEM TO THEIR OWN COUNTRY . ( Psalms 107:2 , Psalms 107:8 , Psalms 107:9 .) They were called on to give thanks for thou wonders, and to... read more
O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good - See the notes at Psalms 106:1.For his mercy endureth for ever - He is unchanging in his mercy. It is an attribute of his very nature. He is constantly manifesting it. The word rendered “mercy” here, however - חסד chesed - is more general in its signification than our word “mercy.” Our word means “favor shown to the guilty;” the Hebrew word means kindness, goodness, benignity in general. It is this which is celebrated in the psalm before us. read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 107:1-9
Here is, I. A general call to all to give thanks to God, Ps. 107:1. Let all that sing this psalm, or pray over it, set themselves herein to give thanks to the Lord; and those that have not any special matter for praise may furnish themselves with matter enough from God's universal goodness. In the fountain he is good; in the streams his mercy endures for ever and never fails. II. A particular demand hereof from the redeemed of the Lord, which may well be applied spiritually to those that have... read more