Psalm 107:20-41 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 107:17-22

Bodily sickness is another of the calamities of this life which gives us an opportunity of experiencing the goodness of God in recovering us, and of that the psalmist speaks in these verses, where we may observe, I. That we, by our sins, bring sickness upon ourselves and then it is our duty to pray, Ps. 107:17-18. 1. It is the sin of the soul that is the cause of sickness; we bring it upon ourselves both meritoriously and efficiently: Fools, because of their transgression, are thus afflicted;... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 107:23-32

The psalmist here calls upon those to give glory to God who are delivered from dangers at sea. Though the Israelites dealt not much in merchandise, yet their neighbours the Tyrians and Zidonians did, and for them perhaps this part of the psalm was especially calculated. I. Much of the power of God appears at all times in the sea, Ps. 107:23, 24. It appears to those that go down to the sea in ships, as mariners, merchants, fishermen, or passengers, that do business in great waters. And surely... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 107:33-43

The psalmist, having given God the glory of the providential reliefs granted to persons in distress, here gives him the glory of the revolutions of providence, and the surprising changes it sometimes makes in the affairs of the children of men. I. He gives some instances of these revolutions. 1. Fruitful countries are made barren and barren countries are made fruitful. Much of the comfort of this life depends upon the soil in which our lot is cast. Now, (1.) The sin of man has often marred the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 107:20

He sent his word, and healed them ,.... It was his will and pleasure they should be healed, and accordingly they were; he issued his orders for the removal of the affliction, and it was done; diseases are his servants, which come and go at his command; so Christ, in the days of his flesh, healed by speaking a word, Matthew 8:3 . This is true of Christ the essential Word, who was sent in the fulness of time, and was made flesh and dwelt among men, and went about healing all manner of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 107:21

Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness ,.... Both in restoring to bodily health, which is an instance of divine goodness; and in healing the diseases of the soul, or in the pardon of sin, which is according to the multitude of his mercies, and the riches of his grace. And for his wonderful works to the children of men ; bodily health is sometimes restored in a wonderful manner, when all means used are without success, and the prescriptions of doctors fail; and pardon of sin... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 107:22

And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving ,.... Not legal sacrifices, but spiritual and evangelical ones, the sacrifices of praise and thankfulness which God has enjoined are well pleasing to him through Christ, glorify him, and are but our reasonable service; see Hebrews 13:15 . And declare his works with rejoicing : tell them to the children of men, what he has done for them, for soul and body; let them come to Zion with joy and everlasting joy on their heads; to the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 107:23

They that go down to the sea in ships ,.... This is the fourth instance of persons in distress crying to the Lord for help, and, having it, are laid under obligation to praise him; the case of seafaring men: so the Targum introduces it, "mariners that go down to the sea in ships;' the same form of expression as here is used in Isaiah 42:10 . Some affirm the sea to be higher than the earth, but by this it should be lower; besides the earth is said to be founded on the seas, which... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 107:24

These see the works of the Lord ,.... In creation, the sea itself, its flux and reflux; the creatures in it, fishes of various forms and sizes: and in providence, in preserving ships and men in the most imminent danger, and even to a miracle; sometimes causing the wind to change or to subside in a moment, whereby deliverance is wrought. And his wonders in the deep ; the strange and wonderful creatures that are in the deep waters of the sea, and to be seen nowhere else; and the amazing... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 107:25

For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind ,.... Winds are not raised by men, nor by devils, nor by angels, but by the Lord himself; who has created them, holds them in his fist, brings them out of his treasures, and sends them forth to do his will; if he speaks the word, gives but the order, a storm arises at once, and executes what he pleases, Psalm 148:8 . Which lifteth up the waves thereof ; that is, the waves of the sea; it comes down into it, and causes surges; which rise... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 107:26

They mount up to the heaven ,.... The waves which are lifted up by the stormy wind, and the ships which are upon them, and the men in them. They go down again to the depths : one while they seem to reach the skies, and presently they are down, as it were, in the bottom of the sea, and are threatened to be buried in the midst of it; distress at sea is described in much the same language by Virgil and Ovid F13 "Tollimur in coelum", Virgil. Aeneid 3. prope finem. "Coelumque aequare... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 107:17-22

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 107:23-32

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 107:33-43

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 107:20

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 107:21

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 107:22

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 107:23

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 107:24

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 107:25

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 107:26

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