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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

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 107:27

They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man ,.... Through the agitation of the water, and motion of the ship, not being able to stand upon deck. And are at their wit's end ; or, "all their wisdom is swallowed up" F14 כל חכמ־תאם תתבלע "omnis sapientia eorum absorpta est", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus; so Junius & Tremellius, Piscator. ; their wisdom in naval affairs, their art of navigation, their skill in managing ships, all nonplussed and baffled; they know not... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 107:28

Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble ,.... As in a storm seafaring persons are used to do; so did Jonah's mariners, though Heathens, everyone cried to his god. With the Romans F15 Cicero, de Nat. Deor. l. 3. c. 20. Virgil. Aeneid. l. 5. v. 772. Horat. Epod. Ode 10. v. 23,24. Ovid. Fast. 6. v. 193. tempests were reckoned deities, and had temples erected, and sacrifices offered to them; but these persons were such as knew and owned the true Jehovah, and called upon him in their... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 107:29

He maketh the storm a calm ,.... As Christ did by a word speaking, Mark 4:39 . So that the waves thereof are still ; and roar and toss no more, but subside; and the sea becomes smooth and quiet, its raging ceases: the angry sea, as Horace F16 "Nec horret iratum mare", Horat. Epod. Ode 2. v. 6. "Nec maris ira manet", Ovid. Metamorph. l. 12. Fab. 7. calls it, becomes calm and peaceable; see Psalm 89:9 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 107:30

Then are they glad because they be quiet ,.... The mariners are glad that the waves are quiet, and they free from danger, and at ease and in repose themselves. So he bringeth them unto their desired haven ; the port, city, border or tract of land F17 Vid. Kimchii Sepher Shorash. rad. חון , they are bound to; which they desire to be at, and eagerly look out for, and rejoice when arrived at it. This is all the Lord's work in providence: mariners too often take it to themselves, as... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 107:31

Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness ,.... Seafaring men particularly, before mentioned, as Jonah's mariners did, Jonah 1:16 , or all the four sorts of persons instanced in, as Kimchi thinks: and even all men whatsoever should do this, high and low, rich and poor, of every age, sex, and condition; since they all receive favours from the Lord, and should return thanks to him; and especially good men, who are blessed with spiritual blessings by him: these should all confess... read more

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