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
He maketh the storm a calm - He causes the storm to stand dumb, and hushes the waves. See the original, where sense and sound emphatically meet: - גליהםנ ויחשונ לדממהנ סארהנ יקםנ galleyhem vaiyecheshu lidemamah searah yakem He shall cause the whirlwind to stand dumb, and he shall hush their billows. read more
Verse 29 29.He maketh the storm a calm A profane author, in narrating the history of such an event, would have said, that the winds were hushed, and the raging billows were calmed; but the Spirit of God, by this change of the storm into a calm, places the providence of God as presiding over all; thereby meaning, that it was not by human agency that this violent commotion of the sea and wind, which threatened to subvert the frame of the world, was so suddenly stilled. When, therefore, the sea is... 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
Four portraits of one soul. I. INQUIRE AS TO THE SOUL . 1. The psalm tells of ransomed exiles, of redeemed Israelites, and recounts the sad but varied experiences through which they had passed. Some had been wanderers, some captives, some stricken with mortal sickness, some all but lost at sea. 2. But in all ages of the Church this psalm has been taken as telling not merely of the literal facts which it records, but as setting forth in vivid and varied way the... read more
Finally, there are eases among those whose business requires them to traverse the sea, where the danger is great, and death seems imminent. Let such persons cast themselves upon God, and "cry to him in their trouble," and they too will be heard and delivered. Must it not be their duty also to give thanks? read more
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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