Psalm 107:17-20

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 107:17

Fools, because of their transgression ,.... Or, "because of the way" F8 מדרך "propter viam", Pagninus, Montanus, Piscator. "of it"; their sinful course of life; for it is not for a single transgression they are afflicted, but for a continued series of sinning, which is a transgression of the law of God. By "fools" are meant not idiots, men devoid of common sense and natural understanding, but immoral persons; such who have no understanding of divine and spiritual things; are... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 107:18

Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat ,.... Not only bread and common food, but dainty meat, the most delicious fare, Job 33:20 , in which they most delighted in time of health, and too much indulged themselves in; and by that means brought diseases upon them, which caused this loathing in them, as is common. Thus to those who are distempered with sin, whose taste is not changed, nor can it discern perverse things, the word of God, the Gospel of Christ, which is delicious food, is not... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 107:19

Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble ,.... A time of affliction is a time of trouble, and a proper season for prayer; and by it persons are brought to the throne of grace, when humbled under the mighty hand of God, to seek for relief. Hezekiah in his affliction prayed to the Lord, though Asa sought to the physicians only, and not to the Lord; this is to be understood of such who are convinced of their folly, brought to a sense of sin and danger, and therefore cry to the Lord for his... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 107:17

Fools because of their transgression - This is the Third comparison; the captivity being compared to a person in a dangerous malady. Our Version does not express this clause well: Fools פשעם מדרך midderech pisham , because of the way of their transgressions, are afflicted. Most human maladies are the fruits of sin; misery and sin are married together in bonds that can never be broken. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 107:18

Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat - A natural description of a sick man: appetite is gone, and all desire for food fails; nutriment is no longer necessary, for death has seized upon the whole frame. See a similar image, Job 33:20 ; (note). read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 107:20

He sent his word, and healed them - He spoke: "Be thou clean, be thou whole;" and immediately the disease departed; and thus they were delivered from the destructions that awaited them. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 107:17

Verse 17 17Fools are afflicted on account of the way of their transgression. He comes to another species of chastisement. For as he observed above, that those were given over to captivity who refused to yield obedience to God, so now he teaches that others have been visited by God with disease, as the fruit of their transgressions. And when the transgressor shall find that it is God who is administering correction to him, this will pave the way for his arriving at the knowledge of his grace. ... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 107:20

Verse 20 20He sendeth his word. Again, in saying that they are delivered from destruction, the prophet shows that he is here alluding to those diseases which, in the opinion of men, are incurable, and from which few are delivered. Besides, he contrasts God’s assistance with all the remedies which are in the power of man to apply; as if he should say, that their disease having baffled the skill of earthly physicians, their recovery has been entirely owing to the exertion of God’s power. It is... read more

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