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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 107:39

Again they are minished ,.... Or "lessened", in their families, cattle, and substance; either the same persons as before, or others. The Targum paraphrases it, "but when they sin, they are lessened:' for sin is the cause of it, as follows: and brought low through oppression, affliction and sorrow ; either because of their oppression of the poor, the evil they do to them, and the sorrow they bring upon them; or they are brought into a low estate through the tyranny and oppression of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 107:39

Again, they are minished - Sometimes by war, or pestilence, or famine. How minished and brought low was the country already spoken of, by the long and destructive war which began in 1775, and was not ended till 1783! And what desolations, minishings, and ruin have been brought on the fertile empires of Europe by the war which commenced in 1792, and did not end till 1814! And how many millions of lives have been sacrificed in it, and souls sent unprepared into the eternal world! When God... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 107:39

Verse 39 39.Afterwards they are lessened Ere I enter upon the consideration of the truths contained in this verse, I must make some brief verbal observations. Some make the word עוצר , otser, to signify tyranny, and certainly עצר , atsar, does signify to bear rule. But since it is used metaphorically for anguish, it appears to me that this is the meaning which is most accordant with the tenor of the passage. The last two words of the verse may be read as in the nominative case, as I have... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 107:1-43

Formally, the psalm falls into seven divisions: read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 107:1-43

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 107:1-43

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 107:33-39

God's commonplace mercies. The difference in the style and contents of the latter part of this psalm has been noticed by almost every writer. The pictures, with their closing refrain, cease; and in a hurried way instances of God's providential government are given. It has been thought that the psalm was completed by another poet; but in that case the structure of the psalm would have been closely imitated. The peculiarity of this portion may be explained by showing that the psalmist had... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 107:33-42

Professor Cheyne finds in this passage—which he views as an "appendix" to the psalm—a falling off from the earlier portion of the psalm, and a set of "sentences strung together without much reflection." But to others the transition from special deliverances to God's general dealings with mankind seems an enlargement and an advance in the thought, although the language may be less graphic and more commonplace than in the former portion of the composition. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 107:33-43

Divine revolution. The wheel of providence "goes full circle," lifting up the lowly and abasing the proud. God turns the rivers into a wilderness, and the wilderness into standing water, etc. ( Psalms 107:33 , Psalms 107:35 ). I. THE DIVINE OVERTHROW . He cast out the guilty inhabitants of Canaan, and planted in their place the children of Israel; but when these rebelled against him, he rejected them, and sent them forth into a strange land. Thus has God humbled nations age... read more

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