Psalm 107

Authorship

This Psalm is anonymous.

Outline

(This began as Wendland's Expository Outline, but may be adapted.)

I. Give thanks to the Lord. (1-3)

A. For He is good.

B. For His mercy endureth for ever.

C. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so:

1. Those He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy.

2. Those He has gathered from the east, west, north, and south.

II. Man is a pilgrim--God guides. (4-9)

A. They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way:

1. They found no city to dwell in.

2. Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.

B. When they cried to the Lord in their trouble:

1. He delivered them out of their distresses.

2. He led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.

C. We should praise the Lord:

1. For His goodness.

2. For His wonderful works to the children of men!

3. Because He satisfies the longing soul.

4. Because He fills the hungry with goodness.

III. Man is a prisoner–God delivers. (10-16)

A. They sat in darkness and the shadow of death:

1. They were bound in affliction.

2. They were bound in iron.

3. Their bondage was the result of their rebellion and contempt of God.

4. They labored and fell down and there was none to help.

B. When they cried to the Lord in their bondage:

1. He saved them out of their distresses.

2. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death.

3. He broke their bands.

C. We should praise the Lord:

1. For His goodness.

2. For His wonderful works to the children of men.

3. Because He has broken the gates of brass and cut the bars of iron in sunder.

IV. Man is afflicted–God heals. (17-22)

A. Fools:

1. Are afflicted because of their transgression and iniquities.

2. Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat.

3. They draw near unto the gates of death.

B. When they cried to the Lord in their trouble:

1. He saved them out of their distresses.

2. He sent His word, and healed them.

3. He delivered them from their destructions.

C. We should praise the Lord:

1. For His goodness.

2. For His wonderful works to the children of men.

3. With sacrifices of thanksgiving.

4. By declaring His works with rejoicing.

V. Man is a sailor–God is the navigator. (23-32)

A. They that go down to the sea in ships and do business in great waters:

1. See the works of the Lord and His wonders in the deep.

2. Observe that God commands, and raises the stormy wind which lifts up the waves.

3. Mount up to the heaven and they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.

4. Reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end.

B. When they cried to the Lord in their trouble:

1. He brought them out of their distresses.

2. He made the storm so that the waves were still and they were glad for the quietness.

3. He brought them unto their desired haven.

C. We should praise the Lord:

1. For His goodness.

2. For His wonderful works to the children of men.

3. In the congregation of the people.

4. In the assembly of the elders.

VI. Man struggles to survive–God provides. (33-43)

A. Man struggles in the wilderness, the barren, dry places.

B. God, in His goodness:

1. Turns rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground.

2. Turns a fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.

3. Turns the wilderness into a standing water and dry ground into watersprings.

4. Makes the hungry to dwell there that they may prepare a city for habitation:

a. They sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which yield fruits of increase.

b. He blesses them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease.

C. Again, man is diminished and brought low through:

1. Oppression.

2. Affliction.

3. Sorrow.

D. God’s response:

1. He pours contempt upon princes (the prideful), and causes them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way.

2. He sets the poor on high from affliction, and makes his families like a flock.

E. The results of God’s actions:

1. The righteous shall see it, and rejoice.

2. All iniquity shall stop her mouth.

3. Those who are wise and observe these things shall understand the loving-kindness of the Lord.

Textual Criticism

The following is from Barthélemy's Critique textuelle de l’Ancien Testament volume on the Psalms. For a key to the various symbols and abbreviations, click here.

Ps 107,3 וּמִיָּם {A} MT, G, Hebr, S // glos: T

Ps 107,17 אֱוִלִים {B} MT, α'ε', Hebr, T // exeg: G, S

Ps 107,20 מִשְּׁחִיתוֹתָם {A} MT, G, T // abr-synt: Hebr, S

Ps 107,39a {A}