Albert Barnes Commentary Psalms 107:8

"Oh that men would praise Jehovah for his lovingkindness, And for his wonderful works to the children of men!" — Psalms 107:8 (ASV)

Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness—More literally, “Let such—or, let these—praise the Lord for his goodness,” the word “men” having been supplied by our translators. Yet it is not improper to suppose that a wider range is intended than would be denoted if it were confined to those who had then been delivered.

It was evidently designed to impress the minds of those who might use this psalm in their devotions; and the idea is, that the deliverance then granted to the people of God in their troubles should lead all to praise and adore him. Such a surprising intervention suggested an important lesson regarding God, applicable to all people; and it should lead all to praise him in view of the trait of character thus manifested, as that of a God who hears prayer when his people are in trouble, who can make a straight path before them when they are in danger of being lost, and who can guide them through the wilderness—the desolate places—of this world, as he did his people across the pathless sands of the desert. The true use of all history is to teach us lessons about God.

And for his wonderful works to the children of men—His doings as suited to excite wonder and admiration. His dealings with his people in the desert furnished one illustration of this; the world is full of such illustrations. The desire expressed in this verse suggests the great lesson of the psalm.