Charles Ellicott Commentary Psalms 107
Charles Ellicott Commentary
Psalms 107
Charles Ellicott Commentary
Psalms 107
"O give thanks unto Jehovah; For he is good; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever." — Psalms 107:1 (ASV)
For this doxology see Note, Psalms 106:1.
"Let the redeemed of Jehovah say [so], Whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the adversary," — Psalms 107:2 (ASV)
Redeemed of the Lord. —See, for this grand expression, for which so high a destiny was prepared, Isaiah 62:12; and compare Isaiah 63:4; Isaiah 35:9.
"And gathered out of the lands, From the east and from the west, From the north and from the south." — Psalms 107:3 (ASV)
Gathered them. —The usual prophetic word for the Restoration. (See references in the margin, and compare this verse with Isaiah 49:12.)
From the south. —See margin. The sea here can hardly be any sea but the Mediterranean, and therefore should, according to general use (see Genesis 12:8, etc.), stand for the west. But as this makes the enumeration of the points of the compass imperfect, several emendations have been proposed, the best of which is yamin (the “right hand,” and so “south”) for yam.
Or is the text right, and instead of looking for a complete compass, should we connect this general statement with the four tableaux of misery vividly depicted, and so take out of the sea literally in reference to Psalms 107:23-30?
"They wandered in the wilderness in a desert way; They found no city of habitation." — Psalms 107:4 (ASV)
They. —It seems more natural to understand the subject of the verb wandered from the preceding clauses, than to supply a general subject, they; but this is by no means a certain interpretation. It depends on the view we take of the poem. (See Introduction.)
A solitary way. —Better, in a desert track. (Compare to Acts 8:26.) There is a grammatical difficulty, but this does not affect the general intention of the verse. Whether it represents an historical fact, or merely draws an imaginary picture, the reference to the dangers of Eastern travel is equally clear and distinct.
City to dwell in. —Literally, city of habitation, as rendered in Psalms 107:7.
“Boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.”—SHELLEY.
"They wandered in the wilderness in a desert way; They found no city of habitation. Hungry and thirsty, Their soul fainted in them. Then they cried unto Jehovah in their trouble, And he delivered them out of their distresses, He led them also by a straight way, That they might go to a city of habitation. Oh that men would praise Jehovah for his lovingkindness, And for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he satisfieth the longing soul, And the hungry soul he filleth with good." — Psalms 107:4-9 (ASV)
The wanderers.
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