mh_parser/vol_split/19 - Psalms/Chapter 107.xml

<div2 id="Ps.cviii" n="cviii" next="Ps.cix" prev="Ps.cvii" progress="59.19%" title="Chapter CVII">
<h2 id="Ps.cviii-p0.1">P S A L M S</h2>
<h3 id="Ps.cviii-p0.2">PSALM CVII.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Ps.cviii-p1">The psalmist, having in the two foregoing psalms
celebrated the wisdom, power, and goodness of God, in his dealings
with his church in particular, here observes some of the instances
of his providential care of the children of men in general,
especially in their distresses; for he is not only King of saints,
but King of nations, not only the God of Israel, but the God of the
whole earth, and a common Father to all mankind. Though this may
especially refer to Israelites in their personal capacity, yet
there were those who pertained not to the commonwealth of Israel
and yet were worshippers of the true God; and even those who
worshipped images had some knowledge of a supreme "Numen," to whom,
when they were in earnest, they looked above all their false gods.
And of these, when they prayed in their distresses, God took a
particular care, I. The psalmist specifies some of the most common
calamities of human life, and shows how God succours those that
labour under them, in answer to their prayers. I. Banishment and
dispersion, <scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107.2-Ps.107.9" parsed="|Ps|107|2|107|9" passage="Ps 107:2-9">ver. 2-9</scripRef>. 2.
Captivity and imprisonment, <scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107.10-Ps.107.16" parsed="|Ps|107|10|107|16" passage="Ps 107:10-16">ver.
10-16</scripRef>. 3. Sickness and distemper of body, <scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107.17-Ps.107.22" parsed="|Ps|107|17|107|22" passage="Ps 107:17-22">ver. 17-22</scripRef>. 4. Danger and
distress at sea, <scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107.23-Ps.107.32" parsed="|Ps|107|23|107|32" passage="Ps 107:23-32">ver.
23-32</scripRef>. These are put for all similar perils, in which
those that cry unto God have ever found him a very present help.
II. He specifies the varieties and vicissitudes of events
concerning nations and families, in all which God's hand is to be
eyed by his own people, with joyful acknowledgments of his
goodness, <scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107.33-Ps.107.43" parsed="|Ps|107|33|107|43" passage="Ps 107:33-43">ver. 33-43</scripRef>.
When we are in any of these or the like distresses it will be
comfortable to sing this psalm, with application; but, if we be
not, others are, and have been, of whose deliverances it becomes us
to give God the glory, for we are members one of another.</p>
<scripCom id="Ps.cviii-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107" parsed="|Ps|107|0|0|0" passage="Ps 107" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Ps.cviii-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107.1-Ps.107.9" parsed="|Ps|107|1|107|9" passage="Ps 107:1-9" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.107.1-Ps.107.9">
<h4 id="Ps.cviii-p1.8">Exhortation to Celebrate God's
Praises.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.cviii-p2">1 O give thanks unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.cviii-p2.1">Lord</span>, for <i>he is</i> good: for his mercy
<i>endureth</i> for ever.   2 Let the redeemed of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.cviii-p2.2">Lord</span> say <i>so,</i> whom he hath redeemed
from the hand of the enemy;   3 And gathered them out of the
lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from
the south.   4 They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary
way; they found no city to dwell in.   5 Hungry and thirsty,
their soul fainted in them.   6 Then they cried unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.cviii-p2.3">Lord</span> in their trouble, <i>and</i> he
delivered them out of their distresses.   7 And he led them
forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.
  8 Oh that <i>men</i> would praise the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.cviii-p2.4">Lord</span> <i>for</i> his goodness, and <i>for</i> his
wonderful works to the children of men!   9 For he satisfieth
the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cviii-p3">Here is, I. A general call to all to give
thanks to God, <scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107.1" parsed="|Ps|107|1|0|0" passage="Ps 107:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>.
Let all that sing this psalm, or pray over it, set themselves
herein to <i>give thanks to the Lord;</i> and those that have not
any special matter for praise may furnish themselves with matter
enough from God's universal goodness. In the fountain <i>he is
good;</i> in the streams <i>his mercy endures for ever</i> and
never fails.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cviii-p4">II. A particular demand hereof from <i>the
redeemed of the Lord,</i> which may well be applied spiritually to
those that have an interest in the great Redeemer and are saved by
him from sin and hell. They have, of all people, most reason to say
that God is good, and his mercy everlasting; these are the
<i>children of God that were scattered abroad,</i> whom Christ died
to <i>gather together in one,</i> out of all lands, <scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:John.11.52 Bible:Matt.24.31" parsed="|John|11|52|0|0;|Matt|24|31|0|0" passage="Joh 11:52,Mt 24:31">John xi. 52; Matt. xxiv.
31</scripRef>. But it seems here to be meant of a temporal
deliverance, wrought for them when in their distress <i>they cried
unto the Lord,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107.6" parsed="|Ps|107|6|0|0" passage="Ps 107:6"><i>v.</i>
6</scripRef>. <i>Is any afflicted? Let him pray.</i> Does any pray?
God will certainly hear and help. When troubles become extreme that
is man's time to cry; those who but whispered prayer before then
cry aloud, and then it is God's time to succour. In the mount he
will be seen. 1. They were in an enemy's country, but God wrought
out their rescue: <i>He redeemed them from the hand of the
enemy</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p4.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107.2" parsed="|Ps|107|2|0|0" passage="Ps 107:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>),
not by <i>might or power,</i> it may be (<scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p4.4" osisRef="Bible:Zech.4.6" parsed="|Zech|4|6|0|0" passage="Zec 4:6">Zech. iv. 6</scripRef>), nor by <i>price or reward</i>
(<scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p4.5" osisRef="Bible:Isa.45.13" parsed="|Isa|45|13|0|0" passage="Isa 45:13">Isa. xlv. 13</scripRef>), <i>but by
the Spirit of God</i> working on the spirits of men. 2. They were
dispersed as out-casts, but God gathered them out of all the
countries whither they were scattered in the cloudy and dark day,
that they might again be incorporated, <scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p4.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107.3" parsed="|Ps|107|3|0|0" passage="Ps 107:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>. See <scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p4.7" osisRef="Bible:Deut.30.4 Bible:Ezek.34.12" parsed="|Deut|30|4|0|0;|Ezek|34|12|0|0" passage="De 30:4,Eze 34:12">Deut. xxx. 4; Ezek. xxxiv. 12</scripRef>. God
knows those that are his, and where to find them. 3. They were
bewildered, had no road to travel in, no dwelling place to rest in,
<scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p4.8" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107.4" parsed="|Ps|107|4|0|0" passage="Ps 107:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>. <i>When they
were redeemed</i> out of the <i>hand of the enemy, and gathered out
of the lands,</i> they were in danger of perishing in their return
home through the dry and barren deserts. <i>They wandered in the
wilderness,</i> where there was no trodden path, no company, but
<i>a solitary way,</i> no lodging, no conveniences, no
accommodations, no inhabited city where they might have quarters or
refreshment. But <i>God led them forth by the right way</i>
(<scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p4.9" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107.7" parsed="|Ps|107|7|0|0" passage="Ps 107:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>), directed
them to an inn, nay, directed them to a home, <i>that they might go
to a city of habitation,</i> which was inhabited, nay which them
themselves should inhabit. This may refer to poor travellers in
general, those particularly whose way lay through the wilds of
Arabia, where we may suppose they were often at a loss; and yet
many in that distress were wonderfully relieved, so that few
perished. Note, We ought to take notice of the good hand of God's
providence over us in our journeys, going out and coming in,
directing us in our way, and providing for us places both to bait
in and rest in. Or (as some think) it has an eye to the wanderings
of the children of Israel in the wilderness for forty years; it is
said (<scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p4.10" osisRef="Bible:Deut.32.10" parsed="|Deut|32|10|0|0" passage="De 32:10">Deut. xxxii. 10</scripRef>),
<i>God led them about,</i> and yet here <i>he led them by the right
way.</i> God's way, though to us it seems about, will appear at
last to have been the right way. It is applicable to our condition
in this world; we are here as in a wilderness, have here <i>no
continuing city,</i> but dwell in tents as strangers and pilgrims.
But we are under the guidance of his wise and good providence, and,
if we commit ourselves to it, we shall be <i>led in the right way
to the city that has foundations.</i> 4. They were ready to perish
for hunger (<scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p4.11" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107.5" parsed="|Ps|107|5|0|0" passage="Ps 107:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>):
<i>Their soul even fainted in them.</i> They were spent with the
fatigues of their journey and ready to drop down for want of
refreshment. Those that have constant plenty, and are every day fed
to the full, know not what a miserable case it is to be <i>hungry
and thirsty,</i> and to have no supply. This was sometimes the case
of Israel in the wilderness, and perhaps of other poor travellers;
but God's providence finds out ways to <i>satisfy the longing soul
and fill the hungry soul with goodness,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p4.12" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107.9" parsed="|Ps|107|9|0|0" passage="Ps 107:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>. Israel's wants were seasonably
supplied, and many have been wonderfully relieved when they were
ready to perish. The same God that has led us has fed us all our
life long unto this day, has fed us with food convenient, has
provided food for the soul, <i>and filled the hungry soul with
goodness. Those that hunger and thirst after righteousness,</i>
after God, the living God, and communion with him, shall be
abundantly <i>replenished with the goodness of his house,</i> both
in grace and glory. Now for all this those who receive mercy are
called upon to return thanks (<scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p4.13" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107.8" parsed="|Ps|107|8|0|0" passage="Ps 107:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>): <i>Oh that men</i> (it is meant
especially of those men whom God has graciously relieved) <i>would
praise the Lord for his goodness</i> to them in particular, <i>and
for his wonderful works to</i> others of <i>the children of
men!</i> Note, (1.) God's works of mercy are wonderful works, works
of wonderful power considering the weakness, and of wonderful grace
considering the unworthiness, of those he shows mercy to. (2.) It
is expected of those who receive mercy from God that they return
praise to him. (3.) We must acknowledge God's goodness to the
children of men as well as to the children of God, to others as
well as to ourselves.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ps.cviii-p4.14" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107.10-Ps.107.16" parsed="|Ps|107|10|107|16" passage="Ps 107:10-16" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.107.10-Ps.107.16">
<h4 id="Ps.cviii-p4.15">The Divine Goodness towards
Prisoners.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.cviii-p5">10 Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of
death, <i>being</i> bound in affliction and iron;   11 Because
they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel
of the most High:   12 Therefore he brought down their heart
with labour; they fell down, and <i>there was</i> none to help.
  13 Then they cried unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.cviii-p5.1">Lord</span> in their trouble, <i>and</i> he saved them
out of their distresses.   14 He brought them out of darkness
and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.   15
Oh that <i>men</i> would praise the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.cviii-p5.2">Lord</span> <i>for</i> his goodness, and <i>for</i> his
wonderful works to the children of men!   16 For he hath
broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cviii-p6">We are to take notice of the goodness of
God towards prisoners and captives. Observe, 1. A description of
this affliction. Prisoners are said to <i>sit in darkness</i>
(<scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107.10" parsed="|Ps|107|10|0|0" passage="Ps 107:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>), in dark
dungeons, close prisons, which intimates that they are desolate and
disconsolate; they sit <i>in the shadow of death,</i> which
intimates not only great distress and trouble, but great danger.
Prisoners are many times appointed to die; they sit despairing to
get out, but resolving to make the best of it. They are <i>bound in
affliction, and</i> many times <i>in iron,</i> as Joseph. Thus sore
a calamity is imprisonment, which should make us prize liberty, and
be thankful for it. 2. The cause of this affliction, <scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107.11" parsed="|Ps|107|11|0|0" passage="Ps 107:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>. It is <i>because they
rebelled against the words of God.</i> Wilful sin is rebellion
against the words of God; it is a contradiction to his truths and a
violation of his laws. <i>They contemned the counsel of the Most
High,</i> and thought they neither needed it nor could be the
better for it; and those that will not be counselled cannot be
helped. Those that despise prophesying, that regard not the
admonitions of their own consciences nor the just reproofs of their
friends, contemn the counsel of the Most High, and for this they
are bound in affliction, both to punish them for and to reclaim
them from their rebellions. 3. The design of this affliction, and
that is to bring <i>down their heart</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107.12" parsed="|Ps|107|12|0|0" passage="Ps 107:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>), to humble them for sin, to
make them low in their own eyes, to cast down every high, proud,
aspiring thought. Afflicting providences must be improved as
humbling providences; and we not only lose the benefit of them, but
thwart God's designs and walk contrary to him in them if our hearts
be unhumbled and unbroken, as high and hard as ever under them. Is
the estate brought down with labour, the honour sunk? Have those
that exalted themselves fallen down, and is there none to help
them? Let this bring down the spirit to confess sin, to accept the
punishment of it, and humbly to sue for mercy and grace. 4. The
duty of this afflicted state, and that is to pray (<scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p6.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107.13" parsed="|Ps|107|13|0|0" passage="Ps 107:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>): <i>Then they cried
unto the Lord in their trouble,</i> though before perhaps they had
neglected him. Prisoners have time to pray, who, when they were at
liberty, could not find time; they see they have need of God's
help, though formerly they thought they could do well enough
without him. Sense will make men cry when they are in trouble, but
grace will direct them to cry unto the Lord, from whom the
affliction comes and who alone can remove it. 5. Their deliverance
out of the affliction: <i>They cried unto the Lord, and he saved
them,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p6.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107.13" parsed="|Ps|107|13|0|0" passage="Ps 107:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>.
<i>He brought them out of darkness into light,</i> welcome light,
and then doubly sweet and pleasant, <i>brought them out of the
shadow of death</i> to the comforts of life, and their liberty was
to them life from the dead, <scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p6.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107.14" parsed="|Ps|107|14|0|0" passage="Ps 107:14"><i>v.</i>
14</scripRef>. Were they <i>fettered? He broke their bands
asunder.</i> Were they imprisoned in strong castles? <i>He broke
the gates of brass</i> and the <i>bars of iron</i> wherewith those
gates were made fast; he did not put back, but <i>cut in
sunder.</i> Note, When God will work deliverance the greatest
difficulties that lie in the way shall be made nothing of. Gates of
brass and bars of iron, as they cannot keep him out from his people
(he was with Joseph in the prison), so they cannot keep them in
when the time, the set-time, for their enlargement, comes. 6. The
return that is required from those whose bands God has loosed
(<scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p6.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107.15" parsed="|Ps|107|15|0|0" passage="Ps 107:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>): <i>Let
them praise the Lord for his goodness,</i> and take occasion from
their own experience of it, and share in it, to bless him for that
goodness which the earth is full of, <i>the world and those that
dwell therein.</i></p>
</div><scripCom id="Ps.cviii-p6.8" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107.17-Ps.107.22" parsed="|Ps|107|17|107|22" passage="Ps 107:17-22" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.107.17-Ps.107.22">
<h4 id="Ps.cviii-p6.9">The Divine Goodness towards the
Afflicted.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.cviii-p7">17 Fools because of their transgression, and
because of their iniquities, are afflicted.   18 Their soul
abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of
death.   19 Then they cry unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.cviii-p7.1">Lord</span> in their trouble, <i>and</i> he saveth them
out of their distresses.   20 He sent his word, and healed
them, and delivered <i>them</i> from their destructions.   21
Oh that <i>men</i> would praise the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.cviii-p7.2">Lord</span> <i>for</i> his goodness, and <i>for</i> his
wonderful works to the children of men!   22 And let them
sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works
with rejoicing.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cviii-p8">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,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cviii-p9">I. That we, by our sins, bring sickness
upon ourselves and then it is our duty to pray, <scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107.17-Ps.107.18" parsed="|Ps|107|17|107|18" passage="Ps 107:17-18"><i>v.</i> 17-19</scripRef>. 1. It is the sin of the
soul that is the cause of sickness; we bring it upon ourselves both
meritoriously and efficiently: <i>Fools, because of their
transgression, are thus afflicted;</i> they are thus corrected for
the sins they have committed and thus cured of their evil
inclinations to sin. If we knew no sin, we should know no sickness;
but the transgression of our life, and the iniquity of our heart,
make it necessary. Sinners are fools; they wrong themselves, and
all against their own interest, not only their spiritual, but their
secular interest. They prejudice their bodily health by
intemperance and endanger their lives by indulging their appetites.
This their way is their folly, and they need the rod of correction
to drive out the foolishness that is bound up in their hearts. 2.
The weakness of the body is the effect of sickness, <scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107.18" parsed="|Ps|107|18|0|0" passage="Ps 107:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>. When people are sick
<i>their soul abhors all manner of meat;</i> they not only have no
desire to eat nor power to digest it, but they nauseate it, and
their stomach is turned against it. And here they may read their
sin in their punishment: those that doted most on the meat that
perishes, when they come to be sick are sick of it, and the
dainties they loved are loathed; what they took too much of now
they can take nothing of, which commonly follows upon the
overcharging of the heart with surfeiting and drunkenness. And when
the appetite is gone the life is as good as gone: <i>They draw near
unto the gates of death;</i> they are, in their own apprehension
and in the apprehension of all about them, at the brink of the
grave, as ready to be turned to destruction. 3. Then is a proper
time for prayer: <i>Then they cry unto the Lord,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p9.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107.19" parsed="|Ps|107|19|0|0" passage="Ps 107:19"><i>v.</i> 19</scripRef>. Is any sick? Let him
pray; let him be prayed for. Prayer is a salve for every sore.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cviii-p10">II. That it is by the power and mercy of
God that we are recovered from sickness, and then it is our duty to
be thankful. Compare with this <scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Job.33.18 Bible:Job.33.28" parsed="|Job|33|18|0|0;|Job|33|28|0|0" passage="Job 33:18,28">Job
xxxiii. 18, 28</scripRef>. 1. When those that are sick call upon
God he returns them an answer of peace. They cry unto him and he
<i>saves them out of their distresses</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107.19" parsed="|Ps|107|19|0|0" passage="Ps 107:19"><i>v.</i> 19</scripRef>); he removes their griefs and
prevents their fears. (1.) He does it easily: <i>He sent his word
and healed them,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p10.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107.20" parsed="|Ps|107|20|0|0" passage="Ps 107:20"><i>v.</i>
20</scripRef>. This may be applied to the miraculous cures which
Christ wrought when he was upon earth, by a word's speaking; he
said, <i>Be clean, Be whole,</i> and the work was done. It may also
be applied to the spiritual cures which the Spirit of grace works
in regeneration; he sends his word, and heals souls, convinces,
converts, sanctifies them, and all by the word. In the common
instances of recovery from sickness God in his providence does but
speak, and it is done. (2.) He does it effectually: <i>He
delivereth them out of their destructions,</i> that they shall
neither be destroyed nor distressed with the fear of being so.
Nothing is too hard for that God to do who kills and makes alive
again, brings down to the grave and raises up, who <i>turneth
man</i> almost <i>to destruction,</i> and yet saith, <i>Return.</i>
2. When those that have been sick are restored they must return to
God an answer of praise (<scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p10.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107.21-Ps.107.22" parsed="|Ps|107|21|107|22" passage="Ps 107:21,22"><i>v.</i>
21, 22</scripRef>): <i>Let all men praise the Lord for his
goodness,</i> and let those, particularly, to whom God has thus
granted a new life, spend it in his service; <i>let them sacrifice
with thanksgiving,</i> not only bring a thank-offering to the
altar, but a thankful heart to God. Thanksgivings are the best
thank-offerings, and shall please the Lord better than an ox or
bullock. <i>And let them declare his works with rejoicing,</i> to
his honour and for the encouragement of others. <i>The living, the
living, they shall praise him.</i></p>
</div><scripCom id="Ps.cviii-p10.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107.23-Ps.107.32" parsed="|Ps|107|23|107|32" passage="Ps 107:23-32" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.107.23-Ps.107.32">
<h4 id="Ps.cviii-p10.6">The Divine Goodness to
Mariners.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.cviii-p11">23 They that go down to the sea in ships, that
do business in great waters;   24 These see the works of the
<span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.cviii-p11.1">Lord</span>, and his wonders in the deep.
  25 For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which
lifteth up the waves thereof.   26 They mount up to the
heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted
because of trouble.   27 They reel to and fro, and stagger
like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end.   28 Then they
cry unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.cviii-p11.2">Lord</span> in their trouble,
and he bringeth them out of their distresses.   29 He maketh
the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.   30
Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto
their desired haven.   31 Oh that <i>men</i> would praise the
<span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.cviii-p11.3">Lord</span> <i>for</i> his goodness, and
<i>for</i> his wonderful works to the children of men!   32
Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and
praise him in the assembly of the elders.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cviii-p12">The psalmist here calls upon those to give
glory to God who are delivered from dangers at sea. Though the
Israelites dealt not much in merchandise, yet their neighbours the
Tyrians and Zidonians did, and for them perhaps this part of the
psalm was especially calculated.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cviii-p13">I. Much of the power of God appears at all
times in the sea, <scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107.23-Ps.107.24" parsed="|Ps|107|23|107|24" passage="Ps 107:23,24"><i>v.</i> 23,
24</scripRef>. It appears to those <i>that go down to the sea in
ships,</i> as mariners, merchants, fishermen, or passengers,
<i>that do business in great waters.</i> And surely none will
expose themselves there but those that have business (among all
Solomon's pleasant things we do not read of any pleasure-boat he
had), but those that go on business, lawful business, may, in
faith, put themselves under the divine protection. <i>These see the
works of the Lord, and his wonders,</i> which are the more
surprising, because most are born and bred upon land, and what
passes at sea is new to them. The deep itself is a wonder, its
vastness, its saltness, its ebbing and flowing. The great variety
of living creatures in the sea is wonderful. Let those that go to
sea be led, by all the wonders they observe there, to consider and
adore the infinite perfections of that God whose the sea is, for he
made it and manages it.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cviii-p14">II. It especially appears in storms at sea,
which are much more terrible than at land. Observe here, 1. How
dangerous and dreadful a tempest at sea is. <i>Then</i> wonders
begin to appear in the deep, when God <i>commands and raises
the</i> strong <i>wind,</i> which <i>fulfils his word,</i>
<scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.148.8" parsed="|Ps|148|8|0|0" passage="Ps 148:8">Ps. cxlviii. 8</scripRef>. He raises
the winds, as a prince by his commission raises forces. Satan
pretends to be the <i>prince of the power of the air;</i> but he is
a pretender; the powers of the air are at God's command, not at
his. When the wind becomes stormy it <i>lifts up the waves</i> of
the sea, <scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p14.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107.25" parsed="|Ps|107|25|0|0" passage="Ps 107:25"><i>v.</i> 25</scripRef>.
Then the ships are kicked like tennis-balls on the tops of the
waves; they seem to <i>mount up to the heavens,</i> and then they
couch again, as if they would <i>go down to the depths,</i>
<scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p14.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107.26" parsed="|Ps|107|26|0|0" passage="Ps 107:26"><i>v.</i> 26</scripRef>. A stranger,
who had never seen it, would not think it possible for a ship to
live at sea, as it will in a storm, and ride it out, but would
expect that the next wave would bury it and it would never come up
again; and yet God, who taught man discretion to make ships that
should so strangely keep above water, does by his special
providence preserve them, that they answer the end to admiration.
When the ships are thus tossed the <i>soul</i> of the seaman
<i>melts because of trouble;</i> and, when the storm is very high,
even those that are used to the sea can neither shake off nor
dissemble their fears, but <i>they reel to and fro,</i> and tossing
makes them giddy, <i>and</i> they <i>stagger</i> and are sick, it
may be, <i>like a drunken man;</i> the whole ship's crew are in
confusion <i>and</i> quite <i>at their wits' end</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p14.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107.27" parsed="|Ps|107|27|0|0" passage="Ps 107:27"><i>v.</i> 27</scripRef>), not knowing what to
do more for their preservation; all their wisdom is swallowed up,
and they are ready to give up themselves for gone, <scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p14.5" osisRef="Bible:Jonah.1.5-Jonah.1.11" parsed="|Jonah|1|5|1|11" passage="Jon 1:5-11">Jonah i. 5</scripRef>, &amp;c. 2. How
seasonable it is at such a time to pray. Those that go to sea must
expect such perils as are here described, and the best preparation
they can make for them is to make sure a liberty of access to God
by prayer, for <i>then they</i> will <i>cry unto the Lord,</i>
<scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p14.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107.28" parsed="|Ps|107|28|0|0" passage="Ps 107:28"><i>v.</i> 28</scripRef>. We have a
saying, "Let those that would learn to pray go to sea;" I say, Let
those that will go to sea learn to pray, and accustom themselves to
pray, that they may come with the more boldness to the throne of
grace when they are in trouble. Even heathen mariners, in a storm,
<i>cried every man to his god;</i> but those that have the Lord for
their God have a present and powerful help in that and every other
time of need, so that when they are at their wits' end they are not
at their faith's end. 3. How wonderfully God sometimes appears for
those that are in distress at sea, in answer to their prayers:
<i>He brings them out</i> of the danger; and, (1.) The sea is
still: <i>He makes the storm a calm,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p14.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107.29" parsed="|Ps|107|29|0|0" passage="Ps 107:29"><i>v.</i> 29</scripRef>. The winds fall, and only by
their soft and gentle murmurs serve to lull the waves asleep again,
so that the surface of the sea becomes smooth and smiling. By this
Christ proved himself to be more than a man <i>that even the winds
and the seas obeyed him.</i> (2.) The seamen are made easy: <i>They
are glad because they are quiet,</i> quiet from the noise, quiet
from the fear of evil. Quietness after a storm is a very desirable
thing, and sensibly pleasant. (3.) The voyage becomes prosperous
and successful: <i>So he brings them to their desired haven,</i>
<scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p14.8" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107.30" parsed="|Ps|107|30|0|0" passage="Ps 107:30"><i>v.</i> 30</scripRef>. Thus he
carries his people safely through all the storms and tempests that
they meet with in their voyage heaven-ward, and lands them, at
length, in the desired harbour. 4. How justly it is expected that
all those who have had a safe passage over the sea, and especially
who have been delivered from remarkable perils at sea, should
acknowledge it with thankfulness, to the glory of God. Let them do
it privately in their closets and families. Let them <i>praise the
Lord for his goodness</i> to themselves and others, <scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p14.9" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107.31" parsed="|Ps|107|31|0|0" passage="Ps 107:31"><i>v.</i> 31</scripRef>. Let them do it
publicly (<scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p14.10" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107.32" parsed="|Ps|107|32|0|0" passage="Ps 107:32"><i>v.</i> 32</scripRef>),
<i>in the congregation of the people and in the assembly of the
elders;</i> there let them erect the memorials of their
deliverance, to the honour of God, and for the encouragement of
others to trust him.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ps.cviii-p14.11" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107.33-Ps.107.43" parsed="|Ps|107|33|107|43" passage="Ps 107:33-43" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.107.33-Ps.107.43">
<h4 id="Ps.cviii-p14.12">Wonders of Divine
Providence.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.cviii-p15">33 He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the
watersprings into dry ground;   34 A fruitful land into
barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.  
35 He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground
into watersprings.   36 And there he maketh the hungry to
dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation;   37 And
sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of
increase.   38 He blesseth them also, so that they are
multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease.
  39 Again, they are minished and brought low through
oppression, affliction, and sorrow.   40 He poureth contempt
upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness,
<i>where there is</i> no way.   41 Yet setteth he the poor on
high from affliction, and maketh <i>him</i> families like a flock.
  42 The righteous shall see <i>it,</i> and rejoice: and all
iniquity shall stop her mouth.   43 Whoso <i>is</i> wise, and
will observe these <i>things,</i> even they shall understand the
lovingkindness of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.cviii-p15.1">Lord</span>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cviii-p16">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.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cviii-p17">I. He gives some instances of these
revolutions.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cviii-p18">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 fruitfulness of the soil and made
it unserviceable, <scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107.33-Ps.107.34" parsed="|Ps|107|33|107|34" passage="Ps 107:33,34"><i>v.</i> 33,
34</scripRef>. Land watered with <i>rivers</i> is sometimes
<i>turned into a wilderness,</i> and that which had been full of
water-springs now has not so much as water-streams; it is turned
<i>into dry</i> and <i>sandy ground,</i> that has not consistency
and moisture enough to produce any thing valuable. Many <i>a
fruitful land</i> is turned into saltness, not so much from natural
causes as from the just judgment of God, who thus punished <i>the
wickedness of those that dwell therein;</i> as the vale of Sodom
became a salt sea. Note, If the land be bad, it is because the
inhabitants are so. Justly is the ground made unfruitful to those
that bring not forth fruit unto God, but serve Baal with their corn
and wine. (2.) The goodness of God has often mended the barrenness
of the soil, and turned a <i>wilderness,</i> a land o drought,
<i>into water-springs,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p18.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107.35" parsed="|Ps|107|35|0|0" passage="Ps 107:35"><i>v.</i>
35</scripRef>. The land of Canaan, which was once the glory of all
lands for fruitfulness, is said to be, at this day, a fruitless,
useless, worthless spot of ground, as was foretold, <scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p18.3" osisRef="Bible:Deut.29.23" parsed="|Deut|29|23|0|0" passage="De 29:23">Deut. xxix. 23</scripRef>. This land of ours,
which formerly was much of it an uncultivated desert, is now full
of all good things, and <i>more abundant honour</i> is <i>given to
that part which lacked.</i> Let the plantations in America, and the
colonies settled there, compared with the desolations of many
countries in Asia and Europe, that formerly were famous, expound
this.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cviii-p19">2. Necessitous families are raised and
enriched, while prosperous families are impoverished and go to
decay. If we look broad in the world, (1.) We see many greatly
increasing whose beginning was small, and whose ancestors were mean
and made no figure, <scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p19.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107.36-Ps.107.38" parsed="|Ps|107|36|107|38" passage="Ps 107:36-38"><i>v.</i>
36-38</scripRef>. Those that were <i>hungry</i> are made <i>to
dwell</i> in fruitful lands; there they take root, and gain a
settlement, and <i>prepare a city for habitation</i> for themselves
and theirs after them. Providence puts good land under their hands,
and they build upon it. Cities took rise from rising families. But
as lands, will not serve for men without lodgings, and therefore
they must <i>prepare a city of habitation,</i> so lodgings, though
ever so convenient, will not serve without lands, and therefore
they must <i>sow the fields, and plant vineyards</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p19.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107.37" parsed="|Ps|107|37|0|0" passage="Ps 107:37"><i>v.</i> 37</scripRef>), for the king himself
is served of the field. And yet the fields, though favoured with
water-springs, will not <i>yield fruits of increase,</i> unless
they be sown, nor will vineyards be had, unless they be planted;
man's industry must attend God's blessing, and then God's blessing
will crown man's industry. The fruitfulness of the soil should
engage, for it does encourage, diligence; and, ordinarily, <i>the
hand of the diligent,</i> by the blessing of God, <i>makes
rich,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p19.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107.38" parsed="|Ps|107|38|0|0" passage="Ps 107:38"><i>v.</i> 38</scripRef>.
<i>He blesses them also, so that they are,</i> in a little time,
<i>multiplied greatly, and</i> he <i>diminishes not their
cattle.</i> As in the beginning, so still it is, by the blessing of
God, that the earth and all the creatures <i>increase and
multiply</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p19.4" osisRef="Bible:Gen.1.22" parsed="|Gen|1|22|0|0" passage="Ge 1:22">Gen. i. 22</scripRef>),
and we depend upon God for the increase of the cattle as well as
for the increase of the ground. Cattle would decrease many ways if
God should permit it, and men would soon suffer by it. (2.) We see
many that have thus suddenly risen as suddenly sunk and brought to
nothing (<scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p19.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107.39" parsed="|Ps|107|39|0|0" passage="Ps 107:39"><i>v.</i> 39</scripRef>):
<i>Again they are diminished and brought low</i> by adverse
providences, and end their days as low as they began them; or their
families after them lose as fast a they got, and scatter what they
heaped together. Note, Worldly wealth is an uncertain thing, and
often those that are filled with it, ere they are aware, grow so
secure and sensual with it that, ere they are aware, they lose it
again. Hence it is called <i>deceitful riches</i> and the <i>mammon
of unrighteousness.</i> God has many ways of making men poor; he
can do it by <i>oppression, affliction, and sorrow,</i> as he
tempted Job and brought him low.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cviii-p20">3. Those that were high and great in the
world are abased, and those that were mean and despicable are
advanced to honour, <scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p20.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107.40-Ps.107.41" parsed="|Ps|107|40|107|41" passage="Ps 107:40,41"><i>v.</i> 40,
41</scripRef>. We have seen, (1.) Princes dethroned and reduced to
straits. <i>He pours contempt upon</i> them, even among those that
have idolized them. Those that exalt themselves God will abase,
and, in order thereunto, will infatuate: He makes <i>them to wander
in the wilderness, where there is no way.</i> He baffles those
counsels by which they thought to support themselves, and their own
power and pomp, and drives them headlong, so that they know not
what course to steer, nor what measures to take. We met with this
before, <scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p20.2" osisRef="Bible:Job.12.24-Job.12.25" parsed="|Job|12|24|12|25" passage="Job 12:24,25">Job xii. 24,
25</scripRef>. (2.) Those of low degree advanced to the posts of
honour (<scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p20.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107.41" parsed="|Ps|107|41|0|0" passage="Ps 107:41"><i>v.</i> 41</scripRef>):
<i>Yet setteth he the poor on high,</i> raiseth <i>from the
dust</i> to the <i>throne of glory,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p20.4" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.2.8 Bible:Ps.113.7-Ps.113.8" parsed="|1Sam|2|8|0|0;|Ps|113|7|113|8" passage="1Sa 2:8,Ps 113:7,8">1 Sam. ii. 8; Ps. cxiii. 7, 8</scripRef>.
Those that were afflicted and trampled on are not only delivered,
but set on high out of the reach of their troubles, above their
enemies, and have dominion over those to whom they had been in
subjection. That which adds to their honour, and strengthens them
in their elevation, is the multitude of their children: <i>He
maketh him families like a flock</i> of sheep, so numerous, so
useful, so sociable with one another, and so meek and peaceable. He
that sent them meat sent them mouths. <i>Happy is the man that has
his quiver filled</i> with arrows, for he shall boldly <i>speak
with the enemy in the gate,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p20.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.127.5" parsed="|Ps|127|5|0|0" passage="Ps 127:5">Ps.
cxxvii. 5</scripRef>. God is to be acknowledged both in setting up
families and in building them up. Let not princes be envied, nor
the poor despised, for God has many ways of changing the condition
of both.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cviii-p21">II. He makes some improvement of these
remarks; such surprising turns as these are of use, 1. For the
solacing of saints. They observe these dispensations with pleasure
(<scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p21.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107.42" parsed="|Ps|107|42|0|0" passage="Ps 107:42"><i>v.</i> 42</scripRef>): <i>The
righteous shall see it and rejoice</i> in the glorifying of God's
attributes and the manifesting of his dominion over the children of
men. It is a great comfort to a good man to see how God manages the
children of men, as the potter does the clay, so as to serve his
own purposes by them, to see despised virtue advanced and impious
pride brought low to the dust, to see it evinced beyond dispute
that <i>verily there is a God that judges in the earth.</i> 2. For
the silencing of sinners: <i>All iniquity shall stop her mouth;</i>
it shall be a full conviction of the folly of atheists, and of
those that deny the divine providence; and, forasmuch as practical
atheism is at the bottom of all sin, it shall in effect <i>stop the
mouth of all iniquity.</i> When sinners see how their punishment
answers to their sin, and how justly God deals with them in taking
away from them those gifts of his which they had abused, they shall
not have one word to say for themselves; for God will be justified,
he will be clear. 3. For the satisfying of all concerning the
divine goodness (<scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p21.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107.43" parsed="|Ps|107|43|0|0" passage="Ps 107:43"><i>v.</i>
43</scripRef>): <i>Whoso is wise, and will observe these
things,</i> these various dispensations of divine providence,
<i>even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord.</i>
Here is, (1.) A desirable end proposed, and that is, rightly to
<i>understand the loving kindness of the Lord.</i> It is of great
use to us, in religion, to be fully assured of God's goodness, to
be experimentally acquainted and duly affected with it, that his
<i>lovingkindness</i> may be <i>before our eyes,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p21.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.26.3" parsed="|Ps|26|3|0|0" passage="Ps 26:3">Ps. xxvi. 3</scripRef>. (2.) A proper means
prescribed for attaining this end, and that is a due observance of
God's providence. We must lay up these things, mind them, and keep
them in mind, <scripRef id="Ps.cviii-p21.4" osisRef="Bible:Luke.2.19" parsed="|Luke|2|19|0|0" passage="Lu 2:19">Luke ii. 19</scripRef>.
(3.) A commendation of the use of this means as an instance of true
wisdom: <i>Whoso is wise,</i> let him by this both prove his wisdom
and improve it. A prudent observance of the providences of God will
contribute very much to the accomplishing of a good Christian.</p>
</div></div2>