DAWN

     Explanation: In Psalm 107 the Psalmist calls five times upon his readers to praise God for his mercies of forgiveness and of providential deliverances throughout their history, probably including the deliverance from the Babylonian Captivity. In each of the five sections, the Psalmist depicts varied types of distresses, each followed by deliverance into a place or a condition of safety. In similar fashion, as a general symbol for the Psalm, the painting above depicts a safe and pleasant arrival among friends.

          [ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: Psalm 105. Psalm 106. COMMUNAL PSALMS OF THANKSGIVING: Psalm 65. Psalm 66. Psalm 67. Psalm 75. Psalm 107. Psalm 118. Psalm 124. Psalm 129. Psalm 136. ]

          [ CHRONOLOGY: GENERAL. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]

          [ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]

          [ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

          [ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). VARIOUS ARTISTS: Psalm 107 - #1. Psalm 107 - #2. Psalm 107 - #3. Psalm 107 - #4. Psalm 107 - #5. Psalm 107 - #6. Psalm 107 - #7. ]

     The Psalmist calls on his readers to give the LORD thanks (elsewhere in the Psalm translated "praise") because the LORD is good and because his mercy endures forever. Those whom the LORD has redeemed should say so because he has gathered them from all points of the compass. They wandered, hungry and thirsty, in the wilderness; and when they cried to the LORD he delivered them and brought them to a city in which they could dwell (1-7).
     As in the first section of the Psalm, the second section opens with an invitation to "praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men." (8-14). In this section he reminds his readers how the LORD has delivered them form hunger, death and affliction which came upon them because of their rebellion. When their heart was bowed down, when they fell beneath their load, when there was no one to help, they cried to the LORD and he brought them from the shadow of death and broke their bands asunder.
     For a third time the Psalmist exhorts his readers to "praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men." Because he broke gates of brass and cut bars of iron asunder when they were afflicted for their transgressions and their iniquities. They were too distressed to eat; they drew near to death; they cried to the LORD, and he saved them by his word -- healing them and delivering them from destruction (15-20).
     Like those before it, the fourth section of the Psalm begins with the words "praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men." The Psalmist exhorts them to sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving and to declare his works with rejoicing. He notes that those who go down to the sea in ships see the wonders of the LORD in the depths. He sends a great storm which tosses them about and makes them stagger like drunken men. They cry to the LORD and he calms the storm, and stills the waves, and brings them to their desired haven with gladness (21-30).
     In the fifth and final section of the Psalm, the Psalmist again tells his readers to "praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men." He tells them to exalt the LORD in the congregation of the people and in the assembly of the elders. He dries up rivers and springs and makes fruitful lands barren because of the wickedness of those who dwell therein. And conversely, he brings standing water and springs into the barren place. He feeds the hungry; he brings them into a city; they sow; they plant vineyards; and they reap abundantly. They increase in number, as do their herds and flocks. And, again, when they are diminished by oppression, affliction, and sorrow, and when the LORD pours out contempt upon their princes and makes them wander in the wilderness, he nevertheless he places the poor on high above affliction and makes families for him. The righteous will see this and rejoice; iniquity will stop its mouth; those who are wise will observe these things; and they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD (31-43).

¹ O give thanks [praise] unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
² Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, 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 LORD in their trouble, and 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 men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
⁹ For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.
¹⁰ Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being 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 there was none to help.
¹³ Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and 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 men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for 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.
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 LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses.
²⁰ He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

²¹ Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
²² And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.
²³ They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;
²⁴ These see the works of the LORD, 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 LORD 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 men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for 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.
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, where there is no way.
⁴¹ Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock.
⁴² The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.
⁴³ Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.