Salmos 107

LIBRO V

1

Salmos 107–150

1 Den gracias al SEÑOR, porque él es bueno;su gran amor perdura para siempre.

2 Que lo digan los redimidos del SEÑOR,a quienes redimió del poder del adversario,

3 a quienes reunió de todos los países,de oriente y de occidente, del norte y del sur.^[a]

4 Vagaban perdidos por parajes desiertos,sin dar con el camino a una ciudad habitable.

5 Hambrientos y sedientos,la vida se les iba consumiendo.

6 En su angustia clamaron al SEÑOR,y él los libró de su aflicción.

7 Los llevó por el camino rectohasta llegar a una ciudad habitable.

8 ¡Que den gracias al SEÑOR por su gran amor,por sus maravillas en favor de los hombres!

9 ¡Él apaga la sed del sediento,y sacia con lo mejor al hambriento!

10 Afligidos y encadenados,habitaban en las más densas tinieblas

11 por haberse rebelado contra las palabras de Dios,por menospreciar los designios del Altísimo.

12 Los sometió^[b] a trabajos forzados;tropezaban, y no había quien los ayudara.

13 En su angustia clamaron al SEÑOR,y él los salvó de su aflicción.

14 Los sacó de las sombras tenebrosasy rompió en pedazos sus cadenas.

15 ¡Que den gracias al SEÑOR por su gran amor,por sus maravillas en favor de los hombres!

16 ¡Él hace añicos las puertas de broncey rompe en mil pedazos las barras de hierro!

17 Trastornados por su rebeldía,afligidos por su iniquidad,

18 todo alimento les causaba asco.¡Llegaron a las puertas mismas de la muerte!

19 En su angustia clamaron al SEÑOR,y él los salvó de su aflicción.

20 Envió su palabra para sanarlos,y así los rescató del sepulcro.

21 ¡Que den gracias al SEÑOR por su gran amor,por sus maravillas en favor de los hombres!

22 ¡Que ofrezcan sacrificios de gratitud,y jubilosos proclamen sus obras!

23 Se hicieron a la mar en sus barcos;para comerciar surcaron las muchas aguas.

24 Allí, en las aguas profundas,vieron las obras del SEÑOR y sus maravillas.

25 Habló Dios, y se desató un fuerte vientoque tanto encrespó las olas

26 que subían a los cielos y bajaban al abismo.Ante el peligro, ellos perdieron el coraje.

27 Como ebrios tropezaban, se tambaleaban;de nada les valía toda su pericia.

28 En su angustia clamaron al SEÑOR,y él los sacó de su aflicción.

29 Cambió la tempestad en suave brisa:se sosegaron las olas del mar.

30 Ante esa calma se alegraron,y Dios los llevó al puerto anhelado.

31 ¡Que den gracias al SEÑOR por su gran amor,por sus maravillas en favor de los hombres!

32 ¡Que lo exalten en la asamblea del pueblo!¡Que lo alaben en el consejo de los ancianos!

33 Dios convirtió los ríos en desiertos,los manantiales en tierra seca,

34 los fértiles terrenos en tierra salitrosa,por la maldad de sus habitantes.

35 Convirtió el desierto en fuentes de agua,la tierra seca en manantiales;

36 hizo habitar allí a los hambrientos,y ellos fundaron una ciudad habitable.

37 Sembraron campos, plantaron viñedos,obtuvieron abundantes cosechas.

38 Dios los bendijo y se multiplicaron,y no dejó que menguaran sus rebaños.

39 Pero si merman y son humillados,es por la opresión, la maldad y la aflicción.

40 Dios desdeña a los noblesy los hace vagar por desiertos sin senderos.

41 Pero a los necesitados los saca de su miseria,y hace que sus familias crezcan como rebaños.

42 Los rectos lo verán y se alegrarán,pero todos los impíos serán acallados.

43 Quien sea sabio, que considere estas cosasy entienda bien el gran amor del SEÑOR.

Salmos 107 Commentary

Chapter 107

God's providential care of the children of men in distresses, in banishment, and dispersion. (1-9) In captivity. (10-16) In sickness. (17-22) Danger at sea.(23-32) God's hand is to be seen by his own people. (33-43)

Verses 1-9 In these verses there is reference to the deliverance from Egypt, and perhaps that from Babylon: but the circumstances of travellers in those countries are also noted. It is scarcely possible to conceive the horrors suffered by the hapless traveller, when crossing the trackless sands, exposed to the burning rays of the sum. The words describe their case whom the Lord has redeemed from the bondage of Satan; who pass through the world as a dangerous and dreary wilderness, often ready to faint through troubles, fears, and temptations. Those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, after God, and communion with him, shall be filled with the goodness of his house, both in grace and glory.

Verses 10-16 This description of prisoners and captives intimates that they are desolate and sorrowful. In the eastern prisons the captives were and are treated with much severity. Afflicting providences must be improved as humbling providences; and we lose the benefit, if our hearts are unhumbled and unbroken under them. This is a shadow of the sinner's deliverance from a far worse confinement. The awakened sinner discovers his guilt and misery. Having struggled in vain for deliverance, he finds there is no help for him but in the mercy and grace of God. His sin is forgiven by a merciful God, and his pardon is accompanied by deliverance from the power of sin and Satan, and by the sanctifying and comforting influences of God the Holy Spirit.

Verses 17-22 If we knew no sin, we should know no sickness. Sinners are fools. They hurt their bodily health by intemperance, and endanger their lives by indulging their appetites. This their way is their folly. The weakness of the body is the effect of sickness. It is by the power and mercy of God that we are recovered from sickness, and it is our duty to be thankful. All Christ's miraculous cures were emblems of his healing diseases of the soul. It is also to be applied to the spiritual cures which the Spirit of grace works. He sends his word, and heals souls; convinces, converts them, makes them holy, and all by the word. Even in common cases of recovery from sickness, God in his providence speaks, and it is done; by his word and Spirit the soul is restored to health and holiness.

Verses 23-32 Let those who go to sea, consider and adore the Lord. Mariners have their business upon the tempestuous ocean, and there witness deliverances of which others cannot form an idea. How seasonable it is at such a time to pray! This may remind us of the terrors and distress of conscience many experience, and of those deep scenes of trouble which many pass through, in their Christian course. Yet, in answer to their cries, the Lord turns their storm into a calm, and causes their trials to end in gladness.

Verses 33-43 What surprising changes are often made in the affairs of men! Let the present desolate state of Judea, and of other countries, explain this. If we look abroad in the world, we see many greatly increase, whose beginning was small. We see many who have thus suddenly risen, as suddenly brought to nothing. Worldly wealth is uncertain; often those who are filled with it, ere they are aware, lose it again. God has many ways of making men poor. The righteous shall rejoice. It shall fully convince all those who deny the Divine Providence. When sinners see how justly God takes away the gifts they have abused, they will not have a word to say. It is of great use to us to be fully assured of God's goodness, and duly affected with it. It is our wisdom to mind our duty, and to refer our comfort to him. A truly wise person will treasure in his heart this delightful psalm. From it, he will fully understand the weakness and wretchedness of man, and the power and loving-kindness of God, not for our merit, but for his mercy's sake.

Footnotes

• [a]. "del sur" . Lit. "del mar" .
• [b]. "Los sometió" . Lit. "Sometió sus corazones" .

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 107

This psalm, from its style, and from its connection with the preceding psalms, seems to have been written by David. The two foregoing psalms respect the children of Israel; this is generally thought to concern all mankind, and its view to assert a general providence which attends all, in whatsoever condition and circumstance; and to encourage men in their distresses to cry unto the Lord. According to Kimchi, Aben Ezra, and others, four sorts of persons are mentioned, travellers through a wilderness, prisoners, sick persons, and such who use the seas; to which some add a fifth, husbandmen; these are instanced in, not to the exclusion of others, but from them it may be concluded that whatsoever state or condition persons may be in, they are known and taken notice of by the Lord, and are relieved by him when they call upon him. Some restrain the whole to the Israelites, as the Targum, R. Obadiah, Arama, and others, where they make any application; and others apply the psalm to New Testament times; and indeed, though the literal sense should be attended unto and preserved, yet it seems to be applicable to spiritual persons and things. The title of it in the Syriac version is pretty remarkable,

``it is said concerning Joab and Abiah the sons of Samuel, who recited the commandments of the Lord. God gathered the Jews out of captivity, and brought them out from Babylon. Also the only begotten Son of God, Jesus Christ, gathered the Gentiles from the four corners of the world, by preaching to baptism.''