Psalms 107

³And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.

Gathered - Into their own land.

⁴They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.

No city - Or rather, no town inhabited, where they might refresh themselves.

⁶Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.

The Lord - Heb. Unto Jehovah, to the true God. For the Heathens had, many of them, some knowledge of the true God.

⁷And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.

Forth - Out of the wilderness.

¹⁰Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;

Darkness - In dark prisons or dungeons.

¹²Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.

Heart - The pride and obstinacy of their hearts. Fell - They fell into hopeless miseries.

¹⁷Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.

Afflicted - With sickness.

²⁰He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

Word - His command, or blessing.

³²Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.

Exalt him - In public assemblies, and before all persons, as they have opportunity. Elders - The magistrates or rulers; let them not be ashamed nor afraid to speak of God’s wonderful works, before the greatest of men.

³³He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground;

Rivers - Those grounds which are well watered, and therefore fruitful. And so the water-springs, here, and the standing water, ver.35 are taken. Into - Into a dry ground, which is like a parched and barren wilderness.

³⁴A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.

For - He doth not inflict these judgments without cause, but for the punishment of sin in some, and the prevention of it in others.

³⁵He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings.

Water - Into a well-watered and fruitful land.

³⁶And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation;

Hungry - Poor people who could not provide for themselves.

³⁹Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow.

They - These men, who when they are exalted by God, grow insolent and secure. Low - By God’s just judgment.

⁴⁰He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way.

Contempt - Renders them despicable. Wander - Banishes them from their own courts and kingdoms, and forces them to flee into desolate wildernesses for shelter.