PULPIT COMMENTARY, EDITED BY THE VERY REV. H. D. M. SPENCE, D.D., DEAN OF GLOUCESTER; AND BY THE REV. JOSEPH S. EXELL, M.A. WITH INTRODUCTIONS BY THE VERY REV. F. W. FARRAR, D.D., F.R.S., DEAN OF CANTERBURY. VERY REV. PRINCIPAL J. TULLOCH, D.D. REV. CANON G. RAWLINSON, M.A. London: KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, TRÜBNER & CO., LTD. 1896 PULPIT COMMENTARY, EDITED BY THE VERY REV. H. D. M. SPENCE, D.D., KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, TRÜBNER & CO... LTD 1896. THE BOOK OF PSALMS. PSALM CVII. BOOK V. EXPOSITION. A SONG of thanksgiving, first for deliverance from the Babylonish captivity (vers. 1-3), and then for other deliverances (vers. 4-32), passing into a general account of God's providential dealings with mankind, both in the way of chastisement and of loving-kindness, but especially the latter (vers. 33-42). The composition closes with a single gnomic reflection on the wisdom of pondering such matters as those brought forward by the writer. Formally, the psalm falls into seven divisions: (1) a thanksgiving for the return from Babylon (vers. 1-3); (2) one for deliverance from the perils of travel (vers. 4-9); (3) one for deliverance from prison (vers. 10-16); (4) one for recovery from sickness (vers. 17-22); (5) one for escape from the perils of the sea (vers. 23-32); (6) a general account of God's dealings with men (vers. 33-42); and (7) a commendation of the entire subject to the consideration of God's people. Parts 2, 3, 4, and 5 are terminated by a refrain. Ver. 1.-0 give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good (comp. Pss. cvi. 1; cxviii. 1; cxxxvi. 1). For his mercy endureth for ever (see the comment on Ps. cvi. 1). Ver. 2.-Let the redeemed of the Lord say so. "The redeemed of the Lord" in this place are those whom the Lord has just delivered out of exile and captivity (comp. Isa. xliv. 22-24; li. 11; Jer. xxxi. 11; Zech. x. 8, etc.). The writer calls on them to give voice to the thanksgiving of PSALMS.-III. ver. 1. Whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy; i.e. of Babylon. Ver. 3.-And gathered them out of the lands (compare the prayer of Ps. cvi. 47; and for the expression, "the lands"-i.e. the foreign countries-see Ps. cvi. 27; Ezra ix. 1). From the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south. The present Hebrew text has D, "from the sea "" and so the LXX., ånd @aλdoons—but it is thought that probably p is a corruption of pp (Cheyne), which would mean "from the south." Vers. 4-9.-The form is historical, but the intention is to describe a recurrent event. Men from time to time wanderlose their way-either literally, or in the wilderness of life, grow faint and weary, and are ready to perish. But if they cry to God, God gives them aid, succours them, saves them. Then let them praise and thank him. ,דרך tached 66 Ver. 4.-They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in. It is, perhaps, best to divide this verse as was done by the LXX., who atway," to the latter clause. So Cheyne, who translates, "They wandered in the wilderness, yea, in the desert; they found no road to a city of habitation." So also Rosenmüller. Ver. 5.-Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. Either actual hunger and thirst, or dissatisfaction with life, may be intended. Ver. 6. Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble (comp. Ps. cvi. 44, and the comment ad loc.). And he delivered them B |