Click here to read PSALM 107 in poetic form.
Background
Psalm 107 begins the Deuteronomy Book of the Psalms, which concludes the entire book with Psalm 150. These 44 Psalms, like the Book of Deuteronomy in the Old Testament, show God’s Word as the source of salvation, deliverance, and healing. This would be fully carried out in the life of the coming Messiah, the living Word, Jesus Christ. Psalm 107 declares the Messiah as God’s living Word of deliverance.
Structure
(Verse 1) Give thanks to the Lord for His eternal loving kindness, grace, and mercy
(Verses 2,3) His goodness: He gathers them and redeems them from their enemies
(Verses 4,5) Their trouble: wandered in the wilderness, hungry and thirsty and faint
(Verses 6,7) Their cry to God and His deliverance: He leads them by the right way to a city of habitation
(Verse 8) Chorus: Praise the Lord for His goodness and wonderful works
(Verse 9) His goodness: He satisfies and fills the hungry soul
(Verses 10-12) Their trouble: sit in darkness and shadow of death, bound in affliction, fall down with labor
(Verses 13,14) Their cry to God and His deliverance: He brings them out of darkness and the shadow of death, breaks their bondage
(Verse 15) Chorus: Praise the Lord for His goodness and wonderful works
(Verse 16) His goodness: He has broken the gates of brass and cut the bars of iron asunder
(Verses 17,18) Their trouble: afflicted, abhor food, draw near the gates of death
(Verses 19,20) Their cry to God and His deliverance: He saves them from distresses; He sends His Word and heals them and delivers them from their destructions
(Verse 21) Chorus: Praise the Lord for His goodness and wonderful works
(Verses 22-24) His goodness: God’s works and wonders in the deep worthy of thanksgiving
(Verses 25-27) Their trouble: soul melted, reel to and fro, at their wit’s end
(Verses 28-30) Their cry to God and His deliverance: calms the storm, they are glad, reach their desired haven
(Verse 31) Chorus: Praise the Lord for His goodness and wonderful works
(Verses 32-43) Exalt the Lord for His many wondrous works and His loving kindness
Key Scriptures
Verse 2—“Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy.” Jesus Christ is the great redeemer (Titus 2:14) who bought us back from the deceit and violence of the Devil. The Hebrew word for “redeem” refers to a next of kin in Eastern culture. This person could buy back land, carry on a relative’s family (as Boaz did in Ruth), avenge wrongdoing, and save those under duress. Ruth 4:14: “And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the Lord, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman [Hebrew word for “redeemer”], that his name may be famous in Israel.”
Verse 8—”Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” This chorus (repeated in verses 15,21,31) literally says to praise the Lord for His kindness and His miraculous deeds to the sons of Adam.
Verse 9—”For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.” Mary, Jesus Christ’s mother, quoted this scripture prophetically when she rejoice in God’s favor to her. Luke 1:53: “He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.”
Verse 17—”Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.” God is always good and never sends evil in any way. I John 1:5: “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” It is when people turn from Him that the Devil is able to bring his evil plans to pass in people’s lives.
Verse 20—”He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.” This prophecy is realized in the life of Jesus Christ. He is the living Word (John 1:14) that was made flesh and dwelt among us (see notes on Psalm 103 for more details on healing through Jesus Christ).
Verse 26—”They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths [abyss]: their soul is melted because of trouble.” This gives a vivid picture of the giant waves in a storm at sea. The crests and troughs can be enormous. The souls of those in such straits are “melted” (Hebrew: fainting, disheartened) because of this mortal danger.
FOR FURTHER STUDY
All 150 of The Psalms in Poetic Form are available from Amazon in a book, either Large Print or a smaller Bedside Reader. Also available for free with a Kindle Unlimited membership. Enjoy!
The entire blog series is now available in the publication The Psalms: Background & Structure with Key Scriptures Explained.
