Who is wise? Let him give heed to these things…
A call to give thanks (vv.1-3) |
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1 Oh give thanks to Yahweh, for He is good, |
For His lovingkindness is everlasting. [2] |
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2 Let the redeemed of Yahweh say so, |
Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the adversary |
3 And gathered from the lands, |
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From the east and from the west, |
From the north and from the south/sea. |
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Wandering in the wilderness (vv.4-9) |
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4 They wandered in the wilderness in a desert region; |
They did not find a way to an inhabited city. |
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5 They were hungry and thirsty; |
Their soul fainted within them. |
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6 Then they cried out (tsa`aq) to Yahweh in their trouble; |
He delivered them out of
their distresses. |
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7 He led them also by a straight way, (cf. Ezra 8:21) |
To go to an inhabited city. |
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8 Let them give thanks to Yahweh for His lovingkindness, |
And for His wonders to the
sons of men![3] |
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9 For He has satisfied the thirsty soul, |
And the hungry soul He has filled with what is good. |
Imprisonment (vv.10-16) |
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10 There were those who dwelt in darkness and in the shadow of death, |
Prisoners in misery and chains, |
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11 Because they had rebelled against the words of God |
And spurned the counsel of the Most High. |
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12 Therefore He humbled their heart with labor; |
They stumbled and there was none to help. |
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13 Then they cried out (za`aq) to
Yahweh in their trouble; |
He saved them out of their
distresses. |
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14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death |
And broke their bands apart. |
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15 Let them give thanks to Yahweh for His lovingkindness, |
And for His wonders to the
sons of men! |
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16 For He has shattered gates of bronze |
And cut bars of iron asunder. |
Sickness (vv.17-22) |
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17 Fools, because of their rebellious way, |
And because of their iniquities, were afflicted. |
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18 Their soul abhorred all kinds of food, |
And they drew near to the gates of death. |
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19 Then they cried out (za`aq) to
Yahweh in their trouble; |
He saved them out of their
distresses. |
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20 He sent His word and healed them, |
And delivered them from their destructions. |
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21 Let them give thanks to Yahweh for His lovingkindness, |
And for His wonders to the
sons of men! |
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22 Let them also offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, |
And tell of His works with joyful singing. |
Stormy Sea (vv.23-32) |
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23 Those who go down to the sea in ships, |
Who do business on great waters; |
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24 They have seen the works of Yahweh, |
And His wonders in the deep. |
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25 For He spoke and raised up a stormy wind, |
Which lifted up the waves of the sea. |
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26 They rose up to the heavens, |
they went down to the depths; |
Their soul melted away in their misery. |
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27 They reeled and staggered like a drunken man, |
And were at their wits’ end (lit. all their wisdom is swallowed up). |
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28 Then they cried (tsa`aq) to Yahweh in their trouble, |
And He brought them out
of their distresses. |
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29 He caused the storm to be still/whisper, |
So that the waves of the sea were hushed. |
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30 Then they were glad because they were quiet, |
So He guided them to their desired haven. |
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31 Let them give thanks to Yahweh for His lovingkindness, |
And for His wonders to the
sons of men! |
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32 Let them extol Him also in the congregation of the people, |
And praise Him at the seat of the elders. |
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The Great Reversal (vv.33-43) |
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33 He changes rivers into a wilderness |
And springs of water into a thirsty ground; |
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34 A fruitful land into a salt waste, |
Because of the wickedness of those who dwell in it. |
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35 He changes a wilderness into a pool of water |
And a dry land into springs of water; |
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36 And there He makes the hungry to dwell, |
So that they may establish an inhabited city, |
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37 And sow fields and plant vineyards, |
And gather a fruitful harvest. |
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38 Also He blesses them and they multiply greatly, [4] |
And He does not let their cattle decrease. |
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39 When they are diminished and bowed down |
Through oppression, misery and sorrow, |
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40 He pours contempt upon princes |
And makes them wander in a pathless waste. |
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41 But He sets the needy securely on high away from affliction, |
And makes his families like a flock. |
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42 The upright see it and are glad; |
But all unrighteousness shuts its mouth. |
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43 Who is wise?[5] |
Let him give heed to these things, |
And consider the lovingkindnesses of Yahweh. (cf. Hosea 14:9) [6] |
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[1]
In Psalms 104-107 there is an emphasis upon God’s work in history: past,
present and future. Ø In Psalm 104 we learn that God actively governs all creation all the time. Ø In Psalm 105 there is an emphasis upon God’s faithfulness to His covenant in His sovereign working throughout history. God governs all history for His glory and the good of His people. Ø Psalm 106 emphasizes God’s faithfulness to His covenant despite Israel’s unfaithfulness Ø In Psalm 107 we learn that one of the main principles by which God works in history is peripety. |
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[2] This is the most oft repeated thanksgiving
in the Psalms (106:1; 107:1; 118:1,29; 136:1-26; cf. 1 Chron.16:34; 2
Chron.20:21). |
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[3] Repetition of refrains in Psalms are also found in: 29; 42:5,11 with 43:5; 46:7,11; 49:12,20; 56:4,11; 57:5,11; 59:6, 14; 59:9, 17; 62:2,6; 67:3,5; 80:3,7,19; 99:5, 9; 107:8,15,21,31; 107:6,13,19,28; 118; 136. When a Psalm or segment of Scripture begins and ends with a similar refrain it is called an inclusio: 1:1 with 2:12; 8; 103; 104; 106; 113; 117; 118; 135; 146-150; also Exodus 15:1,21. |
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[4] Similar examples of God’s blessing and increase are found in Genesis 1:28; 9:1,6-7; 12:2; 17:2,6,8; 22:17-18; 26:3,4,24; 28:3-4; 35:11-12; 47:27; Exodus 1:7; Leviticus 26:9; Isaiah 51:2; Jeremiah 3:16; 23:3; Ezekiel 36:10-11,29-30; cf. Acts 6:7; 12:24; 19:20; Colossians 1:6,10). |
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[5] Wisdom, in this Psalm, understands that one of the main principles by which God works in history is peripety: the change/reversal of fortune/circumstances. |