Chapter 107: The Principles Of Providence

I. EXHORTATION TO PRAISE (r -3). Jehovah's Lovingkindness. r. The Invitation (r). 2. The Incentives (r). "for ... for." 3. The Individuals (2-3). The Redeemed. II. EXHIBITION OF JEHOVAH'S PRESERVING GOODNESS (4-32). Distress and Deliverance. Extremity and Extrication. FIRST ILLUSTRATION (4-9). Lost in the Desert. r. The Plight (4 -5). 2. The Prayer (611). Cry of the Scattered.

3. The Preservation (6b-1). Jehovah the Leader. 4. The Praise (8-9 ). (a) Request (8). (b) Reason (9). "For." SECOND ILLUSTRATION (10-16). Languishing in the Dungeon. 1. The Plight (10-r2). 2. The Prayer (13a). Cry of the Shackled. 3. The Preservation (13b-14). Jehovah the Liberator. 4. The Praise (15-16). (a) Request (15). (b) Reason (16). "For." THIRD ILLUSTRATION (17-22). Languishing in Disease. 1. The Plight (17-18). 2. The Prayer (19a). Cry of the Sick. 3. The Preservation (19b-20). Jehovah the Life-giver. 4. The Praise (21-22). (a) Appeal (21). (b) Amplifiction (22). FOURTH ILLUSTRATION (23-32). Lost on the Deep. r. The Plight (23-27). 2. The Prayer (28a). Cry of the Storm-tossed.- 3. The Preservation (28b-30 ). Jehovah the Lord. 4. The Praise (31-32). (a) Appeal (31). (b) Amplification (32). III. EXHIBITION OF JEHOVAH'S PROVIDENTIAL GOVERNMENT (33-42). Bane and Blessing. Punishment: and Pity. C£ verses 4-5. r. Penalty (33-34). 2. Prosperity (35-38). 3. Penalty (39-40). 4. Prosperity (41-42). IV. EXHORTATION TO PONDER (43). Jehovah's Lovingkindness. "Ob 'd serve ... cons1 er. PRIMARY AssocIATION.-This psalm almost certainly belongs to the early post-exilic period, although the authorship is unknown. There is no mention of the temple, but 22, 32 suggest a national feast as the occasion; cf. Ezra iii. 1-8. See Analysis Book V. notes. Here is a most fitting preface to the Book celebrating Israel's restora tion and return. It illustrates the divine ways with Israel and with men in general, Observe the keynote appearing here, the healing

word sent (20). Notwithstanding ,the division of the Books, this psalm is closely related to the preceding ones, cv.-cvii. forming a kind of trilogy. Celebration of Israel's Redemption from Egypt, cv. Confession of Israel's Rebellion against El, cvi. Celebration of Israel's Restoration from Exile, cvii. Note the three successive periods indicated; "He gave them the lands of the nations," cv. 44; "He would scatter them in the lands of the nations," cvi. 27; "He gathered them out of the lands," cvii. 3. PROPHETIC ANTICIPATION.-The unfailing faithfulness of Jehovah is the theme of song for restored Israel. The psalm gives not only facts but figures of the national condition. The deliverances men tioned are combined with a present redemption. Israel's return from the Babylonian exile prefigures a full and final return of "the dis persion" yet to come. The furnace of affliction was provided for in the original Abrahamic covenant, and that as a means of bringing back to Himself a rebellious people. Of such a furnace the Egyptian bondage was one example, even as the wilderness journeyings were prototype of their many wanderings. In their typical aspect the four strophes ilhfstrating the nation's experiences are very expressive and instructive. The "city of habitation" (7) speaks of the abiding rest to which Israel is at last brought in millennial days. PERSONAL APPLICATION.-In spite of their rebellious behaviour God does not abandon His people, but finds a way of restoring and blessing them, acting always in power, love and holiness. The obligation of praise lies upon all God's redeemed ones (1-2). Israel's well-known song is not out of place for a Christian (r). An old motto may bring a new message (1). Hymns of former days are often the best vehicles for praise to-day (1). Verses 4-32 give vivid representations of a life apart from God. Trouble, trust, triumph and tribute is' a common order in Christian experience (4-32). A crooked way is necessarily a long way (7). God's way is ever the straight (right) way (7). The lovingkindness of God is expressed in His works (8). Divine provision exactly meets our needs (5 with 9, 10 with 14), etc. There is no hope or help for the sinner except in the very One against whom he has rebelled (12). Sometimes God has to use trouble to subdue our hearts (12). All sin is folly (12). A fool is one who is slow to learn lessons from his own experience (17). Inveterate sin ruins physical health (17 ff.). Sin brings sickness to the soul (17 ff.). Sickness is not necessarily a proof of sin (c£ Job)

ANALYTICAL S!fUDIES IN THE PSALMS but 1nay be a pointer to it (17). God's word is His messenger to perform His will (20). God is a sure guide on land (7) and on sea (30). All mockery of God's people and blasphemy against our God will one day be silenced (42). Wise are they who observe and consider the ways of God (43). VERSE NO:r'ES 2. Br. "clutch of the oppressor." 3. The returning exiles stream from every quarter-" gathered" is a prominent thought in Book V. "d ckl esert way = tra ess waste, so 40. 6. "trouble" = strait. 7. "And He guided them in the straight (right) way," c£ Ezra viii. 21. 8. Br. "Let them (= the delivered ones) give thanks to Jehovah for . .", " children" = sons ; "men" or, Adani. 9. "Because He satisfied . . . filled." IO. "shadow of death" or, deathly gloom, so 14; cf. xxiii. 4; xliv. 19; "affliction" = oppression. els" 11. wor = saymgs, or utterances. 12. I.e. "so that He subdued their heart with travail-"fell down"= lit. stumbleq. 15. Trans. as 8 and so at 21, 31. 16. This hints at the manner of the attack by Cyrus (conqueror of Babylon) as Jehovah's unconscious instrument. 17. "Fools," the word denotes moral perversity not mere weakness of intellct or ignorance. Such folly leads to ruin; c£ Deut. xxxii. 6; "transgression"= revolt. Note margin; this implies persistence in evil courses. 17. (b) More lit. = "bring affliction on themselves." 20. The peculiar expression "sent His word" prepares the way for the fuller revelation of the Divine Log.os, John i; "destructions," see margin, or, pitfalls; perhaps = ?raves into which they had almost fallen. 24. Br. ' These (men) have seen . . . " 2 5. "For He spake and raised . . . " 26. "they" ( the sailors); "Their soul melteth in evil plight;" c£ Deut. xxviii. 6 5. 27. (b) i.e. skill in navigation fails them. 30. "they (qJe waves) arc calmed;" "bringeth" = guideth. 32. Br. "Yea, let them extol Him in . . . session of the elders;" i.e. publicly declare His praises. 33. Note change in the style of the "He hath turned, etc." The verbs should be translated in the past tense as re£ to facts of experience not merely to general truths. This applies to verses 33-41; 33-34 probably refer to Babylon; 35 to Palestine as reinhabited by the returned exiles. 34. Like Sodom and Gomorrah. i: d prepare or, roun .

39. "And when they were diminished ... " Should be comma, not full stop at the end of 39. "And He set the needy ... and made ... " 41. (b) i.e. makes them.numerous. 42. "The upright see and are glad ... stoppeth her mouth." 43. "Whoso is wise let him observe ... and let them consider ... " c£ Hosea xiv. 9.