17
Fools, because of their transgression,
And because of their iniquities, were afflicted.
18
Their soul abhorred all manner of food,
And they drew near to the gates of death.
19
Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
And He saved them out of their distresses.
20
He sent His word and healed them,
And delivered them from their destructions.
21
Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness,
And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
22
Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving,
And declare His works with rejoicing.
Spiritually considered, these verses describe a sin-sick soul: foolish but yet aroused to a sense of guilt, it refuses comfort from any and every quarter, and a lethargy of despair utterly paralyzes it. To its own apprehension, nothing remains but utter destruction in many forms: the gates of death stand open before it, and it is, in its own apprehension, hurried in that direction. Then is the soul driven to cry in the bitterness of its grief unto the Lord, and Christ, the eternal Word, comes with healing power in the direst extremity, saving to the uttermost.
“All that God has to do, in order to save us, is to send us his word. He has done that by sending his dear Son, who is the incarnate Word. He sends us the word in the shape of the Holy Scriptures; he sends us the word in the preaching of his servants; but what we want most of all is to have that word sent home by the power of the Holy Spirit.” ……CHS
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Charles Spurgeon
“Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.” Many sicknesses are the direct result of foolish acts. Thoughtless and lustful men by drunkenness, gluttony, and the indulgence of their passions fill their bodies with diseases of the worst kind. Sin is at the bottom of all sorrow, but some sorrows are the immediate results of wickedness: men by a course of transgression afflict themselves and are fools for their pains. Worse still, even when they are in affliction they are fools still; and if they were brayed in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet would not their folly depart from them. From one transgression they go on to many iniquities, and while under the rod they add sin to sin. Alas, even the Lord’s own people sometimes play the fool in this sad manner.
“And they draw near unto the gates of death.” Thus it is with souls afflicted with a sense of sin, they cannot find comfort in the choicest promises, but turn away with loathing even from the gospel so that they gradually decay into the grave of despair. The mercy is that though near the gates of death, they are not yet inside the sepulcher.
“Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble.” They join the praying legion at last. Saul also is among the prophets. The fool lays aside his motley in prospect of the shroud and betakes himself to his knees. What a cure for the soul sickness of body is often made to be by the Lord’s grace!
“And he saveth them out of their distresses.” Prayer is as effectual on a sick bed as in the wilderness or in prison; it may be tried in all places and circumstances with certain results. We may pray about our bodily pains and weaknesses, and we may look for answers too. When we have no appetite for meat we may have an appetite for prayer. He who cannot feed on the word of God may yet turn to God himself and find mercy.
“He sent his word and healed them.” Man is not healed by medicine alone, but by the word which proceedeth out of the mouth of God is man restored from going down to the grave. A word will do it, a word has done it thousands of times.
“And delivered them from their destructions.” They escaped though dangers surrounded them, dangers many and deadly. The word of the Lord has a great delivering power; he has but to speak and the armies of death flee in an instant. Sin-sick souls should remember the power of the Word, and be much in hearing it and meditating upon it.
“Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men.” It is marvelous that men can be restored from sickness and yet refuse to bless the Lord. It would seem impossible that they should forget such great mercy, for we should expect to see both themselves and the friends to whom they are restored uniting in a lifelong act of thanksgiving. Yet when ten are healed it is seldom that more than one returns to give glory to God. Alas, where are the nine? When a spiritual cure is wrought by the great Physician, praise is one of the surest signs of renewed health. A mind rescued from the disease of sin and the weary pains of conviction, must and will adore Jehovah Rophi, the healing God: yet it were well if there were a thousand times as much even of this.
“And declare his works with rejoicing.” Such things are worth telling, for the personal declaration honors God, relieves ourselves, comforts others, and puts all men in possession of facts concerning the divine goodness which they will not be able to ignore.
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Enduring Word
Fools, because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, were afflicted: When God gathered His people (Psalm 107:2-3), they had to come to the Promised Land from every direction. Some came from sickness and affliction, and God rescued and redeemed them – even though their trouble could be traced to their foolishness, transgression, and iniquity. (Guzik)
i. Were afflicted: “The verb as well as its supporting phrases points to their trouble as self-inflicted. In such a context, verse 18 could well call to mind in modern times the drug addict, but only as one example of man’s perennial determination to get hurt.” (Kidner)
They drew near to the gates of death: The psalmist described those who were very sick and near death. They had no appetite (their soul abhorred all manner of food) and wasted away. (Guzik)
i. “Their ‘affliction’ is a sickness to death, when food and pleasure are no longer relevant. They ‘loathe’ their ‘food,’ as they feel that death is nearby.” (VanGemeren)
ii. By spiritual analogy, when a sick soul has no appetite for the milk or meat of God’s word, it shows that spiritual death is near. (Guzik)
Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble: This phrase is again repeated (before in Psalm 107:6, 13). Even when God’s people are in trouble because of their own wrongdoing, God answers when they cry out unto Him. (Guzik)
He sent His word and healed them: They were healed by the power of God’s word, reminding us of the many times Jesus healed people simply by speaking a word. These sick and afflicted ones were delivered from their destructions by the powerful word of God. (Guzik)
i. “When George Wishart arrived at Dundee, where the plague was raging [1545], he caused intimation to be made that he would preach; and for that purpose chose his station upon the head of the East-gate, the infected persons standing without, and those that were whole within. His text was Psalm 107:20, ‘He sent his word, and healed them,’ etc., wherein he treated of the profit and comfort of God’s word, the punishment that comes by contempt of it, the readiness of God’s mercy to such as truly turn to him, and the happiness of those whom God takes from this misery, etc. By which sermon he so raised up the hearts of those that heard him, that they regarded not death, but judged them more happy that should then depart, rather than such as should remain behind, considering that they knew not whether they should have such a comforter with them.” (Samuel Clarke, cited in Spurgeon)
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Barnes
Fools, because of their transgression – Wicked people, considered as fools, because they “are” transgressors. Compare Psalms 14:1, note; Psalms 73:3, note; Psalms 75:4, note……..There is nothing more foolish than an act of wickedness; there is no wisdom equal to that of obeying God.
And because of their iniquities, are afflicted – A more literal rendering of this verse would be, “Fools from the way of their transgressions (that is, by their course of transgression), and by their iniquities, afflict themselves.” The idea is, that it is “in the very line” of their transgressions; or, that they “bring it upon themselves.” All punishment is in fact in the line of the offense; that is, sin leads directly to it; in other words, if a man treads along in the path of sin, he will come to this result – to punishment. Punishment is not arbitrary on the part of God, and it is not of the nature of a mere direct infliction from his “hand.” It is what people mete out to themselves, and what they might have avoided if they had chosen to do so.
Then they cry unto the Lord… – See Psalms 107:6, note; Psalms 107:13, note. The meaning here is, that if the “sick” cry to the Lord, he hears them, and delivers them. This cannot mean that it “always” occurs, but it occurs “so often” as to show that God can and does interpose to save; “so often” as to encourage us thus to call upon him when we are sick; “so often” as to lay a proper foundation for praise. Many persons – very many – can recall such instances in their own lives, when they seemed to all human appearance to be drawing near to the gates of death, and when, in connection with prayer, their disease took a favorable turn, and they were restored again to health. Compare the notes at James 5:14-15.
He sent his word, and healed them – He did it by a word; it was necessary for him merely to give a command, and the disease left them. So it was in the life of the Savior, who often healed the sick by a “word” Matthew 8:8; Luke 7:7; and so now restoration from disease often seems to be accomplished as if some word had been spoken by one who had power, commanding the disease to depart. In all cases, also, whatever means may be used, healing power comes from God, and is under his control. Compare Psalms 30:2.
Oh that men… – See the notes at Psalms 107:8. Who can help joining in this wish, that those who have been restored from sickness, who have been raised up from the borders of the grave, “would” praise God for it! Who can help wishing that they had the feelings of Hezekiah when he was saved from the sickness which threatened his life – saved by the direct and manifest interposition of God – when he said in Isaiah 38:20, “The Lord was ready to save me: therefore we will sing my songs to the stringed instruments, all the days of our life in the house of the Lord!” Who can help wishing that people everywhere would see in such interpositions the proof of the benevolence of God, and would thank him that he has not forgotten guilty and suffering people!
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John Gill
Fools, because of their transgression,…. Or, “because of the way” “of it”; their sinful course of life; for it is not for a single transgression they are afflicted but for a continued series of sinning, which is a transgression of the law of God. By “fools” are meant not idiots, men devoid of common sense and natural understanding, but immoral persons; such who have no understanding of divine and spiritual things; are destitute of the fear of God, which is the beginning of wisdom; without the true knowledge of God himself; place their happiness in sensual enjoyments; seek only the gratification of their lust; scoff at religion, make a mock at sin, and have no concern about a future state, and the welfare of their immortal souls.
He sent his word, and healed them,…. It was his will and pleasure they should be healed, and accordingly, they were; he issued his orders for the removal of the affliction, and it was done; diseases are his servants, which come and go at his command; so Christ, in the days of his flesh, healed by speaking a word, Matthew 8:3. This is true of Christ the essential Word, who was sent in the fulness of time, and was made flesh and dwelt among men, and went about healing all manner of diseases among the people; and who is also the physician of souls who came with healing in his wings; that is, with the pardon of sin, for which his blood was shed: he is the only physician, the skillful, universal, and infallible one, and does all freely, and in a most marvelous manner, by his stripes, blood and wounds, and by an application of these to diseased persons sensible of their case. It may also be applied to the word of the Gospel; the law is the means of wounding, it is the killing letter; the Gospel is the means of healing, the doctrines of it are the leaves of the tree of life, which are for the healing of the nations; it is the doctrine of remission of sins by the blood of Christ, and by it, Christ speaks peace and pardon to wounded consciences.
And declare his works with rejoicing: tell them to the children of men, what he has done for them, for soul and body; let them come to Zion with joy and everlasting joy on their heads; to the gates thereof, or to the public assemblies of the saints, and there declare what great things the Lord has done for them, and has had compassion upon them in healing their bodily diseases, and curing them of their soul maladies.
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Matthew Henry
Bodily sickness is another of the calamities of this life which gives us an opportunity of experiencing the goodness of God in recovering us, and of that, the psalmist speaks in these verses, where we may observe:
That it is by the power and mercy of God that we recover from sickness, and then it is our duty to be thankful. Compare with this Job 33:18, 28.
1. When those that are sick call upon God he returns them an answer of peace. They cry unto him and he saves them out of their distresses (v. 19); he removes their griefs and prevents their fears.
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- He does it easily: He sent his word and healed them, v. 20. This may be applied to the miraculous cures which Christ wrought when he was upon earth, by a word’s speaking; he said, Be clean, Be whole, and the work was done. It may also be applied to the spiritual cures which the Spirit of grace works in regeneration; he sends his word and heals souls, convinces, converts, sanctifies them, and all by the word. In the common instances of recovery from sickness God in his providence does but speak, and it is done.
- He does it effectually: He delivereth them out of their destructions, that they shall neither be destroyed nor distressed with the fear of being so. Nothing is too hard for that God to do who kills and makes alive again, brings down to the grave and raises up, who turneth man almost to destruction, and yet saith, Return.
2. When those that have been sick are restored they must return to God an answer of praise (v. 21, 22): Let all men praise the Lord for his goodness, and let those, particularly, to whom God has thus granted a new life, spend it in his service; let them sacrifice with thanksgiving, not only bring a thank-offering to the altar, but a thankful heart to God. Thanksgivings are the best thank-offerings and shall please the Lord better than an ox or bullock. And let them declare his works with rejoicing, to his honor and for the encouragement of others. The living, the living, they shall praise him.
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Clarke
Fools because of their transgression — This is the THIRD comparison; the captivity being compared to a person in a dangerous malady. Our Version does not express this clause well: Fools מדרך פשעם midderech pisham, because of the way of their transgressions, are afflicted. Most human maladies are the fruits of sin; misery and sin are married together in bonds that can never be broken.
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KJV W/ STRONGS BIBLE – PSALMS 107
107:17 Fools 191 because 1870 of their transgression 6588, and because of their iniquities 5771, are afflicted 6031 8691.
107:18 Their soul 5315 abhorreth 8581 8762 all manner of meat 400; and they draw near 5060 8686 unto the gates 8179 of death 4194.
107:19 Then they cry 2199 8799 unto the LORD 3068 in their trouble 6862, [and] he saveth 3467 8686 them out of their distresses 4691.
107:20 He sent 7971 8799 his word 1697, and healed 7495 8799 them, and delivered 4422 8762 [them] from their destructions 7825.
107:21 Oh that [men] would praise 3034 8686 the LORD 3068 [for] his goodness 2617, and [for] his wonderful works 6381 8737 to the children 1121 of men 120!
107:22 And let them sacrifice 2076 8799 the sacrifices 2077 of thanksgiving 8426, and declare 5608 8762 his works 4639 with rejoicing 7440.(rejoicing: Heb. singing)
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Geneva Bible 1560
Psalm 107:17-22
17 g Fooles by reason of their transgression and because of their iniquities are afflicted.
18 Their soul abhorreth all meat, and they are brought to death’s door.
19 Then they crye unto the Lord in their trouble, & he delivereth them from their distres.
20 h He sendeth his word and healeth them, and delivereth them from their i graves.
21 Let them therefore confess before the Lord his loving kindness, and his wonderful works before the sons of men,
22 And let them offer sacrifices of k praise, and declare his works with rejoycing.
g They that have no fear of God, by his sharp rods are brought to call upon him and so find mercy. h By healing them he declares his goodwill toward them. i Meaning, their diseases, which had almost brought them to the grave and corruption. k Praise and confession of God’s benefits are the true sacrifices of the godly.
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Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; Phil 4:6 NKJV
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