Psalm 107:39-43 NKJV
39
When they are diminished and brought low
Through oppression, affliction, and sorrow,
40
He pours contempt on princes,
And causes them to wander in the wilderness where there is no way;
41
Yet He sets the poor on high, far from affliction,
And makes their families like a flock.
42
The righteous see it and rejoice,
And all iniquity stops its mouth.
43
Whoever is wise will observe these things,
And they will understand the lovingkindness of the Lord.
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Those who notice providence shall never be long without a providence notice. It is wise to observe what the Lord doth, for he is wonderful in counsel; has given us eyes to see with, and it is foolish to close them when there is most to observe; but we must observe wisely, otherwise we may soon confuse ourselves and others with hasty reflections upon the dealings of the Lord. In a thousand ways, the lovingkindness of the Lord is shown, and if we will prudently watch, we shall come to a better understanding of it. To understand the delightful attribute of lovingkindness is an attainment as pleasant it is profitable: those who are proficient scholars in this art will be among sweetest singers to the glory of Jehovah……….CHS
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Charles Spurgeon
“Again they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow.” As they change in character, so do their circumstances alter. Under the old dispensation, this was very clearly to be observed; Israel’s ups and downs were the direct consequences of her sins and repentance. Trials are of various kinds; here we have three words for affliction, and there are numbers more: God has many rods and we have many smarts, and all because we have many sins. Nations and churches soon diminish in number when they are diminished in grace. If we are low in love to God, it is a small wonder that he brings us low in other respects. God can reverse the order of our prosperity, and give us a diminuendo where we had a crescendo; therefore let us walk before him with great tenderness of spirit, conscious of our dependence upon his smile.
Verses 40-41.—In these two verses we see how the Lord at will turns the wheel of providence. Paying no respect to man’s imaginary grandeur, he puts princes down and makes them wander in banishment as they had made their captives wander when they drove them from land to land: at the same time, having ever a tender regard for the poor and needy, the Lord delivers the distressed and sets them in a position of comfort and happiness. This is to be seen upon the roll of history again and again, and in spiritual experience, we remark its counterpart: the self-sufficient are made to despise themselves and search in vain for help in the wilderness of their nature, while poor convicted souls are added to the Lord’s family and dwell in safety as the sheep of his fold.
“The righteous shall see it, and rejoice.” Divine providence causes joy to God’s true people; they see the hand of the Lord in all things and delight to study the ways of his justice and of his grace.
“And all iniquity shall stop her mouth.” What can she say? God’s providence is often so conclusive in its arguments of fact, that there is no replying or questioning. It is not long that the impudence of ungodliness can be quiet, but when God’s judgments are abroad it is driven to hold its tongue.
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Enduring Word
He pours contempt on princes: In the same way that God can turn a river into a dry wilderness, He can take the princes of this world and bring them low, causing them to wander in the wilderness. This is especially true of those rulers who subject God’s people under oppression, affliction, and sorrow. (Guzik)
Yet He sets the poor on high: In the same way that God can turn a wilderness into pools of water, He can also lift up the poor, setting them up far from affliction and making their families like a flock. (Guzik)
i. “The final section reflects in a distant, settled way on God’s sovereign workings by which his people are sometimes lifted up and sometimes brought low.” (Boice)
The righteous see it and rejoice: God’s righteous ones are happy that He knows how to bring low the proud and oppressive, and that He knows how to lift up the poor and afflicted. When the judgments of God operate this way, people notice and all iniquity stops its mouth. (Guzik)
i. All iniquity stops its mouth: As it says in Job 5:16, injustice shuts her mouth. It will be a wonderful day when iniquity and injustice are silent. (Guzik)
Whoever is wise will observe these things: The psalmist invited us to look at the way God works in the world, both in responding to those who cry out to Him and in His ability to bring low and raise high. Wisdom tells us to take notice. (Guzik)
i. “It is himself that the reader is to recognize in the fourfold picture of plight and salvation, and it is the steadfastness of God that he is now to praise with new insight.” (Kidner)
ii. “It is a great song of the mercy of God. Let its message be heeded, then shall we cry unto God in our distress, and finding deliverance through His goodness, we shall give Him thanks and praise Him.” (Morgan)
iii. “The conclusion to this psalm transforms the hymn of thanksgiving and praise to a wisdom psalm. The righteous will become wise by studying the acts of the Lord in the affairs of man.” (VanGemeren)
And they will understand the lovingkindness of the LORD: We understand the hesed (lovingkindness, loyal love, covenant love) of God by the statements and promises of His word. But we also understand it by how He acts among men and in history – if we have the wisdom to see it. With this wisdom, we will understand the lovingkindness of the LORD. (Guzik)
i. And they will understand: “‘All things work together for good to them that love God’; and the more they love Him, the more clearly will they see, and the more happily will they feel, that so it is. How can a man contemplate the painful riddle of the world, and keep his sanity, without that faith? He who has it for his faith will have it for his experience.” (Maclaren)
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Barnes
He poureth contempt upon princes – He treats them as if they were common people; he pays no regard in his providence to their station and rank. They are subjected to the same needs as others; they meet with reverses like others; they become captives like others; they sicken and die like others; they are laid in the grave like others; and, with the same offensiveness, they turn back to dust. Between monarchs and their subjects, masters and their slaves, mistresses and their handmaidens, rich men and poor men, beauty, and deformity, there is no distinction in the pains of sickness, in the pangs of dying, in the loathsomeness of the grave. The process of corruption goes on in the most splendid coffin, and beneath the most costly monument which art and wealth can rear, as well as in the plainest coffin, and in the grave marked by no stone or memorial. What can more strikingly show “contempt” for the trappings of royalty, for the adornings of wealth, for the stars and garters of nobility, for coronets and crowns, for the diamonds, the pearls, and the gold that decorate beauty, than that which occurs “in a grave!” The very language used here, like in the Hebrew and in our translation, is found in Job 12:21. The word rendered “princes” properly means “willing, voluntary, prompt;” and is then applied to the generous, to the noble-minded, to those who give liberally. It then denotes one of noble rank, as the idea of rank in the mind of the Orientals was closely connected with the notion of liberality in giving. Thus it comes to demote one of noble birth and might be applied to any of exalted rank.
And causeth them to wander in the wilderness – Margin, “void place.” The Hebrew word – תהו tôhû – means properly wasteness, desolateness; emptiness, vanity. See Genesis 1:2; Job 26:7; Isaiah 41:29; Isaiah 44:9; Isaiah 49:4. Here it means an empty, uninhabited place; a place where there is no path to guide; a land of desolation. The reference seems to be to the world beyond the grave; the land of shadows and night. Compare the notes at Job 10:21-22.
Where there is no way – literally, “no way.” That is, no well-trodden path. All must soon go to that pathless world.
Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction – Margin, “after.” The sense is not materially different. The idea is, that while he thus humbles princes, bringing them down from their lofty position, he has respect to the poor in their condition of suffering and trial, and raises them from that depressed state, and gives them prosperity. Thus he orders the circumstances of people, and shows his sovereignty.
And maketh him families like flock – Numerous as a flock. Large families were accounted a blessing among the Hebrews. See the notes at Psalms 107:38.
Whoso is wise – All who are truly wise. That is, all who have a proper understanding of things, or who are disposed to look at them aright.
And will observe these things – Will attentively consider them; will reason upon them correctly; will draw just conclusions from them; will allow them to produce their “proper” impression on the mind. The meaning is, that these things would not be understood at a glance, or by a hasty and cursory observation, but that all who would take time to study them would see in them such proofs of wisdom and goodness that they could not fail to come to the conclusion that God is worthy of confidence and love.
Even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord – They will perceive that God is a merciful Being; that he seeks the welfare of the universe; that he desires the good of all; that the whole system is so arranged as to be adapted to secure the greatest good in the universe. No one can study the works of God, or mark the events of his providence, without perceiving that there are “innumerable” arrangements which have no other end than to produce happiness; which can be explained only on the supposition that God is a benevolent Being; which would not exist under the government of a malevolent being. And, although there are things which seem to be arrangements to cause suffering, and although sin and misery have been allowed to come into the world, yet we are not in circumstances to enable us to show that, in some way, these may not be consistent with a desire to promote the happiness of the universe, or that there may not be some explanation, at present too high for us, which will show that the principle of benevolence is applicable to all the works of God. Meantime, where we can – as we can in numberless cases – see the proofs of benevolence, let us praise God; where we cannot, let us silently trust him, and believe that there will yet be some way in which we may see this as the angels now see it, and, like them, praise him for what now seems to us to be dark and incomprehensible. There is an “eternity” before us in which to study the works of God, and it would not be strange if in that eternity we may learn things about God which we cannot understand now, or if in that eternity things now to us as dark as midnight may be made clear as noonday. How many things incomprehensible to us in childhood, become clear in riper years!
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John Gill
Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction,…. On the other hand, the Lord sometimes exalteth men of low degree, raiseth men of mean extract and parentage, who have made a poor figure in life, to high places of honor, free from adversity and distress; as David from the sheepfold, and from following the ewes great with young, to be king of Israel. This may be applied to the saints and people of God, who for the most part are poor in purse, the poor of this world, whom he chooses, calls, and saves; poor knowledge, capacity, and gifts; poor as to their spiritual circumstances, having neither food nor clothing, nor money to buy either; poor in spirit, and sensible of it; and poor by reason of afflictions: these the Lord sets on high, sets them among the princes of his people, makes them kings and priests; sets them on Christ the Rock, who is higher than they, higher than the angels and than the heavens; sets them above the angels, their nature being advanced above theirs in Christ, and they being represented by him in heavenly places; and standing in the relation of sons to God, and of spouse and bride to Christ, and angels being their ministering servants; and ere long they will be set on thrones, and have a crown of glory, life, and righteousness, put upon them, and be possessed of an everlasting kingdom, and be out of the reach of affliction. They are not clear of it in this world; it is needful for them, they are appointed to it, and through it they must enter the kingdom; but then they will come out of all tribulation, and there will be no more pain, sorrow, and death: it may be rendered, “after affliction,” after their time of affliction is over, then God will exalt and glorify them; see 1 Peter 5:10, this may respect the prosperity of the church in the latter day; see Daniel 7:27.
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Matthew Henry
We see many that have thus suddenly risen as suddenly sunk and brought to nothing (v. 39): Again they are diminished and brought low by adverse providences, and end their days as low as they began them, or their families after them lose as fast they got, and scatter what they heaped together. Note, Worldly wealth is an uncertain thing, and often those that are filled with it, ere they are aware, grow so secure and sensual with it that, ere they are aware, they lose it again. Hence it is called deceitful riches and the mammon of unrighteousness. God has many ways of making men poor; he can do it by oppression, affliction, and sorrow, as he tempted Job and brought him low.
Those that were high and great in the world are abased, and those that were mean and despicable are advanced to honor, v. 40, 41. We have seen,
(1.) Princes dethroned and reduced to straits. He pours contempt upon them, even among those that have idolized them. Those that exalt themselves God will abase, and, in order thereunto, will infatuate: He makes them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way. He baffles those counsels by which they thought to support themselves, and their own power and pomp, and drives them headlong so that they know not what course to steer, nor what measures to take. We met with this before, Job 12:24, 25.
(2.) Those of low degree advanced to the posts of honor (v. 41): Yet setteth he the poor on high, raiseth from the dust to the throne of glory, 1 Sa. 2:8; Ps. 113:7, 8. Those that were afflicted and trampled on are not only delivered, but set on high out of the reach of their troubles, above their enemies, and have dominion over those to whom they had been in subjection. That which adds to their honor, and strengthens them in their elevation, is the multitude of their children: He maketh him families like a flock of sheep, so numerous, so useful, so sociable with one another, and so meek and peaceable. He that sent them meat sent them mouths. Happy is the man that has his quiver filled with arrows, for he shall boldly speak with the enemy in the gate, Ps. 127:5. God is to be acknowledged both in setting up families and in building them up. Let not princes be envied, nor the poor despised, for God has many ways of changing the condition of both.
He makes some improvement of these remarks; such surprising turns as these are of use,
1. For the solacing of saints. They observe these dispensations with pleasure (v. 42): The righteous shall see it and rejoice in the glorifying of God’s attributes and the manifesting of his dominion over the children of men. It is a great comfort to a good man to see how God manages the children of men, as the potter does the clay, so as to serve his own purposes by them, to see despised virtue advanced and impious pride brought low to the dust, to see it evinced beyond dispute that verily there is a God that judges in the earth.
2. For the silencing of sinners: All iniquity shall stop her mouth; it shall be a full conviction of the folly of atheists, and of those that deny the divine providence; and, forasmuch as practical atheism is at the bottom of all sin, it shall in effect stop the mouth of all iniquity. When sinners see how their punishment answers to their sin, and how justly God deals with them in taking away from them those gifts of his which they had abused, they shall not have one word to say for themselves; for God will be justified, he will be clear.
3. For the satisfying of all concerning the divine goodness (v. 43): Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, these various dispensations of divine providence, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord. Here is,
(1.) A desirable end proposed, and that is, rightly to understand the lovingkindness of the Lord. It is of great use to us, in religion, to be fully assured of God’s goodness, to be experimentally acquainted and duly affected with it, that his lovingkindness may be before our eyes, Ps. 26:3.
(2.) A proper means prescribed for attaining this end, and that is a due observance of God’s providence. We must lay up these things, mind them, and keep them in mind, Lu. 2:19.
(3.) A commendation of the use of this means as an instance of true wisdom: Whoso is wise, let him by this both prove his wisdom and improve it. A prudent observance of the providences of God will contribute very much to the accomplishing of a good Christian.
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Clarke
They shall understand the loving-kindness of the Lord — חסדי יהוה chasdey Yehovah, the exuberant goodness of Jehovah. This is his peculiar and most prominent characteristic among men; for “judgment is his strange work.” What a wonderful discourse on Divine Providence, and God’s management of the world, does this inimitable Psalm contain! The ignorant cannot read it without profit; and by the study of it, the wise man will become yet wiser.
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KJV W/Strongs Bible
107:39 Again, they are minished 4591 8799 and brought low 7817 8799 through oppression 6115, affliction 7451, and sorrow 3015.
107:40 He poureth 8210 8802 contempt 937 upon princes 5081, and causeth them to wander 8582 8686 in the wilderness 8414, [where there is] no way 1870.(wilderness: or, void place)
107:41 Yet setteth he the poor 34 on high 7682 8762 from affliction 6040, and maketh 7760 8799 [him] families 4940 like a flock 6629.(from: or, after)
107:42 The righteous 3477 shall see 7200 8799 [it], and rejoice 8055 8799: and all iniquity 5766 shall stop 7092 8804 her mouth 6310.
107:43 Whoso [is] wise 2450, and will observe 8104 8799 these [things], even they shall understand 995 8709 the lovingkindness 2617 of the LORD 3068.
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Geneva Bible 1560
Psalm 107:39-43
39 s Again men are diminished, and brought low by oppression, evil and sorrow.
40 He powreth t contempt upon princes, and causeth them to erre in desert places out of the way.
41 Yet he raiseth up the poor out of misery, and maketh him families like a flock of sheep.
42 The u righteous shal se it, and rejoyce, and all iniquitie shal stop her mouth.
43 Who is wise that he maie observe these things? for they shal understand the loving kindness of the Lord.
s As God by his providence does exalt men, so does he also humble them by afflictions to know themselves. t For their wickedness and tyranny he causes the people and subjects to contemne them. u They, whose faith is lightened by God’s Spirit, shall rejoice to see God’s judgements against the wicked and ungodly.
“Minished” means to make something smaller, fewer, or less. For example, you might describe a group of people as “minished” if their number has decreased………Bill
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Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer. Ps 19:14 NKJV
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