Thanksgiving for Deliverance
The chapter opens by calling for thanks to the LORD because he is good and his steadfast love endures forever. The redeemed are urged to say so as those whom he has gathered from east and west, north and south, making the whole psalm sound like the testimony of a people collected by mercy.
G1ive thanks to the LORD, for He is good; 2Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, 3and gathered from the lands,
Some wandered through desert wastes without finding a city, weak with hunger and thirst, until they cried to the LORD in their trouble. He led them by a straight way to a place of settlement, and the refrain calls them to thank him because he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.
4Some wandered in desert wastelands, 5They were hungry and thirsty; 6Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, 7He led them on a straight path 8Let them give thanks to the LORD for His loving devotion 9For He satisfies the thirsty
Others sat in darkness and chains because they had rebelled against God's words and were brought low under hard labor. When they cried out, he brought them out of shadow and bondage, shattered the gates of bronze, and the psalm again summons them to thank the LORD for his steadfast love and wondrous works.
10Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, 11because they rebelled against the words of God 12He humbled their hearts with hard labor; 13Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, 14He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death 15Let them give thanks to the LORD for His loving devotion 16For He has broken down the gates of bronze
Still others, brought low by their own rebellious folly, loathed food and drew near the gates of death. They cried to the LORD, and he sent out his word to heal them and pull them back from destruction, so they are called to offer sacrifices of thanksgiving and tell his works with songs of joy.
17Fools, in their rebellious ways, 18They loathed all food 19Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, 20He sent forth His word and healed them; 21Let them give thanks to the LORD for His loving devotion 22Let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving
Those who went out to sea saw the LORD's works in the deep when he raised a storm that lifted and dropped them until their courage failed. At their cry he stilled the tempest, brought them to the harbor they desired, and the refrain returns once more, now urging public praise in the assembly and among the elders.
23Others went out to sea in ships, 24They saw the works of the LORD, 25For He spoke and raised a tempest 26They mounted up to the heavens, then sunk to the depths; 27They reeled and staggered like drunkards, 28Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, 29He calmed the storm to a whisper, 30They rejoiced in the silence, 31Let them give thanks to the LORD for His loving devotion 32Let them exalt Him in the assembly of the people
The psalm ends by moving from four case studies to the LORD's wider rule over human fortunes: he turns rivers into desert and desert into pools, settles the hungry, blesses their increase, and then again reduces proud power and pours contempt on princes. The upright see and rejoice, wickedness is silenced, and the wise are told to ponder these reversals until they discern the steadfast love of the LORD in them.
33He turns rivers into deserts, 34and fruitful land into fields of salt, 35He turns a desert into pools of water 36He causes the hungry to settle there, 37They sow fields and plant vineyards 38He blesses them, and they multiply greatly; 39When they are decreased and humbled 40He pours out contempt on the nobles 41But He lifts the needy from affliction 42The upright see and rejoice, 43Let him who is wise pay heed to these things