Psalms 107:8,9 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

O that men would praise Hebrew, let them praise, or, they shall praise, that is, they are highly obliged to praise. It is meant chiefly of those whom God has graciously relieved. The Lord for his goodness To them in particular; and for his wonderful works to the children of men To others, as well as to themselves; and to the children of men, as well as to the children of God. For he satisfieth the longing soul The needy, who, being sensible of their wants, temporal or spiritual, earnestly desire to have them supplied; and filleth the hungry with goodness With the fruits of his goodness, with good things, Psalms 103:5; with that good which they wanted and desired. Observe, reader, God's works of mercy are wonderful works, works of wonderful power, considering the weakness, and of wonderful grace, considering the unworthiness of those to whom he shows mercy: and those who share in his works of mercy are in duty bound to return him praise for them. Dr. Hammond remarks very properly, that “this is a Psalm of answering, or of parts, to be sung alternately; having a double burden, or intercalary verse, oft recurring:” see Psalms 107:6; Psalms 107:13, &c. This, indeed, is apparent upon the most transient view of it. We may suppose one side of the choir to have begun with the first of the parts, and then the other side to have taken the second, and so on. The 9th verse evidently belongs to the first part, for the 10th begins quite another subject.