The Psalmist exhorteth the redeemed, in praising God, to observe his manifold providence over travellers, over captives, over sick men, over seamen, and in divers varieties of life.
THIS psalm, according to some, was composed by David; and if so, it seems chiefly to relate to the deliverance of the Israelites out of Egypt. But, according to others, it was made by some devout person presently after their return from the Babylonish captivity. Hence the Psalmist takes occasion to magnify God's merciful providence over other men, of any other nation as well as that of the Jews, when they addressed themselves to him in their several calamities. It was a song in parts, one verse occurring four times, to be sung by the chorus. See more on the 8th verse. The fifth book of the Psalms, according to the Hebrew division, begins here. There are those who understand this psalm as referring to the faithful believers, gathered out of all lands, and brought to that continuing city, (Hebrews 13:14.) which they were still seeking amid the various dangers and difficulties whereto mortals are exposed; which dangers and difficulties are here in several instances represented, and urged as reasons for praising him now, from a sense of that goodness which guides and conducts the faithful through them all to that city where they may dwell and abide for ever. See Psalms 107:4. Some of the descriptions in this psalm are remarkably elegant and sublime.