Ps. cvii. 1 — 3. 0 give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy ; and gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the ivest, from the north, and from the south.
THE intent of this psalm appears to be, not merely to display the providence of God as interposing in all the concerns of men, but especially the goodness of God in vouchsafing to hear the prayers of men, and to grant them deliverance in answer to their snppli-
cations. This is illustrated under a variety of in- teresting images. His interpositions are described in behalf of travellers lost, but conducted home in safety ; of prisoners rescued from merited captivity ; of persons sick and dying, restored to health; of mariners preserved, and brought to their desired haven. But we must not confine our attention to temporal deliverances only ; for it is manifest in the very commencement of the psalm that respect is had to the goodness and mercy of God in their most extended operations, and especially in the great work of redemption : for it is " from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south," that he has already gathered his redeemed people*, and that he will yet gather them into the kingdom of his Mes- siah1', even "Shiloh, unto whom shall the gathering of the people bec." In considering the different images, we might notice both the temporal and spiritual deliverances which they severally refer to : but at present we shall wave all reference to them, and notice only the great work of redemption, as set forth in the words before us ; wherein we see, I. The duty of all to give thanks to God — Consider,
1. The grounds of it — [Wherever we turn our eyes, we cannot but see that " the Lord is good." Survey the heavenly bodies, and contemplate the benefits derived from them : view the earth with its in- numerable productions for the good of man: examine your corporeal frame, and think how every part performs its office for the benefit of the whole : above all, reflect on the powers and faculties of our immortal souls, and mark how by them we are elevated above all the rest of the creation, and fitted for an infinitely higher state of existence in the presence of our God: and then say whether we have not reason to proclaim the goodness of our God
But the " mercy" of our God is yet, if possible, a more stupendous object of admiration ; because goodness manifested itself to us in innocence ; whereas mercy is exercised towards us under an inconceivable load of guilt. Think how it was displayed to man at first, in promising him a Saviour : think
a Matt. viii. 11. b Isai. xliii. 5, 6. andlvi. 8. c Gen. xlix. 10.