提要
詩篇第一○七篇在主題上與前兩篇有密不可分的關係。它們都讚美上帝的良善與憐憫。詩篇第一○七篇是回答詩篇一○六篇四十七節的禱告，指出上帝如何拯救祂的百姓脫離仇敵之手。以賽亞書六二章十二節用同樣的話「耶和華的贖民」來指由巴比倫被擄回歸的以色列後裔，但是也可適用更廣泛的解釋。凡是世界各地因上帝的羔羊，我們主耶穌的寶血得蒙救贖的人，都有良好的理由用歌唱讚美上帝的良善（弗1：7）。
詩人從現實生活中提出四個例證說明，贖民為什麼要感謝耶和華的拯救。在舉出每一個有關上帝救贖聖工的例證之後，詩人都重複這一詩歌中的副歌：「但願人因耶和華的慈愛，和向人所行的奇事，都稱讚祂」。他這樣說，就是要提醒人們，在任何情況中都要感謝上帝（107：8、15、21、31）。第一個例證就是上帝看顧那些在苦難中向祂求助的漂泊的寄居者；祂帶領他們脫離困難，並領導他走正直的道路（107：7）。這是指某些回歸的被擄之民，而其時正值上帝施行神蹟鼓勵他們，並供應他們日常生活所需（比較87：5~7）。祂不僅滿足他們生理上的需要，更重要的是，也滿足了他們靈性上的需要（107：9）。每一個人心裡都有空虛，祇有上帝才能填滿它；直到上帝這樣做時，他依然不滿足，並且盼望上帝再填滿它（詩42：1、2；63；1~2）。
第二個例證是上帝看顧被擄的人。那些被鐵鍊鎖住的，及被判死刑，即將面臨死亡的人，呼求上帝的幫助。祂神奇地釋放了他們，並且帶領他們走出黑暗（107：13~14）。那些今天為罪所奴役的人也要求祂帶領，走進奇妙的光中（彼前2：9；西1：12~13；弗5：8；腓2：15；太5：16）。詩人在這裡是指被擄去巴比倫的猶大國百姓，因為他們受苦乃是他們「違背了上帝的話語」（107：11）。第三個例證也顯示上帝所施行的類似拯救。由於罪的緣故，那些人的靈魂與身體都受到折磨。他們處在死亡與毀滅的邊緣，但是耶和華本於愛仍然垂聽他們的呼求：「祂發命醫治他們，救他們脫離死亡」（107：20）。
最後一個例證指出，海上旅行者的生命受到暴風雨的威脅。他完全倚靠上帝的慈愛和憐憫，因為祇有上帝才能平靜這場狂烈的風暴，上帝使那些呼求祂的人平靜下來，並且使他們快樂。上帝指引他們受到風暴打擊的船，航向安全的海港（107：30）。那些親身體驗到上帝在救贖之後，所賜各樣福氣的人又有何種反應？詩人一再地要求，耶和華的贖民要感謝祂，公開地及愉快地傳揚祂在施行救贖時的慈愛和憐憫；他們應該在耶和華會眾的面前高舉祂（107：1、22、32）。上帝在祂看顧義人時，近一步表達祂的慈愛和憐憫（107：35~42），也自然會以讚美和感謝的祭回報上帝。
詩篇第一○八篇是一首勝利的詩歌，表達對耶和華的盼望和信心，因為祂拯救祂的百姓脫離仇敵之手，也戰勝強大的仇敵。其中的某些部份是摘自大衛所撰的前兩篇詩篇。有些經節是摘自詩篇五十七篇七至十一節；其中的第六至十三節則是摘自詩篇六十篇五至十二節，不過，稍作改變而已（有關此一問題的近一步研究，可參看這些經節的釋義）。有一個區別乃是，我們在第三節中發現，希伯來字「Yahweh」（耶和華）被用來代替「Adonai」（主），但是這兩個字都被翻譯成「Lord」（耶和華）。「Yahweh」是一個非常個人化的名字，表示與上帝有親近的關係。祇有祂的僕人才能使用這個個人化的名字稱呼祂。不論這位詩人是大衛本人，或是編輯，為了鼓勵百姓事奉上帝，這類讚美詩是不可少的。請注意，這一詩篇祇包含前幾篇中歡愉的部份。大衛在撰寫讚美詩文之前，所經歷到的苦難情況，則不在本篇引用之列。我們總是要鼓勵人們聽好的報告，及思想上帝的慈愛（比較腓4：8）。
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Overview
Psalm 107 is closely related to the two previous psalms in subject matter. They all praise God for His goodness and mercy. Psalm 107 is the answer to the prayer of 106:47, showing how God saved His people from the hand of the enemy. Isaiah 62:12 uses the same term "the redeemed of the Lord" for the children of Israel who returned from the Babylonian captivity, but a wider interpretation can also be applied. Those from all corners of the world whose souls have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, our Lord Jesus, have good reason to sing and give thanks to God for His goodness (Eph. 1:7).
The psalmist gives four real-life illustrations as to why the redeemed should thank the Lord for His deliverance. After each example of God's redemptive work, the psalmist repeats the refrain, "Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness". He does so to remind the people to thank the Lord in every situation (107:8,15, 21, 31). The first example is of God's care over the wandering sojourners who called out to Him in their distress; he brought them out of their trouble and led them along the right path (107:7). This may be referring to some of the returned exiles at a time when God miraculously strengthened them and provided for their needs (cf. 87:5 — 7). He not only satisfied their physical need but, more importantly, their spiritual need (107:9). Within every person there is a void that only God can fill, and until He does, the soul will remain unsatisfied and longing to be filled. (Ps. 42:1, 2; 63:1,2).
The second illustration is of God's care over the captives. Those who were chained and had the sentence of death looming over them called out to God. He miraculously freed them and brought them out of darkness (107:13-14). Those who are enslaved by sin today can still be brought by Him into His wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9; Col. 1:12-13; Eph. 5:8; Phil. 2:15; Matt. 5:16). The psalmist may be referring to the people of Judah who were carried away captive to Babylon, since the reason for their affliction was "their rebellion against the words of God" (107:11). A similar divine deliverance is shown in the third illustration. Those whose souls and physical well-being were afflicted because of sin. They were on the brink of death and destruction, but the Lord graciously heard their cry; "He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions" (107:20).
The final illustration is that of the sea traveller whose life is endangered by the stormy sea. He is totally at the mercy of God, for only God can calm the raging storm; He also calms and makes glad those who cry out to Him. God guides their weathered ship to a safe haven of rest (107:30). What should be the response of all those who experience these blessings from the Lord that accompany redemption? The psalmist repeatedly exclaims that the redeemed of the Lord are to give thanks, publicly and joyously declaring His mercy and goodness in providing redemption; and they are to exalt Him before the con gregation of the Lord (107:1, 22, 32). God's mercies are further expressed in His providential care of the righteous (107:35-42). If they are wise, they will understand these deeds of lovingkindness of the Lord (107:43, 22) and will naturally respond by offering Him the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving.
Psalm 108 is a song of victory, expressing hope and confidence in the Lord, for He delivers His people from their enemies and He wins the battle. It contains portions of two previous psalms of David. Verses are taken from Psalm 57:7-11, and verses 6 to 13 are from Psalm 60:5-12, with only slight variations (for a more detailed study, see the comments on these earlier passages). One difference is that in verse 3 we find the Hebrew word "Yahweh" used instead of "Adoni", but they are both translated as "Lord". Yahweh is a more personal word that signifies a close relationship with God. Only His servants can truly call Him by His personal name. This psalm is not just a vain repetition, for such words of praise to the Lord can never be exhausted. Whether the psalmist was David himself or a compiler, there was a specific occasion which demanded such a hymn of praise in order to encourage the people. Notice that this psalm is composed of only the joyous and uplifting portions of the previous psalms. The distressing situations that David experienced before penning these words of praise are excluded. It always encourages the soul to hear positive reports and dwell on the goodness of God (cf. Phil. 4:8).
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