Psalm 107 (106):3Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

While we might lift our praises of Alleluia on particular days, this sentiment lingers in our hearts daily. This praises God, not merely in outward expression, but genuinely from within, as it is said, His praise will forever be in my mouth. The repetition of Hallelujah not only appears in this psalm but is indeed found in the first as well. It was sung by the Israelites and continues to be sung by the universal body of Christ around the globe. Perhaps the double Alleluia serves a deeper purpose, like our cries of Abba, Father, since they convey our intimate relationship with God, where one side calls ‘Abba’ and the other responds ‘Father’; a union in the Cornerstone, which unites us all.

Let us acknowledge before the Lord that He is delightful, for we are recipients of His mercy. This acknowledgment comes from experience: if you have indeed tasted His goodness, testify to it. But those who have not partaken cannot truly proclaim what they do not know. If you have savored the Lord’s sweetness, express it before Him. His mercy is everlasting, rightly understood in Scriptural context, where the Greek term εἰς αἰῶνα translates to 'forever'. His mercy doesn’t come and go; rather, it serves to unite humanity with the angels eternally.

Let those redeemed by the Lord declare His salvation, having been rescued from the grasp of their foes. The people of Israel were delivered from Egypt, escaping bondage and toil. However, it is crucial to discern who truly makes this declaration; the focus should be on those the Lord has redeemed. Even if this speaks to those freed from Egyptian hands, it also encompasses all who are gathered from across the lands—east, west, north, and ocean. This signifies the Lord’s people, led as through the Red Sea, and through Baptism, they triumph over sin in the washing away of transgressions, all recorded for our teaching, for whom the end of the ages has arrived.

They wandered in the wilderness, lacking shelter and nourishment. We hear of their misery; they were hungry and thirsty, their spirits failing them. But why this weariness? Not due to cruelty from God, but to reveal His goodness, prompting them to rely on Him, and ultimately to love Him through their distress. After their trials, they cried out to the Lord in their affliction, and He saved them from their troubles, guiding them toward a straight path. They sought refuge but would find it only through His guidance. While it doesn’t detail how He addressed their hunger and thirst, it goes on to highlight that His mercies and wondrous deeds ought to be declared.

Those in darkness and death’s shadow, confined by poverty and shackles, suffer because they have turned from God’s grace and rejected His counsel. They rebelled against God's word out of pride, ignoring His righteousness, wanting to affirm their own, which led to their desolation. In battling desires without God's support, they find themselves in despair. Upon recognizing their plight, they cry out in their anguish and the Lord rescues them from their distress. He breaks their chains, asking them to proclaim His mercies and mighty deeds. He has shattered the gates of bronze and the bars of iron, guiding them away from their iniquities, which had humbled them.

They were fully consumed by their appetite, voicing disdain for all food and risking their lives in their excess. This highlights a profound danger. When they were troubled, they called upon the Lord, and He delivered them from their affliction, sending His Word to heal them. It underscores the peril of excess and the need for repentance. They are encouraged to acknowledge God's kindness and miracles toward mankind and to offer heartfelt praise. They are called to celebrate His goodness with joy, not weariness or despair.

Those who traverse the waters on ships, engaging with various nations, encounter God’s miraculous works in the depths. For indeed, deep waters symbolize human hearts, often disturbed by conflict. In response, God calms the storm at their cries for help, showing His power to transform chaos into peace, just as Paul noted in his struggles, articulating their dire circumstances. Their joy follows the calm, as He leads them to the desired haven.

Let the children of humanity share and exalt the Lord’s mercies. Every accomplishment and triumph should center on His goodness, removing the focus from human merit or strength. Let every encounter with adversity draw us to call upon Him, to experience the joy of His salvation.

Let them rejoice collectively, lifting praise within the assembly of believers and honoring God’s presence. They witness how He uplifts the humble while resisting the proud. God has provided abundantly for those who remain humble and faithful. By making the wilderness flourish, He reveals His grace and sustains His faithful ones. The faithful flourish like fruitful fields, resulting in joy not due to their deeds, but because of God's blessings.

When numbers diminish or when trials press down, it is seldom due to external factors but often from within. Those who separate from unity, whether through self-love or pride, ultimately stand alone. The righteous persist in joy, while the wicked's words will be silenced.

Whoever possesses wisdom will reflect on these truths and recognize the mercy of the Lord. It is not through one's strength or merits, but through God’s compassion that we are restored, nourished, freed from bondage, and sheltered. His steadfast love remains our anchor in adversity, ensuring that we are welcomed into His presence where those who were once scattered and diminished find their purpose multiplied. The faithful witness these truths and rejoice, while the lips of wickedness are forever silenced.

Why is only three directions highlighted, and the fourth overlooked? As the prophet Habakkuk reveals: "God is coming from the south, and the Holy One from the mountain covered with shadow" (Hab. 3:3). The divine arrival is suggested to be from the south, the birthplace of the Savior. Bethlehem lies to the south of Jerusalem, hence God's journey from the south is acknowledged. If His arrival is from there, why then is it stated "From the east and west of the sun, from Aquilon"? The south remains silent. "From the east and west of the sun." "Truly, I say to you, many will come from the east and west, and will recline at the table with Abraham, but the children of the kingdom will be driven out" (Matt. 8:11-12). "From the east and west of the sun": this includes the gentiles. "From Aquilon." "Aquilon is often associated with the most powerful winds, characterized with a favorable name" (Prov. 27:16). The prophet said, "From the north, evil shall be kindled in the earth" (Jer. 1:14). The sea is referenced in Numbers, Exodus, and throughout Scripture. Whenever "sea" is mentioned in relation to the world's sides, it invariably implies the west. The great sea referred to is located to the west of Jerusalem. Now, consider the mystery in Scripture: within this context, the west is noted twice, while the south is entirely omitted. Why is this distinction made? Because this psalm addresses not just the calling of the Jewish people, but of all humanity. What, then, did the psalmist convey?

Verses 1-3: "Confess ye to the Lord, how good he is; for his mercy is everlasting. Let them that are delivered by the Lord say, He hath delivered them out of the hand of the enemy, and from the countries gathered them together, from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the sea." This same opening appears in the previous psalm, where further clarification can be found. Let those redeemed by the Lord proclaim His goodness. What have they been rescued from? The grip of the evil one, referring to Christians who, as Athanasius and Eusebius assert, placed their faith in Christ and were united in the Church from all nations. However, the Jewish perspective states this psalm pertains to those who were freed from Babylonian captivity. Some interpretations mention deliverance from the hand of enemies, meaning demons. The Lord has united believers from diverse regions into one body, representing the four corners of the earth; the reference to the sea signifies the south, as the sea borders Palestine on that side. The mention of the four regions illustrates how the Apostles' message has reached the whole world, as noted in Psalm 18:5.

Eusebius articulates that we should confess to the Lord in acknowledgment of our sins, akin to seeking a physician, while expressing gratitude for the blessings we have received, which affirm His humanity and ongoing goodness. Chrysostom elaborates that the term "redeemed" indicates a price was paid; He shed His blood for us. The prophet's message reflects this, stating, "I will give men for Thee, and rulers for Thy head" (Isaiah 43:1); those laborers, namely the sinful Jews, faced divine punishment. Athanasius remarks that nations once devoid of the knowledge of God, akin to a barren wilderness in spiritual terms, were gathered from the four corners of the world despite experiencing great thirst for divine truth.

They are labeled as the redeemed because they have traversed barren deserts and treacherous terrains, often going astray, unable to find their way back without God's guiding hand. This passage does not refer merely to ordinary travelers, but particularly to those forcibly taken from their homes, encountering numerous trials and adversities, including captives of hostile foes or pirates. The prophet emphasizes that their suffering was not coincidental, nor was their return to their homeland merely accidental; instead, it was God’s providence that directed their path back to safety. Thus, he encourages those who have been redeemed to come forth and worship on the appointed day, expressing their gratitude and sharing the mercy they have received in their deliverance. This message is not limited to the Jews, who have experienced perilous journeys, but applies to all humanity, especially to those who, having lost their way, stand at the brink of despair, threatened by famine and thirst. Without divine intervention, these individuals are close to death, akin to wanderers in a forest who may fall prey to lions and wolves.

In the shadows cast by demonic idolatry, many remain blind to the illuminating presence of the true Christ the Lord. Lack and want reflect the absence of God's grace, and the chains of sin signify its harshness. God's directives express His commandments, advising believers against the worship of idols.