The
PS 107 opens the V Book
Book of PS composed of a collection of texts 150 arranged by 5 poetry books. The Book of Psalms, for its
wisdom and
basic principles of human
action , is considered the heart of the Old Testament.
Book V encompasses Psalms 107 to 150 . Psalm 107 is divided into 43 Verses.
The Psalms are
poems-prayers addressed to God, being the privileged way to address and speak to Him. These prayers represent
human experiences and
religious conscience . They portray the
common man , with his faults, insecurities, fears and hopes and, even today, we can identify with the Psalmist and draw inspiration from these texts to
pray and
plead with God when we feel
lost and
anguished or to express our
gratitude for some blessing received.
"There are enemies or friends, there is life or death, health or illness, pain or joy and, most of the time, there are no changes or gradations. Words are like stones and poetry like boulders carved by chisel"; "The Psalms are a bit like mountain paths, simple, especially when walking on snow, but they lead to the peaks; they are paths toward the peaks of meeting the Lord." - Carlo Maria Martini, Cardinal of Milan
Psalm 107 - God Saves From All Perils
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good,
for His mercy is eternal.
2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,
whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy,
3 those whom He gathered from among the nations,
east and west, from the north and from the sea to the south.
4 They wandered through the desert and the open,
not finding their way to a city to live.
5 They were hungry and thirsty;
and their spirits were already failing them.
6 But in their distress they cried to the Lord,
and He delivered them from their afflictions.
7 He led them along a straight path,
to come to a city to live in.
8 May they give thanks to the Lord for his mercy
and for his wonders in behalf of humans.
9 For He quenched the thirst of the thirsty
and the hungry He filled with goods.
10 They lay in darkness and darkness,
prisoners of affliction and irons,
11 for having rebelled against the orders of God
and despised the purposes of the Most High.
12 He crushed their hearts with difficulties;
they stumbled and no one helped them.
13 But in their distress they cried to the Lord,
and He saved them from their afflictions.
14 He brought them out of darkness and darkness
and broke their chains.
15 May they give thanks to the Lord for his mercy
and for his wonders in behalf of humans.
16 He smashed the bronze doors
and broke the iron bars!
17 Weakened by your ways of sin
and afflicted because of your guilt,
18 any food made them nauseous
and they were already on the brink of death.
19 But in their distress they cried to the Lord,
and He saved them from their afflictions.
20 God sent his word to heal them
and to deliver them from their wounds.
21 May they give thanks to the Lord for his mercy
and for his wonders on behalf of humans.
22 Offer sacrifices of thanksgiving
and advertise your works with joy.
23 Those who go to sea with their ships,
doing business for the immensity of the waters,
24 these saw the works of the Lord
and his wonders on the high seas.
25 He spoke, and a storm
arose that lifted the waves of the sea.
26 The sailors ascended to heaven and descended into the depths,
their souls shattered by misfortune;
27 wheeled and staggered like drunkards,
and all their skill was rendered useless.
28 But in their distress they cried to the Lord,
and He brought them out of their afflictions.
29 He turned the storm into a light breeze,
and the waves of the sea calmed down.
30 They rejoice when the waves are calm,
and He guides them to their desired harbor.
31 May they give thanks to the Lord for his mercy
and for his wonders on behalf of humans.
32 Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people,
and praise him in the council of elders.
33 He turned the rivers into a desert
and the springs of water into a barren land;
34 He turned the fertile land into salt ground
because of the wickedness of those who dwell therein;
35 changed the desert into a lake of water
and the barren land into springs of water,
36 to cause the hungry to dwell there,
and for them to establish a city to dwell in.
37 They sowed fields and planted vines
and had a bountiful harvest.
38 He blessed them and they grew in great numbers
and did not let their flocks be reduced.
39 They were reduced and broken down
because of oppression, malice, and anguish.
40 But he who pours contempt on the mighty
and causes them to wander in the void, without paths,
41 He himself raises the poor out of anguish
and multiplies families like a flock.
42 The righteous see this and rejoice,
and all wickedness keeps their mouths shut.
43 He that is wise will keep these things,
and all will understand the mercies of the Lord.
Meaning and interpretation
The
Psalm 107 is a psalm of thanksgiving and appears in a solemn context
liturgical setting . In it, the Psalmist celebrates
God's providence for the Hebrews , when they were
lost in the desert, captives, sick and wandering .
A
hymn with messianic traits follows , which complements the satisfaction for the past with a
hopeful expectation for the future not only of the Psalmist but of the entire community.
The
Psalms of Praise are hymns addressed, above all, to God. In this sense, the Bible continues the liturgical literature of neighboring and previous religions, where
hymns are the most common way for people to address the
divinity , especially in contexts of greater solemnity.
These Psalms were of great importance in the lives of biblical heroes. The preaching of the
word of the prophets or the teaching of
wisdom reflection appears closely linked to the cultural action of the people of Israel. They express, in a
solemn and
simple way , the believer's recognition of the
efficacious presence of God who saves his people, for he is mercy that lasts forever; it is a refuge from the dangers of life; it is joy and joy; it is prosperity that feeds its people; it is light in times of darkness and salvation on Earth and in eternal life.
The texts of the Book of Psalms oscillate between shout and praise, supplication and joy. Perhaps its authors understood that Man can only express his supplications, laments or thirst for revenge before God, if he is immersed in the
spirit of praise that
sings life stronger than death . Perhaps, beyond the scream, the lament or the anger, they realized that what moves these words is nothing but that
life force that explodes in praise when it comes out of violence or when it goes through death.
These hymns narrate, thus, the
greatness or
improvements and the
thanks that flow from it. Examples of this are Psalm 8; 19; 28; 33; 47; 65-66; 93; 96-100; 104-105; 111; 113; 117; 135; 146; 148-150. Hymns can also be addressed to the
king , focusing especially on the ceremony of royal enthronement, with every expectation of divine intervention for the
well-being of the people and the
just ordering of the world . In this case, the Psalms were performed at court parties, in the presence of the king, in celebrations for victory over enemies, among others. Some examples are Psalm 2; 18; 20; 21; 27; 51; 60; 61.
With the end of the monarchy, these Psalms were accentuating the
messianic connotations , which already had implicit. This is the case with Psalm 2; 18; 20-21; 45; 72; 89; 101; 110; 132; 144. The Psalms celebrating Jerusalem, which with the temple have a special connection to God, are also considered hymns. These are Ps 46; 48; 76; 84; 87; 122.
The Book of Psalms
The Joy and Happiness of the Righteous in Communion with God
The Psalms are
prayer-poems addressed to God, being the privileged way to address and speak to Him. Depicting the
common man , with his failures, insecurities, fears and hopes, we can still identify with the Psalmist and be inspired today in Psalms to make
prayers and
supplications to God in times of trouble or express our
gratitude for some blessing received.
The Psalms, despite being written in Antiquity, still
move ,
sensitize ,
awaken feelings ,
inspire and
enchant . In them, we can identify
anguish and
joy , deeply human feelings, praises, supplications, teachings of reflection on spiritual wisdom and prophetic words.
Written for
different situations , some Psalms are intimate, revealing the author's personal relationship with God; others provide guidelines and advice for life, others are compositions for specific liturgical events such as rituals and pilgrimages.
The
Book of Psalms is composed of a collection of 150 poetic texts and is divided into five parts, called Psalm Books or Booklets. Each Book closes with short
hymns of praise to God . The division into five parts was considered to correspond to the five books of Moses and it is assumed that each passage in the Pentateuch (first five books of the Bible, called Torah by the Jews) was read in parallel with the corresponding Psalm. Its main forms are
lamentation ,
supplication ,
praise and
gratitude .
The Power of Prayer in Dialogue with the Divine
The Psalms elevate our thoughts to the Divine and
prayer is the
power of the word . Prayer is the language of faith. Any thought, word or image addressed to God is called
prayer . It is through it that we come into contact with our
God within and, therefore, it is so powerful in
transforming life . Prayer can produce
miracles , turn dreams into reality, give us hope for
change ,
harmony and
peace with ourselves and the world.
Each Psalm has an
intention that helps us
meditate and
walk with our God . For many theologians, the Book of Psalms has a prophetic or messianic tone as its verses refer to the coming of Christ into the world of men to guide them through the uncertainty and doubts of Human existence.
The
prayer has the power to call the
Spiritual Universe full mode, honest, sincere, conscious, for the purpose of spiritual self-protection, family protection and those who are dear to us, to have peace of mind, spiritual and physical, for prosperity and success, to protect health and relationships, to ward off negative energies and, above all, to connect us to something bigger than ourselves. From this
peace , well-being, hope and goodness in front of everyone and everything result.
The
faith can change our lives. It gives us
tranquility and
spiritual strength to face challenges. It helps us to
meditate on our mission in life and to create a
balanced and healthy environment for ourselves and those we love. When you pray, fill your heart with
love and
determination . The Psalms will guide you on a path of
peace and
communion with the higher energy.
