Psalm 107
This psalm begins the last book, or division, of the Psalms, and these seem to have been written when the people cattle again to their land after much trouble, and they were very thankful to God, Because of the work of the Lord Jesus for our souls, we have even more than they, for which to thank God, and to wish, as this verse:
“O that men would praise the Lord for His goodness and for His wonderful Works to the children of men!” (Verse 8).
How many times are those words found in this Psalm?
Instead of praising God, we may honor our own works or things: suppose a kind man gave a boy a large box of tools and materials, and the boy took a piece of the nice wood, and one of the good tools and carved a figure of an animal or man; then he thanked the figure he had made for his fine gift of tools, instead of thanking the friend. Would not that be foolish and ungrateful of the boy? He would really be trying to honor his own skill.
Here are words something like a puzzle, do you know what is meant? “They have months, but they speak not: Eyes have they, but they see not: They have ears, but they hear not: Noses have they, but they smell not: They have hands, but they handle not: Feet have they, but they walk not: Neither speak they through 11teir throat.”
The answer to this is in Psalm 115:44Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. (Psalm 115:4). These things are not pleasing but often hideous, although perhaps very costly and all are helpless and useless, yet in some lands every home has one or more, and grand buildings have been made for them, and people pray to them. It is sad that instead of praising the living God with all His goodness, people praise helpless, useless things.
Our hearts, too, will become darkened and foolish if we honor ourselves or others more than the Lord.
Now read the shortest of the psalms which is all in praise to the Lord (Psalm 117).
ML 12/15/1940