Psalms 107:23

"Let them offer the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his deeds with singing."

Key Reflection

The Israelites were instructed to offer sacrifices of thanksgiving and sing about God's deeds as a way of expressing gratitude for His deliverance. In the first-century Jewish context, this command would have resonated deeply, reminding worshippers of specific historical deliverances like the Exodus or miraculous rescues from foreign oppression, encouraging them to publicly acknowledge God’s faithfulness through both sacrificial offerings and musical praise.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

They that go down to the sea in ships -The scene here changes again. From those that wander in the desert - from those who are in prison - from those who are sick - the eye of the psalmist turns to those who encounter the perils of the ocean, and he finds there occasion for praise to God. The phrase “go down” or “descend” is employed here because the sea is lower than the land, and because we “descend” when we embark on board of a vessel. That do business ... -Whose business or employment is on the ocean.

More from Psalms 107

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44

Go deeper with Bible.talk - your AI Bible study companion