Psalms 107:11

Psa 107:11 Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:

Ver. 11. Because they rebelled against the words of God] Sin is at the bottom of all men’s miseries, as the procreant cause thereof; for God afflicteth not willingly, nor grieveth the children of men, Lam 3:33, but they rebel against his words written in the Scriptures, or, at least, in their hearts; and so he is concerned in point of honour to subdue them.

And contemned the counsel] A foul fault. See Luk 7:30.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

11. (Psa 107:11) Because they resisted the words of the Mightiest, and the counsel of the Highest condemned. This verse introduces what was wanting in the first scene, the fact that these were not innocent sufferers. However cruel or unjust their sufferings at the hands of men, they were but condign punishments as sent by God. This is a point of contact and resemblance with the preceding psalm, which is not without importance. Resisted, rebelled against, a favourite expression in these psalms. See above, on Psa 105:28; Psa 106:7; Psa 106:33; Psa 106:43. Words or sayings, commonly applied to promises, and even here combining that idea with the sense of command, because the command which they resisted or rebelled against had reference to the plan or counsel of the Lord for the deliverance of his people. The word translated mightiest is one of the divine names, here represented by an English superlative, in order to preserve the antithesis with Most High in the other clause.

Joseph Addison Alexander, The Psalms Translated and Explained (1850) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

107:11 God’s counsel includes his instruction and will.

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Then the true way to obey God, is to follow his express commandment: also hereby all are exhorted to descend into themselves, forasmuch as none are punished but for their sins.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

Verse 11. Because they rebelled against the words of God]

1. God showed them their duty and their interest, and commanded them to obey his word; but they cast off all subjection to his authority, acted as if they were independent of heaven and earth, and broke out into open rebellion against him.

2. He counselled and exhorted them to return to him: but they contemned his advice, and turned his counsel into ridicule.

3. As lenient means were ineffectual, he visited them in judgment: hence it is added,

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

11. Because they rebelled In assigning the cause of their afflictions he corrects the false impressions of those persons who imagine that these happen by chance. Were they to reflect on the judgments of God, they would at once perceive that there was nothing like chance or fortune in the government of the world. Moreover, until men are persuaded that all their troubles come upon them by the appointment of God, it will never come into their minds to supplicate him for deliverance. Farther, when the prophet assigns the reason for their afflictions, he is not to be regarded as speaking of those persons as if they were notoriously wicked, but he is to be considered as calling upon the afflicted carefully to examine some particular parts of their life, and although no one accuse them, to look into their hearts, where they will always discover the true origin of all the miseries which overtake them. Nor does he only charge them with having merely sinned, but with having rebelled against the word of God, thus intimating that the best and only regulation for our lives consists in yielding a prompt obedience to his commandments. When, therefore, sheer necessity compels those who are in this manner convicted to cry unto God, they must be insensate indeed, if they do not acknowledge that the deliverance which, contrary to their expectation, they receive, comes immediately from God. For brazen gates and iron bars are spoken of for the purpose of enhancing the benefit; as if he said, the chains of perpetual slavery have been broken asunder.

John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.

(11) Contemned.—This word is an old Mosaic designation for the provocation offered by the chosen people (Num_14:11; Num_14:23), as well as for the abhorrence shown by Jehovah for their sin (Deu_32:19). Certainly this verse is more closely applicable to violation of the Theocratic relations of Israel to Jehovah than of heathen opposition to God.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

11. Their suffering was the punishment of sin. Cp. Psa_107:17; Psa_107:34. They resisted the commands of God (Psa_106:7; Psa_106:33; Psa_106:43); and blasphemously doubted or despised the wisdom and the goodness of His purposes for them. Cp. Pro_1:30; Isa_5:24; and for general illustration, 2Ch_36:16.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble,.... Their affliction, their hearts being brought down with labour, and they being and finding themselves in a state of darkness, in the shadow of death, in affliction and iron; or in soul troubles, under a sense of sin, and in a view of wrath and displeasure; under apprehensions of imminent danger, as the disciples in the storm; and therefore cry to the Lord, as they did,

Lord, save us, we perish, Mat 8:2.

And he saved them out of their distresses; from all their sins; from the curse of the law; from wrath to come; from hell and death; being both able and willing. The following verse further explains this.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Because they rebelled against the words of God - The commands of God. They did not keep his commandments. Their captivity was produced by national disobedience. See the notes at Dan 9:5-8.

And contemned the counsel - They despised the instructions of God. The law of God, at the same time that it “is” law, is of the nature of “counsel,” since it is indicative of what God regards as wise and good, and since it is the best “advice” that God can give to people. A just and righteous law, while it involves “obligation” to obey it, is also the best counsel that can be given, and implies that the highest “wisdom” would be shown in being obedient to it. God will “command” nothing which he would not “advise,” and which it would not be “wisdom” to obey.

Of the Most High - Of God, who, being supreme, has a right to rule over all, and to require that his laws shall be obeyed.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Against the words of God; against God’s commands, made known either,

1. By his written word delivered to the Jews, of which the Gentiles were not ignorant, which therefore they should have diligently inquired after and searched into, as the queen of Sheba came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and as divers of the heathens travelled into very remote parts to gain a more perfect knowledge of the arts and sciences; which will justly be laid to their charge, and condemn them for their neglect of that Divine wisdom which was treasured up in the Holy Scriptures. Or,

2. By the prophets, who sometimes were sent to the Gentiles. Or,

3. By the law and light of nature, and by its interpreters, their wise and learned philosophers, who delivered many excellent rules and precepts of piety and virtue, which were sufficient, though not for their salvation without Christ, yet for the conduct of their lives in a great measure, and to leave them without excuse for their gross disobedience thereunto.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Ver. 11. Because they rebelled against the words of God. This was the general cause of bondage among the ancient people of God, they were given over to their adversaries because they were not loyal to the Lord. God's words are not to be trifled with, and those who venture on such rebellion will bring themselves into bondage.

And contemned the counsel of the Most High. They thought that they knew better than the Judge of all the earth, and therefore they left his ways and walked in their own. When men do not follow the divine counsel they give the most practical proof of their contempt for it. Those who will not be bound by God's law will, ere long, be bound by the fetters of judgment. There is too much contemning of the divine counsel, even among Christians, and hence so few of them know the liberty wherewith Christ makes us free.

Ver. 11. Because they rebelled against the words of God. There is in the Hebrew a play upon similar soundsHimru Imree. God's words are those spoken in the Law and by the prophets. And contemned the counsel of the Most High another play upon like sounds in the HebrewHatzath Naatzu. A.R. Fausset.

Psalms 107:12*

Charles H. Spurgeon's The Treasury of David (1869–1885) — public domain. Psalms only. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

11. Because they rebelled—See the histories of the Kings referred to Psa_107:10, and compare 2Ch_36:14-21.

Contemned the counsel of the Most High—Treated with contempt his declared purpose to punish transgression, of which he had fully forewarned them, as in Deu_28:15-68; Isaiah 1, etc. But the word “counsel,” here, may mean the fixed plan of God respecting Israel, embracing the whole scheme of their national and church life, in its relation to the ultimate redemptive economy of God. This high calling they had overlooked and despised.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Because they rebelled against the words of God. Such deep affliction as is here spoken of scarcely ever comes upon any but those who have offended God by resisting his will. And contemned the counsel of the most High. (comp. Pro_1:25) The "counsel of God" is the course of conduct which he has prescribed to man, whether through the reason and conscience that he has implanted in him, or through his revealed Word.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

they had rebelled against God's word ... rejected the instruction of the Most High

These phrases have similar meanings and emphasize how much they had rebelled again God, which is why they had been imprisoned. (See: Parallelism)

He humbled their hearts through hardship

Here the heart represents a person, but specifically his will. AT: "He humbled them by allowing them to suffer hardship" (See: Synecdoche)

hardship

Possible meanings are 1) "trouble" or 2) "hard labor."

they stumbled and there was no one to help them up

The word "stumbled" refers to times when these people got into very difficult situations. AT: "they got into trouble and there was no one to help them out of it" (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Then they called out to Yahweh in their trouble

It is implied that they are praying to Yahweh so that he will help them. See how you translated this in Psalms 107:6. AT: "Then they prayed to Yahweh to help them in their trouble" (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

their distress

"difficulties" or "afflictions." See how you translated this in Psalms 107:6

he brought

Here David describes Yahweh saving them from their distress as if their distress were a physical place that he was bringing them out of. AT: "he saved" (See: Metaphor)

translationWords

rebel

word of God

reject

Most High

humble

heart

stumble

trouble

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

For they rebelled against the words of God Trouble does not befall a person except because of his iniquity.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.