Psalm 107:32-41

Studying the structure of Psalm 107 yields invaluable clues to its interpretation. For example, noticing the two repeating refrains (vs. 6, 13, 19, 28 and 8, 15, 21, 31) led to our dividing the first half of the psalm into four section, with each one serving as an illustration of the Lord's goodness and forever love.

In the case of verses 32-41, the psalmist appears to use a chiasm. A chiasm is a series of parallel statements arranged in inverse order. In other words, the chiasm's first statement is parallel with the last; the second is parallel with the next to last, etc. Statements at the very center of the chiasm tend to reveal the chiasm's major emphasis.

Here is what appears to be the chiasm of verses 32-41. Click to enlarge and print.
Notice how the chiasm's central statements (vs. 36b-37) describe how the grateful redeemed make use of their potential for thanksliving. Moving out from the center, the next set of statements (vs. 35-36a and 38) emphasize the what the Lord does to bless the redeem. Moving out further (vs. 33-34 and 39-40) reveals an emphasis on what the Lord does to judge those who either live in wickedness or who stop engaging in thanksgiving and thanksliving. Finally, the outermost statements (vs. 32 and 41) emphasize how grateful people exalt the Lord, along with how he lifts them in turn.

This structure, combined with the flow of "reversals" alternating between the Lord judging and blessing, helps us to see the psalmist's points:

• At times the Lord creates trouble and distress for people who live in wickedness.
• When they repent, the Lord redeems and then and reverses the trouble and distress he created previously.
• This reversal calls for thanksgiving and thanksliving from the redeemed.
• It also provides the redeemed with great potential for making the most of the "second chance" they've been given.
• There is dangerous possibility of the redeemed using this great potential to exalt and empower themselves, to make "princes" of themselves, rather than humble and grateful worshipers/servants of the Lord.
• When they stop engaging in thanksgiving and thanksliving, the Lord stops blessing, which is enough to cause yet another reversal of their circumstances, this time for the bad.
• In the end, the Lord pours contempt on these ungrateful people, and there is no more reversal.
• On the other hand, the Lord lifts up those who continue humbly to exalt the Lord with thanksgiving and thanksliving.

The psalmist finishes by saying that the wicked take notice of these things and refuse to do anything about it; that its, they refuse to repent and to begin anew engaging in thanksgiving and thanksliving. The righteous, on the other hand, see all of this and rejoice. Verse 43 also calls them "wise", saying they guard these truths and ponder their meaning and significance.